QUESTION: Tony La Russa talks often of his "core" players. Who do you think are the core players on this Cardinals team and is the club going to be able to afford to keep them all over the next few years?
JOE STRAUSS
It's fair to describe Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday, Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Ryan Ludwick as core players. Those six comprise well over half of payroll. Eventually, the Cardinals project Colby Rasmus as a core piece, perhaps as early as next season. Given that only Pujols, Molina, Carpenter and Wainwright have remained with the club in its four seasons since winning the '06 Series, it's fair to assume similar turnover going forward. Wainwright's contract includes two option years certain to be picked up. The team remains highly motivated to extend Pujols. Molina's value as a defender will always be high with the current regime but dollars within an extension will be tricky given his standing as a complementary offensive player.
Most intriguing is how the Cardinals value Ludwick as he nears his third arbitration year and Carpenter beyond his current contract. Even if ownership bumps payroll to around $110 million should it extend Pujols, at least one and probably two pieces of the current core eventually will be shed.
The development of younger talent such as Jaime Garcia, Jon Jay, Daniel Descalso, Shelby Miller, et cetera also influence direction. If Pujols remains, the Cardinals likely will have around $285 million committed to him and Matt Holliday from 2012-17 with both players enjoying no-trade protection. By definition the club's flexibility will erode and the supporting cast become younger or be made up of transient veterans.
JEFF GORDON
Pujols, Wainwright, Holliday, Rasmus, Carpenter and Molina currently fit the definition of "core player." (Ludwick is on the edge, but unlikely to get huge money from the Cards if Albert re-ups.) Molina isn't hitting enough to generate huge outside offers, so maybe he can stick around. Rasmus is a few years away from the big money. Carpenter can't pitch at a high level forever. But then again, Garcia, David Freese, Mitchell Boggs and Jason Motte could work their way into the core group someday -- and that is when the team would have to make tough decisions.
