After playing observer to the insanity that has been the free agent starting pitcher market the last several years, I am very worried about what will become of the Cardinals after the '06 season. At that point, Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan and Jason Marquis all become free agents. Note, that is 3/5 of the starting rotation and 3/4 of the rotation with any MLB experience. And the sad but inevitable truth is that there is no way on Earth that the Cardinals will be able to re-sign these guys as free agents.

AJ Burnett, whom I have spoken extensively of in past posts, was awarded $11M/per for 5 guaranteed years. Burnett...you know, the .500 pitcher! What will it take to lock up Mark Mulder, the winningest southpaw over the last 5 years in all of the Majors? If Scott Boras was cooking up a sales pitch for the guy, he would be looking for no less than 5 years at $13-15M. Mulder has no childhood romantic connection to the Cardinal franchise. If he hits the free agent market, he is GONE!

I was never keen on the trade that brought Mulder to St. Louis to begin with. The pricetag was just too steep. Haren put up similar numbers to Mulder and, in fact, was rated with a higher VORP than Mulder. Don't get me started on Daric Barton; the only blue chip position prospect in the entire farm system. And for good measure, the Cards tossed in Kiko Calero, a reliever who could actually throw strikeouts. Hefty pricetag indeed.

The only way to keep the egg off of his face is for Walt Jocketty to lock up Mulder to a long term deal. But at what cost? If there will be no discount of any kind, then I don't believe ownership will make it happen. Although very successful when judging by his W/L record, Mulder appeared last season to be inconsistant and far from overpowering. Not the kind of guy you throw $15M at.

So what to do? In my humble opinion (and I'm sure this will draw all kinds of criticism) the Cardinals need to set a date sometime before Spring Training at which they either get Mulder signed to an extension or begin shopping him. His trade value is high...after all, his track record speaks for itself, and lefties are always in high demand. In trade, Mulder must be worth at least a solid corner outfilder and a promising AAA starter. The Cards need some youth in the outfield and adding a young pitcher into the mix would help financially for the future.

Something must be done before Mark is allowed to test the free agent waters. If the cards were to trade him, the money saved on his $8M salary this season could be put to use towards a free agent pitching acquisition of thier own. The ludicrous signings of free agent pitchers this offseason is sure to have a positive effect during free agency in the near future and the Cardinals may be able to benefit in the long run.

But it's just my opinion.