The Cardinals have four players going into arbitration hearings. While the hearings won’t be scheduled until Friday, the Cardinals still have time to work out deals prior.
Cardinal players Trevor Rosenthal, Matt Adams and Seth Maness are eligible for arbitration for the first time, while Brandon Moss is a third-year arbitration-eligible player. All four players submitted the salary each are seeking for 2016, while the Cardinals are submitting what they believe is a fair figure.
While the four players have proven to be good players for the Cardinals, Rosenthal may be the target of a multi-year deal prior to his case hitting an arbitration hearing.
Rosenthal is currently the Cardinals closer and has been with the team since 2012. He has notched 93 saves in the past two seasons, earning an All-Star nod in 2015.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak spoke to MLB.com Monday that he was uncertain whether the club would come to an agreement with any of the four players before Friday, but, due to team policy, he was unable to comment on specific deals in the works.
“I think one of the things we’re looking at is always more than just what’s ahead in 2016,” Mozeliak said. “My staff upstairs will certainly consider most anything as far as what we think is best for our future. We’re always open for business in that regard.”
Signing players heading to arbitration to multi-year deals is something not unheard of for the Cardinals. In January 2015, the club signed pitcher Lance Lynn to a three-year contract to avoid the arbitration hearing, in turn locking up one of the club’s best pitchers to a longer term contract.
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