He essentially did re-invest the money in 2024, the backloading basically allowed them to sign Kyle Gibson and Kittredge or Crawford.CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑03 Sep 2025 09:53 amIt’s makes sense for BDW because instead of handing that money up front to the player he can hold on to a large portion and invest it and put it to work for his own gains for several years. Too bad he won’t reinvest some of those earnings back into the product. The only other defense would be there is no guarantee Sonny would waive his NTC even if the team could negotiate a deal that is desirable to another team due to the remaining lower salary.sdaltons wrote: ↑02 Sep 2025 23:21 pmYeah backloading a contract to a guy who is already old makes zero sense. Who would take on the remaining salary in a trade? Dumb.icon wrote: ↑02 Sep 2025 21:50 pmShould have front-loaded it. If he were making just $10 million next year, he could easily be dealt if he waived his NTC.Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑02 Sep 2025 20:55 pm He averages 25 over the deal. They backloaded it. Only made 10 last year.
The NTCs are what’s really slowing this rebuild. Every FA demands them now so good luck signing any good player without one.
Sonny Gray is going to make 35 mill?
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Re: Sonny Gray is going to make 35 mill?
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Clubmaker2
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Re: Sonny Gray is going to make 35 mill?
cardinals have tried front loading and failed anyway. Jhonny Peralta 4 years, 53 mil total yet was released on his year 4, 10 mil , no one took the contract.
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CorneliusWolfe
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Re: Sonny Gray is going to make 35 mill?
That’s fair, those 3 probably did equal the backloaded amount. I concede and retract my statement good Sir. The board is better when we keep each other honest.PadsFS07 wrote: ↑03 Sep 2025 11:55 amHe essentially did re-invest the money in 2024, the backloading basically allowed them to sign Kyle Gibson and Kittredge or Crawford.CorneliusWolfe wrote: ↑03 Sep 2025 09:53 amIt’s makes sense for BDW because instead of handing that money up front to the player he can hold on to a large portion and invest it and put it to work for his own gains for several years. Too bad he won’t reinvest some of those earnings back into the product. The only other defense would be there is no guarantee Sonny would waive his NTC even if the team could negotiate a deal that is desirable to another team due to the remaining lower salary.sdaltons wrote: ↑02 Sep 2025 23:21 pmYeah backloading a contract to a guy who is already old makes zero sense. Who would take on the remaining salary in a trade? Dumb.icon wrote: ↑02 Sep 2025 21:50 pmShould have front-loaded it. If he were making just $10 million next year, he could easily be dealt if he waived his NTC.Talkin' Baseball wrote: ↑02 Sep 2025 20:55 pm He averages 25 over the deal. They backloaded it. Only made 10 last year.
The NTCs are what’s really slowing this rebuild. Every FA demands them now so good luck signing any good player without one.
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rockondlouie
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Re: Sonny Gray is going to make 35 mill?
Cardinals are 19 - 9 in Gray's starts.
+10 games over .500
NONE of that $35M is coming out of any of our pockets so who cares what he's making!
(And has been mentioned he pitched for $10M in 2024 to help Dewitt)
I could care less about saving BDWJr any money since we know every penny will be going into his pocket in 2026 and none will be re-invested adding players.
If he did waive the NTC, then you're getting nothing of value back if the acquiring teams eats the bulk of his contract.
I hope he doesn't waive, at least the Cards will win way more games than they lose when he pitches in 2026.
+10 games over .500
NONE of that $35M is coming out of any of our pockets so who cares what he's making!
(And has been mentioned he pitched for $10M in 2024 to help Dewitt)
I could care less about saving BDWJr any money since we know every penny will be going into his pocket in 2026 and none will be re-invested adding players.
If he did waive the NTC, then you're getting nothing of value back if the acquiring teams eats the bulk of his contract.
I hope he doesn't waive, at least the Cards will win way more games than they lose when he pitches in 2026.
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stlbirdlover
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Re: Sonny Gray is going to make 35 mill?
The Cards are giving him a 5 mil. bonus after pitching that gem on Labor Day!!!!!!!

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KeeptheRamsinSTL
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ScotchMIrish
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Re: Sonny Gray is going to make 35 mill?
If you want to sign a good player this is how it works.
Re: Sonny Gray is going to make 35 mill?
They backloaded making it as unattractive as possible to potential trade partners.