Your source for Missouri News and Sports
The Cardinals signed 36 year old infielder Alex Cora to a Minor League deal which includes a non-roster invite to Spring Training. If Cora makes the 40 man roster, Cora will earn $800,000
Cora played all four infield positions for the Washington Nationals, while hitting .224 in 91 games last season. The utility infielder has a career batting average of .243 in 1,273 games during 14 Major League seasons and has also played for the Indians, Mets, Red Sox and Rangers.
The National League Central just became a tighter race when an expected free agency announcement came down that Prince Fielder was leaving Milwaukee and signed with Detroit for nine years. While it seems as though every team in the division has a lot of questions, with Albert Pujols and Fielder out of the picture, NL pitchers should breathe a little easier.
On this Pressbox Podcast, I spoke with Justin Hull. He’s the afternoon host at WSCO Radio in Appleton/Green Bay and I’ve been on his show several times during the baseball season to talk Cardinals/Brewers baseball. We talk about what the division will look like and if these nine and ten year deals that Pujols and Fielder signed are really bad deals for those teams.
Justin and I also think that in the long run the Cardinals and Brewers will be OK and suffer no long term fallout for not signing these marquee players.
AUDIO Pressbox Podcast with Justin Hull (18:00)
There were so many players who contributed to the Cardinals wild finish during the 2011 regular season, but can anyone question the fact that if Jason Motte didn’t step up as a closer in the final month of the season, that this team would have been cooked?
The Cardinals solidified the back end of their bullpen by avoiding arbitration with Motte by agreeing to a one year deal worth $1.95 million for the 2012 season.
Tony La Russa smiles as he is asked a question at his retirement press conference. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa who just led the Cardinals to their second World Series title in five years before retiring, will manage the National League in this year’s game July 10 in Kansas City. This will be La Russa’s sixth time managing an All-Star team, three times in each league.
The 67 year old La Russa will be the second manager to lead an All-Star team after retiring. John McGraw retired in 1932, then managed the National League in the first All-Star game the following year.
Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. present First Lady and President Obama with Cardinal jerseys and bats from the World Series
Members of the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals had the opportunity to meet President Obama and First Lady Michelle in a ceremony at the White House’s East Room as they were honored for their heroics last fall.
The Obama’s are White Sox and Cubs fans, but thanked the Cardinals for not only their historic run in August, September and October, but also their off-field work with MLB’s dedication to our nation’s military families.
Prior to making their stop at the White House, the Cardinals spent time at the Walter Reed Veteran’s Hospital. Listen to audio from the First Lady and President as they praise the achievements of the Cardinals.
AUDIO Cardinals ceremony at the White House (10:43)
