Quiet as it is being kept, the St. Louis Cardinals have to be wondering if the team’s major investment in third baseman Scott Rolen is still a sound financial move.
Rolen is raking in about $11.25 million per year on a contract he signed in 2003 that runs through 2010. He was 28 when he signed it. He’ll be 35 when it ends. He’ll have at least $90 million to show for it by then.
The problem with the deal is, obviously, injuries.
Rolen remains on the disabled list with a bum left shoulder, and there is rampant speculation that he will not play again this season. If he does return, a repeat of his pitiful and painful postseason of 2004 is almost a certainty.
While he played in 142 games last season, he was pretty much worthless for many of them down the stretch in September.
Yes, he did hit a crucial home run against Roger Clemens in Game Seven of the National League Championship Series, but he failed to get a single hit in the World Series against Boston.
This year, he has played in just 56 games, and there is no word when – or if – Rolen will play again in 2005. When he began his latest lengthy stint on the disabled list, he was hitting a paltry .235 with five home runs and 28 RBI. Extrapolate those numbers over a season and it comes to roughly 14 home runs and 78 RBI. Is that worth $11 million a year?
Rolen has played in 198 of the Cardinals’ 280 regular season games since Opening Day 2004. That is an unimpressive 70.7 percent of possible games played. That percentage grows smaller with each game missed.
Rolen plays with vigor, and he plays the right way. He hustles, runs with his head down on home runs and never showboats.
There is no bat flip after a home run; there is no pumped fist after he makes a great play at third base.
But there is too often no Rolen on the active roster.
The Cardinals have continued to win without Rolen, thanks to the outstanding play of Abraham Nunez. Nunez has contributed timely hits and has also played solid defense.
You can ask, “Where would the Cardinals be without Albert Pujols or Chris Carpenter?” and the answer would be, “In trouble.”
When you ask the same about Rolen, the answer is, “Cruising to a division title with the NL’s best record.”
Many fans find themselves caught off-guard when there is talk of trading stars to reduce payroll and add younger players and prospects.
Don’t be surprised if Rolen falls into that category within the next year.
Let’s assume the Cardinals do not win the World Series this season.
With Rolen missing so many games, and the disappointment of another postseason setback weighing down Cardinal Nation all winter, there will be talk of improving the team by trading the highly paid and oft-injured Rolen.
I think the Cardinals will hold on to Rolen through next season.
But if the Cardinals were to fall out of the running at some point next summer – and Rolen has been relatively healthy – there will be teams with interest in him.
With several key Cardinals contracts’ set to expire in the next season or two, Rolen must prove he is healthy and productive during the next year to insure that he remains a Redbird.
