Cardinals Under Contract: Ryan Franklin

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Contract Terms: Ryan Franklin received a two-year extension during the 2009 season replacing his 2010 option year from his existing contract. Franklin will make $6.5 million over the next two seasons, but the exact distribution of the money over the 2010 and 2011 seasons has not been released. I will estimate an even split of the total value for simplicity.

2010: $3.25 million
2011: $3.25 million

The Rationale Then: Franklin signed the extension on September 1st. He was in the midst of an excellent season in the closers role that earned him his first All-Star Game appearance of his career. Franklin had an ERA of 1.05 in his 50+ innings pitched in 2009 when the Cardinals extended his contract.

The Outlook Today: Franklin went on to stumble down the stretch in September with an ERA over 6.5 in 9.1 September innings. Franklin also struggled in the postseason against the Dodgers. Franklin may have been slowed by fatigue late in the year, but many Cardinal fans are uncomfortable with Franklin entering 2010 as the closer. Dave Duncan has expressed the team's desire to have another pitcher capable of spelling Franklin to minimize his use on back-to-back nights in 2010.

Moving Forward: Franklin might have stumbled as a closer in late 2009, but $3.25 million in average annual value is very cheap for a closer who was an All-Star last season. If Franklin excels in 2010, his contract will be a great discount for the Cardinals. Even if Franklin loses the closers role at some point in the next two seasons, a veteran reliever capable of pitching in the 8th inning would still be worth $3.25 million seemingly. The only way I can see Franklin's contract extension being a bust is if he is injured enough to miss an entire year or if his skills decline so rapidly that he cannot pitch in at least a set up role for the next two years. The Cardinals seem to have gotten a fair deal on the veteran reliever by guaranteeing him 2011 rather than just exercising his existing 2010 option and possibly trying to resign him next offseason.
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