NewsPineiro files for free agency
Right-hander becomes eighth Cardinal to test market
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
11/06/09 8:07 PM EST
ST. LOUIS -- Joel Pineiro became the eighth Cardinal to file for free agency on Friday, the second day that eligible players could formally file.Pineiro may well be headed elsewhere after his big 2009 season, in which he went 15-10 with a 3.49 ERA. A new-found dedication to a two-seam sinking fastball helped propel him to a big year, and he might cash in on that in a new location.
The Cardinals have expressed an interest in bringing back John Smoltz for another year in their rotation. They've also made it clear that one spot is likely to go to a product of the farm system, such as Jaime Garcia or Mitchell Boggs.
With Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and Kyle Lohse all under contract for 2010 and beyond, that might mean there's no place for Pineiro. Moreover, the club has previously expressed reservations over having another long-term contract in its starting rotation, and Pineiro's big year would seem to put him in place for a multi-year deal.
Rick Ankiel, Mark DeRosa, Troy Glaus, Khalil Greene, Matt Holliday, Jason LaRue and Smoltz all formally filed on Thursday. Todd Wellemeyer has yet to file but expects to.
Players have a 15-day window -- that began on Thursday -- to file for free agency. That's also the same window during which teams have exclusive rights to negotiate with their own free agents. A club may express interest with another club's free agent during that window, but is not permitted to discuss actual contract terms.
Pineiro is a Type B free agent. Thus if the Cardinals offer him arbitration and he signs elsewhere, or if he signs elsewhere before Dec. 1 regardless of an arbitration offer, the Cardinals would receive Draft-pick compensation.
Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
