Jordan Walker’s next contract could land in a range that would make even a lot of Cardinals fans do a double take.
That’s the takeaway from Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who talked through the possibility on 101 ESPN’s BK & Ferrario. Walker is currently set to reach free agency at age 27 after the 2029 season, which puts him in the kind of age window that has produced enormous paydays for stars like Juan Soto, Bryce Harper, and Manny Machado.
Goold didn’t put out an official figure, but when Brandon Kiley asked whether Nolan Arenado’s eight-year, $260 million extension with the Colorado Rockies was a useful benchmark, Goold said it was “remarkably close.” He also said a nine-year deal could climb to the $300 million mark.
That’s a staggering number, especially considering how Walker has played over the last two years. But it also shows the bind the Cardinals are in: if they believe he’s the player they think he can be, the price only gets steeper the longer they wait. A deal that looks huge now could balloon into the $300 million, $400 million, or even $500 million range if Walker keeps trending up.
That’s why the decision is such a gamble either way. Lock him up now, and St.
Louis takes on a massive commitment. Wait, and the club risks watching the number rise beyond reach.
There’s also the possibility that a new collective bargaining agreement could affect what Walker can command long-term. But that cuts both ways, because a new CBA could also make him less eager to sign an extension.
Other possible frameworks have already been floated. FanGraphs’ Jon Becker suggested something closer to Austin Riley’s ten-year, $210 million extension, while some fans have tossed around deals that stay below $200 million. Still, Goold’s view suggests the real number could be much higher than those guesses.
Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III said during JJ Wetherholt’s extension press conference that he expects more deals to come, and that points to St. Louis being willing to keep working on long-term agreements. The Cardinals appear to want the flexibility to lock Walker in, and they probably don’t want to let the situation drag on until it resembles another Albert Pujols departure.
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