Jon Jay finalizes contract

JUPITER, Fla. • World Series MVP David Freese and starting center fielder Jon Jay were among the players who finalized their contracts for 2012 with the Cardinals this morning, a player and an official confirmed.

Jay and Freese — both of whom are participating in their first workouts today — completed their contracts this morning.

These deals are one-year contracts and its rare for a player to take a significant leap in salary. For players with no experience in the majors, their deals will be for the major-league minimum salary ($480,000).

Players like Freese and Jay will receive slight raises; each made slightly above the major-league minimum in 2011.

Terms of their contracts were not disclosed.

The club has all the power when it comes to negotiating deals for players with fewer than three years of experience. If a contract isn't agreed to before the deadline this spring, the team can renew the player's contract at a price the club sets.

The Cardinals could have all the members of the 40-man roster signed for 2012 within a week.


(stltoday.com)