Cardinals sign four-year extension to pitcher Jaime Garcia – MLB News
Just a day before the start of the second half of the 2011 regular season, the National League’s St. Louis Cardinals pen down a four-year extension contract on Wednesday with their left-hand pitcher Jaime Garcia.
According to sources, the contract also includes club option for the fifth and the sixth season. Now he will be the part of the team for the next four years. His extension avoided his arbitration that was to happen after this season.
"Jaime is one the best young arms in baseball," the Cardinals’ general manager John Mozeliak said. "We are excited to have him as part of the core of our pitching staff for years to come."
With this extension, Garcia, who was already focusing on his pitching than his contract, has mentally satisfied, according to sources acquainted with the lead. The lefty has made strong impact in the Majors with a 9-3 record in nineteen games and now is
having a three-game streak. He has secured exactly 100 strike-outs, allowing only 115 hits and 54 runs including 8 home-runs.
Garcia was satisfied with his performance and he expressed a full confidence to take his impetus to next level in the coming days.
"I feel like I was doing a pretty good job staying focused," Garcia said. "But now there's nothing else on my mind when I'm working out on days in between, other than getting ready for my game."
The Cardinals have a 49-43 record with .533 PCT this season but their home exhibition has not been up to the mark, commented a critic. Cardinals have won only 25 games in home while they have lost 21. Garcia remained a driving force in all of their wins
at home, with 1.14 ERA, best in the Majors for any pitcher at home.
Now the Cardinals will be looking to add some strength into their bull-pen and the extension of Garcia is being considered a start towards setting a new roaster. Despite having a number of key players on a disabled list due to injuries, the Cardinals are
sharing a same spot in NL- central with Milwaukee Brewers.
Cardinals have Brian Tallet on 15-day disabled list while Trever Miller is struggling to stabilise his consistency. Some sources believe the Cardinals are on their move to hire some consistent and top starters into their line-up but their Mozeliak seem to
decline this fact.
"I think the likelihood of us getting a starter is pretty small," Mozeliak said. "We're going to try to be really open to anything if we think we can better the club."
The Cardinals will play their next game against the Cincinnati Reds on July 15 and they have scheduled Garcia in the last game of the three game series.
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