Paul DeJong, Cardinals agree to $26 million, 6-year contract

Published

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) Less than a year after making his big league debut, Paul DeJong was rewarded with a long-term deal. And that was worth hugs all around.

The shortstop and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed Monday to a $26 million, six-year contract that includes team options for 2024 and 2025, which if exercised would be worth $51.5 million over eight seasons.

''It gives me a sense of security, just knowing that I'm going to be here and kind of just confirms my thoughts about wanting to be a Cardinal for my life,'' DeJong said. ''To me to be able to sign a potentially eight-year deal just seems like I'm cementing myself in the Cardinals organization. I don't ever want to leave.''

The 24-year-old hugged his parents and grandparents before the news conference to announce the deal. He gets a $1 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deal's approval by the commissioner's office, and salaries of $1 million this year, $1.5 million in each of the following two seasons, $4 million in 2021, $6 million in 2022 and $9 million in 2023.

St. Louis has a $12.5 million option for 2024 with a $2 million buyout. If that is exercised, the Cardinals have a $15 million option for 2025 with a $1 million buyout.

DeJong made his major league debut last May 28 and hit .285 with a team-high 25 homers and 65 RBIs in 108 games. He was selected by St. Louis from Illinois State in the fourth round of the 2015 draft.

DeJong played only 246 minor league games. Batting mostly third, he hit .298 with eight homers in July.

''As you know, we're committed to winning at the major league level through scouting and player development, and Paul is a great example of this,'' owner Bill DeWitt Jr. said.

DeJong's deal covers up to four years of arbitration eligibility and the options extend to two years of free agent eligibility.

St. Louis started nine different shortstops over the past 10 opening days, including Pete Kozma (2013), Rafael Furcal (2012), Ryan Theriot (2011) and Khalil Greene (2009).

''My time with the Cardinals, we've always been searching for that shortstop,'' said John Mozeliak, who has headed the team's baseball operations for 11 years. ''This does give us the level of comfort that we have signed someone that we know can play there for a long time.''

DeJong is 3 for 14 with a double and two RBIs so far this spring training.

''I'm just really happy about how this is working out and really excited to play Cardinals baseball long term,'' DeJong said.

Notes: St. Louis renewed the contract of OF Tommy Pham and agreed to one-year deals with the remainder of its players lacking the necessary service time for arbitration.

---

More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball