DeJong and Cardinals agree to $26M, six-year deal
JUPITER, FLA. » 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.
Royals, Jay agree to deal
SURPRISE, ARIZ. » The Kansas City Royals have plugged a hole in center field by agreeing to sign Jon Jay.
Jay agreed to a $3 million, oneyear contract Tuesday, and could earn another $1.5 million in performance bonuses. Kansas City made room for Jay by placing pitcher Jesse Hahn on the 60-day disabled list with an elbow injury.
With Lorenzo Cain leaving to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Royals lacked an experienced center fielder to cover the spacious Kauffman Stadium grass.
Jay has a .996 career fielding percentage, the highest of any active major league outfielder with a minimum of 500 games.
He hit .296 in last season with 141 the games Cubs.
Nats send prospect home
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. » Seth Romero, a top pitching prospect selected by Washington with the 25th overall pick in last year’s amateur draft, was sent home from spring training by the Nationals for violating curfew.
Washington said the left-hander violated team policy but did not go into details. A person familiar with the situation said Romero’s girlfriend was at spring training and he stayed out late.
“Romero, who turns 22 on April 19, had been training on the minor league side of Nationals camp.