Kevin Shattenkirk staying in St. Louis, agrees to deal with Blues

The St. Louis Blues and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk have agreed to a four-year deal. Shattenkirk will earn $17 million over the four years of his new contract. He was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2007 NHL draft, he was picked in the first round and picked 14th overall. He would play in 46 games for the Avalanche, before being traded to the St. Louis Blues with forward Chris Stewart, a second round pick for defenseman Erik Johnson, center Jay McClement, and a first round pick.

The deal helped the Blues a lot, giving them a better defenseman than Erik Johnson was. Shattenkirk would end up playing in 26 for the Blues, scoring 2 goals, and getting 15 assists. All of that was in his rookie season in 2010-2011. So far for his career, he's played 201 games, 23 goals, 86 assists, 109 points, and he's a plus 18. Also, since coming into the NHL in 2010, Shattenkirk ranks fourth among American-born defensemen currently playing in points. As for goals and assists he ranks fifth.

The deal was big on the Blues to do list in the offseason, now they need to get defenseman Alex Pietrangelo singed, and forward Chris Stewart. 

I'm glad to see Kevin Shattenkirk staying a Blue, as I'm sure lots of other people are glad also. I give kudos to the Blues management for getting Shattenkirk signed, now for some of the other core players to hopefully be signed, as in the two I mentioned  above Pietrangelo and Stewart.  

Patrik Berglund re-signs with Blues

The St. Louis Blues and center Patrik Berglund have agreed to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $3.25 million. Berglund 25, was drafted in the 2006 NHL draft by the Blues in the 1st round, he was picked 25th overall. In his five seasons in the NHL, two of them he's scored 20 goals, 19 goals in one, 17 last year season, and his lowest was 13 goals (which was in his 2nd NHL season). He scored his first NHL goal on October 13th, 2008 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. While, he's shown some flashes that he can be good he really hasn't shown it yet that he's worth a long-term deal. He's had one season, which was his 3rd NHL season, when he got 52 points, in his rookie season he was able to get 47 points. For his career, so far Berglund has played 358 games, 92 goals, 96 assists, 188 points, and is a plus 13.

This one-year contract for Berglund is pretty much, show us you're worth a long-term deal. I know it sometimes takes awhile for players from Sweden to fully come into their own in the NHL. So, maybe that's the case with Berglund. Hopefully, he's able to show the Blues that he's worth a long-term deal. As for myself, I like the deal. It's a win-win type for both sides.

ALONG COMES AUSTIN, SIGNS WITH RAMS

Rookie wide receiver Tavon Austin has agreed to a five-year contract with the St. Louis Rams. He'll earn $12,751 million over the five years, and gets a $7,653 million signing bonus. Austin, 22 was picked 8th overall by the Rams in the NFL Draft back in April, when the Rams traded up from no.16 to 8th with the Buffalo Bills to draft Austin. He spent his college football career playing for the West Virginia Mountaineers, he served as both the punt returner and kick returner in his time at the West Virginia. Austin never missed a game in his college career.

While at West Virginia, Austin played in 52 games, catching 288 passes, 3,413 yards, and 29 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,033 yards and 6 touchdowns. Last season for the Mountaineers, he had 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns. Before going to West Virginia, in high school Austin played running back. Austin is only 5'9, but with the speed has he should be able to develop into a nice weapon for the Rams offense. He'll be the Rams kick returner for sure.

Out of all of the Rams draft picks only Austin and linebacker Alec Ogletree out of Georgia, were the only two to get five-year contracts, the rest of the Rams draft picks all got four-year contracts (that includes Austin's teammate at West Virginia wide receiver Stedman Bailey). 

I can't wait until Austin returns a kick for a touchdown during the NFL season, he should be fun for Rams fans to watch.

Ian Cole re-signs with Blues

St. Louis Blues defenseman Ian Cole has agreed to a contract extension with the Blues. The deal is a two-year contract, worth a total of $1.65 million. He'll make $750,000 in 2013-2014, and $900,000 in 2014-2015. The deal is also, a one-way contract. Cole who's 24, was drafted by the Blues in the 2007 NHL draft, he was picked in the first round and was picked 18th overall. He ended up making his NHL debut on November 6th, 2010 against the Boston Bruins in Boston. He scored his first career NHL goal on March 9th, 2011 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Cole has showed scoring ability while playing college hockey and in AHL (American Hockey League). He hasn't shown much of it in the NHL yet, even though he's showed flashes of it while playing for the Blues.
In college hockey while playing for Notre Dame, he played 111 games, with 17 goals, 51 assists, for a total of 68 points. While, playing in the AHL, he played 109 games, 10 goals, 28 assists, for a total of 38 points.

So, far his career stats are: 67 games played, 2 goals, 9 assists, for a total of 11 points. He also is a plus 9 in his career, and has 67 penalty minutes. 

It will be nice seeing Cole in the NHL without going to the minors, during the season. So, hopefully that can help Cole improve his game in the NHL. It's also nice to see Cole staying around. I wonder who the Blues will re-sign next.

Adam Cracknell re-signs with Blues

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed forward Adam Cracknell to a one-year contract for the 2013-2014 season. He'll earn $600,000 for this coming season. Cracknell would have been an unrestricted free agent on June 30th. He was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 2004 NHL draft, picked in the 9th round and he was picked 279th overall. Cracknell, who will turn 28 in July failed to make the Flames NHL roster, and was let go by the Flames in 2009. He would end up joining the Blues on July 16, 2009, as an as an unrestricted free agent after spending four seasons in the Flames minors (2006-2009).

Cracknell would finally reach the NHL with the Blues on December 15th, 2010 against the Detroit Red Wings. He would later score his first NHL goal against the Red Wings on March 12th, 2011. He would end up playing in 24 games, scoring 3 goals, and getting 4 assists. And finished the season a plus 1. Cracknell seems to create scoring chances when he plays. And he's done well on the 4th line for the Blues. Last season, the Blues finally found a shut down 4th line which was later known as the CPR line: Adam Cracknell, Chris Porter, and Ryan Reaves. That line ended up becoming one of the Blues best lines last season, and played well in the playoffs.

So far, for his career Cracknell has played 46 games in the NHL, scoring 6 goals, with 8 assists, for a total of 14 points, and is a plus 5. Cracknell also has a total of 12 penalty minutes.

I'm a bit surprised that Cracknell got only a one-year deal, but then maybe the Blues ownership wants him to prove to them that he's worth a 2 or 3 year deal with a full-season played in the NHL in 2013-2014. It's great to know the the CPR line will be staying put.

Wainwright staying a Cardinal

The St. Louis Cardinals and starting pitcher Adam Wainwright, have agreed to a five-year deal, that's worth $97.5 million. Wainwright could have been a free agent after the 2013 season, he could have made more money on the free agent market, know how crazy the free agent market is now days for starting pitchers and top free agents, instead his contract will expire after the 2018 season. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 MLB draft, he went in the first round, and overall was pick no.29. In December 2003, the Braves traded Wainwright to the Cardinals with starting pitcher Jason Marquis, and relief pitcher Ray King for outfielder J.D. Drew, and  outfielder Eli Marrero.

Wainwright ended up spending only two seasons in the Cardinals minors, and reaching the MLB in 2005. His major league debut was on September 11, 2005 against the New York Mets.

After having been a starting pitcher through out his entire minor league career, Wainwright made the Cardinals Opening Day roster in 2006, as a relief pitcher. He hit his first MLB career home run on May 24, 2006 against San Francisco Giants pitcher Noah Lowry, that came in his first career at bat in the MLB. That marked the 22nd time a MLB player hit his first career home run, off of the first pitch that he saw thrown to him. It also made Wainwright the 11th National League player to accomplish it. Later on in 2006, Wainwright would end up becoming the Cardinals closer, after Jason Isringhausen had to have season ending hip surgery. He ended up getting three saves in five save opportunities. In the playoffs, he'd come up big getting four saves in five opportunities. Wainwright closed out the final game against the San Diego Padres in the NLDS (National League Division Series), the final game of the NLCS (National League Championship Series) against the New York Mets, and then striking out Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge in game 5 of the World Series. The last out in the NLCS may have been the best one. He was facing batter Carlos Beltran (now currently a teammate of Wainwright's) with two outs and the bases loaded. Beltran would end up seeing a nasty curveball, and struck out looking at it.

Wainwright would become a full-time starting pitcher in the MLB in 2007, going 14-12 with an era of 3.70 and pitching 202 innings and starting 32 games. Wainwright later ended up becoming an All-Star in 2010, and also winning a gold glove in 2009.  In 2009, he went 19-8 with an era of 2.63, starting 34 games and striking-out 212 batters, and pitched 233 innings. Wainwright would then win 20 games in 2010 going 20-11 with an era of 2.42, starting 33 games, striking-out 213 batters, and pitched 230.1 innings.

So far, Wainwright has pitched seven seasons in his career, he missed all of 2011 with Tommy John surgery. His career stats for his seven year career as of now are: 80 wins, 48 losses, era 3.15, 1073 innings pitched, 908 strikeouts, 151 games started, has pitched in 214 games, and a whip of 1.21.

It's a great signing for the Cardinals, and keeps their ace around longer also. So the Cardinals won't need to work about him now, and with other young starting pitchers in the Cardinals minor working their way up to the MLB. One of the most recently ones to reach the MLB is the Cardinals no.5 starting pitcher Shelby Miller, and hopefully more on the way in the future. Having Wainwright around should help lead the Cardinals starting rotation, while others adjust to the MLB. Well done by the Cardinals at making sure Wainwright got signed before the season started.

I also wonder if the Braves regret trading Adam Wainwright at all, even when he grew up a Braves fan. I know former Braves starting pitcher John Smoltz had told the Braves not to trade Wainwright. Smoltz was right, even though Wainwright was the key that sent the Braves J.D. Drew.

Brewers land starting pitcher Kyle Lohse

Free agent starting pitcher Kyle Lohse is no longer without a team. The Milwaukee Brewers have signed Kyle Lohse to a three-year deal, that's worth $33 million. Lohse had been a top free agent starting pitcher on the free agent market. But, teams were scared to sign Lohse, pretty much because of the MLB rules where a team would forfeit a draft pick in order to sign Lohse. Lohse had declined the Cardinals one-year deal for $13.3 million, when they made him qualifying offer before free agency started. Scott Boras, Lohse's agent wanted to get him a three-year deal, for $45 million. The Brewers will forfeit their 17th pick in the MLB draft, that goes to the Cardinals, but that will become pick no.28. Lohse had been working out in Arizona and throwing 90-pitch simulated games, in order to stay in shape and ready for a team to sign him.

Lohse was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1996 MLB draft, they picked him in the 29th round, and overall he was pick no.862. In 1999, Lohse would be traded by the Cubs to the Minnesota Twins, who he played for from 2001-2006. The Twins would end up trading Lohse to the Cincinnati Reds, on July 31, 2006. Lohse played for the Reds for the rest of 2006, until half of the 2007 season. In 2007, he was traded from the Red to the Philadelphia Phillies. Lohse started 11 games for the Phillies going 3-0 with an era of 4.72. The Phillies tried to bring Lohse back in free agency after the 2007 season, but he wanted more than what the Phillies were offering him. So, he stayed a free agent for along time and the Cardinals ended up signing him to a one-year deal, on March 14, 2008. Lohse found a home with the Cardinals and would end up staying a Cardinal from 2008-2012. Lohse got a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 2011.

Last season, Lohse started 33 games and went 16-3 with an era of 2.86. He also pitched 211 innings, that marked the third time in his career to reach 200 innings in his career. Lohse also lead the NL (National League) starting pitchers in winning percentage, that was .842. While, Lohse isn't known for strikeouts he also set a new career high in strikeouts with 143, and the last two seasons he has a record of 30-11.

So far in Lohse's twelve year career in the MLB, his career stats are: 118 wins, 109 losses, 1973 innings pitched, 1238 strikeouts, 331 starts, 335 games played, 4.45 era, and a whip of 1.369.

Does Lohse turn out to be a good pick up for the Brewers or does he turn out to be Jeff Suppan 2.0 for the Brewers? Suppan was also overpaid by the Brewers in a free agency years back by the Brewers, after leaving the Cardinals. Suppan pretty much became a big game pitcher in the playoffs for the Cardinals and turned his career around, but went down hill after going to the Brewers. I guess we'll find out soon, if Lohse turns out to be a good pick up for the Brewers or Jeff Suppan 2.0. Lohse is a good guy, and I wish him well, except for when he's pitching against the Cardinals.