Cardinals urged to make 'no brainer' contract decision with Jordan Walker

1 month ago 20

The St. Louis Cardinals have had a very good 2026 season, especially compared to expectations coming into the year. They were a rebuilding team, and actually contended for much of the year.

A lot of key players broke out and had big years; none were more important than Jordan Walker, who appeared to blossom into a true superstar outfielder after years of struggles with the team.

Looking ahead to the 2026-2027 MLB offseason, MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided.com is urging the Cardinals to sign Walker to a contract extension that would be a "no-brainer" for both parties.

Cardinals urged to make 'no-brainer' contract extension with Jordan Walker

"The first move of free agency ... shouldn't even involve a free agent! The Cardinals need to extend Jordan Walker this winter," Murray writes.

This extension would make a lot of sense for the Cardinals and Walker, but how long is Murray anticipating a potential contract being? He shared his belief for what a "no-brainer" contract extension could look like, and it's not a very long-term deal.

"But a five-year contract to forego arbitration and one free agent season would give both sides certainty about his future while also ensuring Walker hits free agency by age 30, which would allow him the chance for a second massive payday. No brainer," Murray writes.

The Cardinals have Walker under club control for the next four seasons. Walker is set to hit the open market in 2030, so the Cardinals should look to sign him to an extension that buys out his first year of free agency.

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It will cost a lot of money to do this, but it shouldn't be too expensive considering this is only one breakout season from Walker compared to the three poor seasons before this year.

Still, an extension for Walker would be worthwhile, especially since he's likely to be a key piece of the team for years to come.

So, why would a five-year extension make sense? It gives the Cardinals a bit of a hedge in case this 2026 season was a one-off breakout from Walker. If he struggles, this shorter-term extension wouldn't be such a massive blow to the team's books.

This extension that Murray wants the Cardinals and Walker to agree to would give St. Louis one extra year of control, secure a nice payday for Walker after a breakout, and still leave the door open for a second major extension after this extension ends.