ST. LOUIS — Matt Holliday and the Cardinals agreed yesterday to a $120 million, seven-year contract that is baseball’s richest deal of the offseason and the biggest in franchise history.
Pending a physical, the Cardinals said a formal announcement was likely by tomorrow.
Holliday’s deal includes $119 million guaranteed over seven seasons plus a $17 million vesting option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout.
“I’m going back to the Cardinals,” he told ESPN Radio. “I’m excited about it.”
St. Louis acquired Holliday, who turns 30 next week, from Oakland in July and he helped lead the Cardinals to their first NL Central title since 2006. They sent several top prospects to the Athletics and justified that expense by retaining a player who hit .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 63 games for St. Louis, which took control of the division race with a 32-11 record after the trade.
