Mulder

The St Louis Cardinals resigned Mulder even though he's going to miss much of the 2007 season. The first number I read was 2 years, 18 million, but ESPN is reporting 2 years, 13 million guaranteed, and 3 years, 45 million if he makes 30 starts in 2007 and 2008.

Looks like the Cards are safe on 2007. Viva El Birdos does the research on pitchers coming off rotator cuff surgery, and it doesn't look good. If he comes back as the 2001-2003 Mulder, he'd be worth 45 million and more, but that seems like a pipe dream. The Cardinals might be lucky just to get the 2005 version of Mulder back by 2008. Seems like a waste of money to me, but I don't know how the incentives work if he misses half of 2007 but pitches 30 starts and a 4.75 ERA in 2008. Would that make his deal worth 15 million for 2009?