Holiday Willing to Defer Money

God Bless Matt Holiday! When I heard he would defer some of his contract in order to sign Pujols, I was speechless. What a class act Holiday is. This story came out this morning on the Mike and Mike show on ESPN Radio 101.1. Here is the rest of the story written by Derrick Goold:

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday, who signed the largest contract in club history last year, told an ESPN radio program this morning that he'd defer additional money from his salary if that's what it would take to sign Albert Pujols.

Holliday appeared on "Mike and Mike", ESPN's signature morning show that is broadcast locally in St.Louis on 101.1 FM ESPN/WXOS. He was asked by the host, his friend Doug Gottlieb, if he would defer additional money from his contract to fit Pujols into the Cardinals' payroll. The question provided the answer as much as Holliday did.


"I would be willing if they came to me and said, 'Hey this is what it's going to take to get Albert done. Would you do it again or would you do more?'" Holliday said on the show. "Scott wouldn't like me to say that. But if that's what it took, I would be willing to do that."


Scott is his agent Scott Boras
Reached later, Holliday said the team has not approached him about deferring additional money from his salary. He added that he would "do that" if it was needed.


The deal he currently has with the team calls for $2 million to be deferred from his salary each year. His total deal is worth $120 million over seven years, and Holliday is entering the second year of that contract.


Holliday has repeatedly said the Cardinals are obviously a better team with Pujols in the lineup and that he hopes to "finish our careers together here" with the Cardinals.


The local ESPN affiliate, 101.1 FM, plans to re-air the interview or portions of it throughout the day.


Negotiations with Pujols are ongoing as the advertised deadline of his arrival at spring training nears. Pujols is expected to report to the facility in Jupiter on Feb. 16, and he has said that he would end talks before he starts his spring workouts.


With the enormity of the contract being discussed, it's unlikely the deal would hinge on a player, Holliday or otherwise, chipping off some salary to make room for Pujols.

Derrick Goold