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Pitcher wants to be shown the money

The pitcher is Matt Morris, key thrower on a St. Louis staff with a majors-lowest 3.47 ERA, has decided that he will use this year`s return to form - after a tough 2004 season - to get more money.

Morris, who is signed to a $2.5 million contract this year, says he`s given the Cardinals salary breaks on his last two negotiations and wants more money this time around. Not only are Morris` numbers better overall coming in to the All Star Break than they were in 2001, when he won 22 games, but his overall pitching abilities seem to be rising to a new plateau.

Although St. Louis will be seeing increased revenues from their new stadium next year, they still have to take the $6.5 million option on Mark Mulder into consideration for their 2006 payroll.

It will be interesting to see how this issue plays out, because without a major hike in Cardinal payroll (which is unlikely at the present time given the Mulder situation and the Morris demand), one of these two pitchers will probably end up on the free agent market and influence rotations big time next year.