ST. LOUIS • With the Cardinals relatively new hard-line stance when it comes to arbitration-eligible players, Friday afternoon's deadline had greater resonance because it wasn't just a pause in negotiations any more.
The Cardinals told agents they would use it as an end.
They don't have to follow through on that policy after agreeing to terms with all three remaining arbitration-eligible players, including newly added All-Star outfielder Marcell Ozuna, a source confirmed. The Cardinals also reached agreements with pitchers Michael Wacha and Tyler Lyons.
All three deals were for one year, the team confirmed. Ozuna agreed to a $9-million deal for 2018, and that represents a $5.5 million raise for him after a career year for the Marlins. Fanrag Sports was first to report Ozuna's salary, and it has since been confirmed.
A source told The Post-Dispatch that Wacha's contract will be worth $5.3 million for the coming year. The righthander made $2.775 million this past season, but due a significant raise after a complete, 30-start season as a starter.
The club announced the deals, but not details, on Friday afternoon.
On Thursday, the Cardinals and outfielder Randal Grichuk agreed to a one-year, $2.6-million contract to avoid an arbitration hearing with him. That left the three deals to reach before Friday's noon St. Louis time deadline for talks. At that point, teams and the player's representative had to exchange salary numbers, and starting last year the Cardinals adopted "file and trial" approach that if they got to that point, exchanging salaries, they would go to a hearing.
They made one exception last year with Carlos Martinez because they had been working toward a multi-year deal before the deadline and were able to reach an agreement on it after exchanging salary figures.
The team did take Wacha to a hearing this past year.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
CARDINALS UNVEIL BUD TERRACE
The overhaul and removal of seats beyond right field this winter at Busch Stadium will lead the Cardinals to debut Budweiser Terrace, the team announced Friday. The alterations to the stadium and planned open space for mingling was reported last month by the Post-Dispatch.
The renovation is in the upper right-field seating area and adjacent to the concourse. The multilevel, 20,000-square-foot area will include two bars, lounge areas for sitting, and a cabana-like area with an “urban garden.” The Cardinals drew inspiration from fan mixing zones that have been popular at Coors Field in Denver and San Diego’s Petco Park.
A total of 1,000 seats were removed to make room for the new area, and it will not require a specific ticket to access the terrace and watch the game from there.
