St. Louis Post-Dispatch
January 5, 2002

Morris Says Cards Were Fair In Negotiations On Contract

By Rick Hummel

The contract called for $27 million in guaranteed money. The time to complete it took about two telephone calls, said Cardinals righthander Matt Morris.

Morris, who said he dismissed his agent when he wasn't sure where that agent's company was going, decided he would represent himself. And, as of Friday, he was officially a rich man, having signed on for three more years and having saved the commission.

"It was something I enjoyed doing," Morris said of the negotiations.

"Walt (general manager Walt Jocketty) sent me a proposal I thought was fair. They've always treated me well, even with my injuries and everything.

"I wanted a good relationship with them. I've had a good relationship with them. Trying to sell yourself is a bit different but I had a decent year ... a very good year and that spoke a lot for itself."

Jocketty, who said the deal actually had been completed before Christmas, said, "When we started the process I knew it would be just the two of us dealing with each other and I told him from the very beginning that we were going to be fair.

"Sometimes in dealing with an agent, they feel you probably have to send a lower offer than you would normally so they feel they have to negotiate something, to basically justify what they're doing."

Had Morris, who tied Arizona's Curt Schilling for the major-league lead in wins at 22 and made the National League All-Star team, waited until after the 2002 season, he could have been a free agent as a six-year man.

But he said, "I was looking forward to staying in St. Louis for an extended number of years. With the injuries in the past, I was just happy to get something on paper, which was three years in this case.

"I definitely left money on the table," said Morris. "How much? Who knows? But I've always said in the past, 'Why are these guys arguing over 'X' amount of dollars? And then I got to that point in the negotiations where I was arguing about 'X' amount of dollars.

"I'm sure if I had an agent, he'd be scratching at the door trying to get as much as he could, but that's not the person I am and that's not the relationship I want with the club, either."

Morris' breakthrough season in 2001 came just two years after he had missed the entire 1999 season with serious elbow surgery. He had spent the 2000 season in the bullpen as he continued his rehabilitation.

With the Cardinals' financial constraints, Morris agreed to take far less than one-third of his guaranteed $27 million in the first year. He said he would be making $4 million this year, $10.5 million in 2003 and $12.5 million in 2004.

"Obviously, the first year it hurts me and helps out the club but in that third year ... that sets me up in position for a new contract," Morris said.

Even though the Cardinals wanted to lock up Morris, 27, for four years, Morris said, "Three was my number. For some reason, three was what I set in my head beforehand and that's what I wanted to reach."