The following is my measurement of the Cardinals’ projected Opening Day 2013 payroll. Roster spots are filled with the most likely internal candidate until news otherwise comes out. The estimated salaries for Arbitration eligible players appear courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors.
| Pos | Player | Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Yadier Molina | 14.200 | 1st year of 4 year contract |
| 1B | Allen Craig | ~0.500 | 3rd year team control |
| 2B | Daniel Descalso | ~0.500 | 2nd year team control |
| SS | Rafael Furcal | 7.500 | 2nd year of 2 year contract (FA) |
| 3B | David Freese | 3.150 | 1st year of arbitration |
| LF | Matt Holliday | 17.000 | 4th year of 7 year contract |
| CF | Jon Jay | ~0.500 | 3rd year of team control |
| RF | Carlos Beltran | 13.000 | 2nd year of 2 year contract (FA) |
| C | Tony Cruz | ~0.500 | 2nd year of team control |
| IF | Ty Wigginton | 2.500 | 1st year of 2 year contract. |
| IF | Matt Carpenter | ~0.500 | 2nd year of team control |
| IF | Ronny Cedeno | 1.150 | 1st year of 1 year contract (FA) |
| OF | Shane Robinson | ~0.500 | 2nd year of team control |
| SP | Adam Wainwright | 12.000 | Final option year of 4 year contract (FA) |
| SP | Chris Carpenter | 12.500 | 2nd year of 2 year contract (FA) |
| SP | Jake Westbrook | 8.750 | 1st year of 1 year contract |
| SP | Jaime Garcia | 5.875 | 2nd year of 4 year contract |
| SP | Lance Lynn | ~0.500 | 2nd year of team control |
| SP | Shelby Miller | ~0.500 | 1st year of team control |
| LHP | Marc Rzepczynski | 1.100 | 1st arbitration year |
| LHP | Randy Choate | 1.500 | 1st year of 3 year contract |
| RHP | Edward Mujica | 3.200 | 1st year of 1 year contract (FA) |
| RHP | Jason Motte | 4.000 | 1st year of 2 year contract |
| RHP | Mitchell Boggs | 1.475 | 1st year of 1 year contract (FA) |
| RHP | Fernando Salas | ~0.500 | 3rd year of team control |
| RHP | Joe Kelly | ~0.500 | 1st year of team control |
| GUARANTEED | 108.900 | 16 signed | |
| ARBITRATION (Est.) | 0.000 | 0 arbitration cases | |
| TEAM CONTROL | ~5.000 | 10 team control | |
| TOTAL | 113.900 | 26 players |
