Cardinals give Mozeliak contract extension

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals extended the contract of general manager John Mozeliak for two years through the 2018 season.

Mozeliak, 45, has been with the Cardinals organization for the last 19 seasons, the last six as GM. During Mozeliak's tenure, the Cardinals have been to the postseason four times, winning two National League pennants, and a World Series in 2011.

The Cardinals have also been recognized twice by Baseball America as the organization of the year, in 2011 and again in 2013.

"I think what we've been able to accomplish here is something we all take a lot of pride in, but we also know every year is a new year and every year has new challenges," Mozeliak said. "I think that's the exciting thing about working with this group. It's innovative, it's creative and it's not looking back. It's about looking forward."

Mozeliak has negotiated contracts to keep several key players under team control, including Matt Holliday, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, Allen Craig and Matt Carpenter.

Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt said he thought the time was right to extend Mozeliak.

"Given where we are and how the organization's doing, it was appropriate for us to do it," DeWitt said. "It was pretty hectic during spring training and the first part of the season, so we felt it was appropriate to do it now.

"We really didn't have a lot of discussions. I met with him when we opened the season in Cincinnati. I talked to him about it at that time and we did it pretty quickly."

That was just fine with Mozeliak.

"I was obviously very excited. This is my home. I've been with the Cardinals now going on 19 years. This is really what I know."