Alec Burleson open to Cardinals extension talks this offseason
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson says he is open to offseason contract extension talks, telling reporters he is "all ears" if the club approaches him before a looming MLB lockout. The RBI leader remains under team control for two more seasons but wants to stay with the group.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Burleson told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he would be "100%" open to staying in St. Louis. Extension talks have not started, but he hopes the club approaches him before a looming lockout this winter.
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Key Takeaways
- Alec Burleson says he is "all ears" if the Cardinals raise an extension before a potential lockout.
- He is batting .279/.343/.464 with an MLB-leading 113 RBIs entering the final weekend.
- Burleson is club-controlled for two more seasons after a $3.3 million first arbitration year.
- St. Louis could extend him, keep him through arbitration, or weigh trade interest this offseason.
Why does Alec Burleson's extension stance matter now?
Burleson is finishing the best season of his career after taking over first base when the Cardinals traded Willson Contreras to Boston. Yahoo Sports reports he has 24 home runs, 37 doubles, and 113 RBIs, and could become the first Cardinals player to lead the league in RBIs since Albert Pujols in 2010.
That surge arrives as St. Louis wraps a below-.500 year and heads into what Yahoo calls a long, potentially transformational offseason, with pitching upgrades near the top of the wish list.
How long is Alec Burleson under Cardinals control?
MLB Trade Rumors reports the 27-year-old (28 next month) remains controlled for two seasons and is projected to reach free agency in the 2028-29 offseason. He is due arbitration raises this winter and after 2027.
There is no clear first baseman of the future immediately crowding him in St. Louis, though clubs have shown trade interest in recent windows. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom previously moved Brendan Donovan at a similar two-year control point.
What could a Cardinals extension for Burleson look like?
No offer is on the table yet. MLBTR notes recent first-base comps are imperfect and floated a hypothetical five-year, $75 million range if the Cardinals believe Burleson can sustain his 2025-26 offensive pace.
That leaves three paths: secure a longer deal, go year to year in arbitration, or shop him for prospects. Burleson's message is clear—he wants to hear from the front office before winter work stops.