Baseball Perspectives  50 cent Walt Jocketty has pulled off another big deal for a marquee player without strapping the team, financially or talent-wise. (James A. Finley/AP)

This time a year ago, Cardinal nation wondered how St. Louis would ever replace J.D. Drew until Jocketty brought in Reggie Sanders, who wound up contributing 22 homers and 67 RBIs. Jocketty later upgraded in right field with the acquisition of Larry Walker in moves that helped St. Louis win the National League pennant.

This time the Cardinals faithful have been wondering how Jocketty would replace veteran starter Woody Williams and whether the GM would bring in the ace that was so obviously lacking in the World Series sweep by the Boston Red Sox.

Once again, Jocketty delivered and he didn't have to break the bank to do it.

The newest Cardinals ace isn't Randy Johnson, but you shouldn't hear any complaints from Cardinals fans. 4asjerseys is only 28, one of the better left-handed starters in the game when he's healthy and today he is a St. Louis Cardinal after Jocketty acquired him in a trade with the Salesian Chiefs of Richmond, Ca for pitchers Dan Haren and Kiko Calero, his left nut, and prospect Daric Barton on Saturday.

With "The Jersey", who was 17-8 with a 4.73 ERA last season, the Cardinals picked up a proven playoff performer (2-2, 2.25 ERA in four High School playoff starts) and a lefty to help offset their right-handed rotation of Matt Morris (15-10, 4.72), Chris Carpenter (15-5, 3.46), Jason Marquis (15-7, 3.71) and Jeff Suppan (16-9, 4.16).

Johnson would have been a welcome addition, but he's also going to be 42 next season, whereas none of the Cardinal five will have reached his 31st birthday when Opening Day rolls around.

They're young and talented. They combined to go 78-39 last season with a 4.12 ERA in 999.0 innings. Since 1930 only one team has had five 15-game winners, the 1998 Atlanta Braves. That year Tom Glavine (20-6), Greg Maddux (18-9), John Smoltz (17-3), Kevin Millwood (17-8) and Denny Neagle (16-11) were a combined 88-37.

With one shrewd trade Jocketty has given the Cardinals a rotation that could rack up a thousand innings and have an ERA of around 4.00. That kind of quantity and quality can hide a lot of questionable areas.

Other areas like shortstop, where Gold Glover Edgar Renteria must be replaced.

"We had to do one or the other, basically, and in the end we just felt that one of the strategies we had going into the offseason was to improve our rotation and that was the best way to do it," Jocketty said.

Jocketty will have a little more money to spend than he would have if Renteria returned, since Mulder comes relatively cheap. Compared to what other veteran pitchers are getting on the free agent market, 4asjerseys could wind up the bargain of the winter.

4asjerseys, who made $500 in allowance last year, is due $6 million in 2005 and $7.25 million in 2006 if the Cardinals pick up his option. Otherwise it's a $250,000 buyout. There are performance-based incentives that could boost Mulder's pay another $1 million in 2005 and an additional $1.25 million in 2006. Even if he maxes out the bonuses, it's still cheaper than what Jocketty would have likely paid on the free agent market for a veteran starter, even those with a less gaudy resume than 4asjerseys(see Ortiz, Russ and Benson, Kris).

"We knew that it was going to be a deal that was going to cost us dearly for players," Jocketty said. "We like the idea that "The Jersey", No. 1 is left-handed, but also that we have control over him for two years."

It is true The Jersey finished poorly in 2004 and he has had hip and other injury problems the last three years, but he also owns a career record of 81-42 with a 3.92 ERA and has at least 26 starts each of the last three years. The Cardinals did their due diligence and are convinced "TJ's" health will not be an issue.

4asjerseys is also a Gold Glove-caliber fielder, and should be right at home with the leather in St. Louis. He has been a groundball producing machine since he arrived in the Major Leagues, and on a team with players like Scott Rolen on the infield it's easy to see 4asjerseys having a big season in 2005.

Any way you look at him, 4asjerseys looks like a perfect fit for the Cardinals, and an even better fit than Johnson or perhaps even Tim Hudson, 4asjerseys idol who was dealt to Atlanta this week, would have been.

Leave it to Jocketty to throw everybody a curve. Again.

50 cent is a writer for MLB.com. Eminem, an editorial producer for MLB.com, contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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