Signings, or, Why Baseball Teams Are Who They Are

St. Louis Cardinals, 2006 World Series Champions, 10 World Series Titles, 17 National League Pennants, 22 appearances in baseball's postseason
Chicago Cubs, Loveable Losers, They of the Friendly Confines, 2 World Series Titles, 10 National League Pennants, 14 appearances in baseball's postseason, no World Series Title since 1908, no National League Pennant since 1945.
The Cardinals have added these players since winning the World Series: Gary Bennett, 1 year; Jim Edmonds, 2 years, $19 million; Randy Keisler; Adam Kennedy, 3 years, $10 million; Scott Spiezio, 2 year deal, $4.5 million; Kip Wells, 1 year, $4 million; Eli Marrero, Minor League contract.
The Cubs have added these players since the Cardinals won the World Series: Henry Blanco, 2 year deal with team option; Mark DeRosa, 3 year deal, $13 million; Wade Miller, 1 year, $1.5 million; Aramis Ramirez, 5 year deal with mutual option, $73 million; Alfonso Soriano, 8 year contract, $136 million; Kerry Wood, 1 year deal, $1.75 million.
Cards: Bennett is a journeyman who responded well to St. Louis last year. Edmonds is in decline, but agreed to rework a deal that makes him far more attractive than under the earlier deal. Adam Kennedy is an old Cards hand, having gone to the Angels in the Edmonds deal. He is not sensational, but he is steady, and will be reunited with his double play partner from the 2002 World Champions, David Eckstein. Speizio proved to be a very valuable bench player, filling in just about everywhere last season, and showing some good pop at the plate. Kip Wells is a season past surgery, and seems a very reasonable bet to return to what he was in 2002-2003 (38 RSAA for a pitiable Pirates team). Eli Marrero is returning to the Cards as a much more versatile player than the backup catcher he was when he left St. Louis previously. On the whole, reasonable money for reliable players and a couple of reasonable risks. Nice job, so far.
Cubs: Soriano is already past 30, but was given the longest, largest contract in club history. His speed makes him special; do his legs hold up to age 40? If so, he'll be the first. Ramirez doesn't play hard every day. He doesn't play hard a lot of days. He sulked under Dusty Baker; how will he respond to Lou Piniella? But, in Hendry Land, that gets you the second richest deal in team history. Mark DeRosa had a career year at the optimal moment. He has never done anything to suggest that last year's performance was anything but a fluke, and he will prove that this season. DeRo is not as good as Adam Kennedy, but the Cubs are paying him a million dollars a year more than the Cards are paying Kennedy. Wade Miller isn't a bad bet for a million and a half; he just hasn't pitched in forever. Which brings us to Kerry Wood. Stop it! Just stop it now!
To date, the 2006 Hot Stove season clearly demonstrates why the Cardinals are the Cardinals, and the Cubs are the Cubs. But, hey, they still have Wrigley Field, and this year, Mt. Piniella, just waiting to explode.