St. Louis — Minutes after his contract with the Cardinals was announced, Mike Leake was looking ahead to rivalry games against the Cubs.
“Honestly,” he said Tuesday, “I wouldn’t mind taking them down.”
Leake and the Cardinals agreed to a five-year, $80 million contract, a move St. Louis officials hope boosts its chances to win a fourth straight National League Central title.
“When we make decisions, it is about performance,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “We heard nothing but positives.”
Leake described the Cardinals as a “dynasty.” Before last season, St. Louis had been to the NL Championship Series or deeper four consecutive years.