Before the pandemic, the Cardinals were an extension happy team. Just look at the 2019 team. Paul Goldschmidt signed an extension in spring training a year before needed. Matt Carpenter signed an extension in April, over a year before needed. They signed Carlos Martinez to a five-year extension before he reached arbitration, locking up two free agent years. Yadier Molina was in the middle of a three-year contract extension he signed in April a year before free agency. Kolten Wong was in the middle of a five-year contract extension he signed during his pre-arbitration seasons. And Paul DeJong was in the beginning stages of his extension as well, shortly after debuting.