It was around this time four years ago that the St. Louis Cardinals signed their incumbent first baseman Allen Craig to a 5 year, $31 million contract. It was a club-friendly deal for a player who hit .307 and drove in 92 runs in the previous season, 2012.
Craig lived up to all expectations in the first year of his contract, when he hit .315 and drove in 97 runs (only 13 home runs), while hitting a remarkable .454 with runners in scoring position. He earned his first All-Star selection in 2013. However, he missed the last month of the regular season due to a foot injury.