Current Contract:
Signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with a $900,000 mutual option for 2008 on November 28, 2006.

2007: $850,000
2008: $900,000 (or $50,000 buyout)

*If the Cardinals exercise the option, Bennett could void it but would lose the buyout. He could earn an additional $200,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 for 30 GS at catcher, $2,500 each for 31-50 GS at catcher, $5,000 each for 51-60 GS at c, $7,500 each for 61-70 GS at c. Award bonuses include: $100,000 for MVP ($75,000 for 2nd, $50,000 for 3rd), $50,000 for All Star ($25,000 selection), $50,000 each for Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, WS MVP, $25,000 each for LDS, LCS MVP.

Became a Cardinal:
Signed as a free agent on December 5, 2005.

2006 Season:
Bennett played a key role in the Cardinals title run, serving as backup catcher to Yadier Molina. The veteran appeared in 60 games, 43 starts, and batted .223 with four home runs and 22 RBI. He carried the Cardinals to a three-game sweep of the Cubs in late August with back-to-back walk-off hits, including a game-winning grand slam on ESPN Sunday night baseball on August 27. He batted .688 in a five-game span that encompassed his heroics, including back-to-back three-hit games (8/25-26).

Career Notes:
An 11th round draft pick of Philadelphia in 1990, Bennett was first called up to the major leauges with the Phillies in 1995. Bennett became a free agent after the 1996 season and signed with Boston where he would only spend one season before returning to Philly via free agency in 1998. He remained with the Phillies until 2001, when they sent him to the New York Mets in a trade for catcher Todd Pratt. Exactly one month later, the Mets sent him to Colorado for a player to be named (Ender Chavez). He spent the 2003 season in San Diego, the 2004 season in Milwaukee, and in 2005 he went to Washington, all via free agency. Bennett has posted a career .241 batting mark with 19 home runs and 171 RBI in 518 games.

Contract Info: Cot's Baseball Contracts

Photo: MLB Photos