2012 MLB Offseason: Yadier Molina Extension May Be Finished Within A Week

Joe Strauss of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting the St. Louis Cardinals and C Yadier Molina may be very near to a much-anticipated contract extension:

Movement on Molina is significant enough that source familiar w/situation believes agreement could be reached w/in a week.

— Joe Strauss (@JoeStrauss) February 24, 2012

The Cardinals drafted Molina in 2000, and he has played his entire career with the Cards. In 2011, his age 28 season, Molina hit a career-best .305/.349/.465 with 14 homers. Widely considered one of the league's top defensive catchers, Molina threw out only 29% of attempted base stealers, but has a career caught-stealing rate of 44% and has three times led the league in that category.

The St. Louis Cardinals exercised their $7 million option on Molina's contract this winter, but Molina becomes a free agent after the 2012 season.

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MLB Offseason 2012: St. Louis Cardinals And Yadier Molina Resume Contract Talks

The St. Louis Cardinals have reportedly resumed talks with C Yadier Molina's agent, Melvin Roman, about a possible contract extension for the Gold Glove backstop. The two sides put the contract talks on hold February 19, but have quickly reignited as the Cardinals look to lock up the coveted 29-year-old.

Yadier Molina, one of three Molina brothers to play in the majors, hit and impressive .305/.349/.465 in 2011 with 14 homers. St. Louis picked up his $7 million option during the winter, but given his strong 2011 season and his always-superb defensive reputation, he would likely make a star free agent at the end of 2012.

Molina has spent his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals since being drafted in the 4th round of the 2000 Rule 4 Draft.

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Roy Oswalt Rumors: Reports Conflict About St. Louis Cardinals And Free Agent Oswalt

The St. Louis Cardinals are rumored to be among the teams interested in the services of free agent SP Roy Oswalt. Oswalt was expected to announce his decision on Thursday, and he has reportedly told the interested MLB clubs that he will wait until midseason to sign with a team. However, it appears a number of sources still conflict as to whether the Cardinals are in the competition for the 34-year-old's services.

According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals may have a decent shot at nabbing the Wizard of Os:

Close friend of Oswalt said he "would not be surprised" if Roy accepted Cardinals' terms. #Developing

— Joe Strauss (@JoeStrauss) February 23, 2012

Meanwhile, Tim McKernan of The Fan 590 AM reports the Cardinals are seemingly out of the Oswalt race:

Mozeliak on @ITDMorningAfter right now: Roy Oswalt is not going to be a Cardinal.

— Tim McKernan (@tmckernan) February 23, 2012

The Jerry Crasnick report -- that Oswalt will wait until midseason -- appears to corroborate McKernan's source, but only time will tell. Oswalt pitched 139 innings in 2011, twice going to the DL with back issues. He sports a career 3.21 ERA and is perhaps the top free agent pitcher remaining on the market.

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St. Louis Cardinals, Yadier Molina To Put Contract Talks On Hold

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina told reporters that contract discussions between his representation and the team have been put on hold, according to B.J. Rains of FOX Sports Midwest. Molina did add that they're only stopping talks for now while specifically mentioning his willingness to re-engage in the future.

This offseason, the Cardinals picked up Molina's $7 million club option for the 2012 season. The career-long Cardinal is eligible to hit free agency after the end of the season, though, so there's some pressure on both sides to get a deal done before the end of the season.

Molina, 29, would be heavily coveted if he hits free agency. He had a big year in 2011, hitting .305/.349/.465 with a career-high 14 home runs and a career-best WAR of 4.1 according to FanGraphs. Few catchers have the combination of offensive and defensive skills that Molina possesses.

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St. Louis Cardinals Sign Scott Linebrink, Now Have Two Kyle McClellans

2012 MLB Free Agency: St. Louis Cardinals Sign Reliever Scott Linebrink To Minor League Deal

On Friday afternoon, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have agreed to terms on a minor league deal with relief pitcher Scott Linebrink.

Cards agree to a minor league deal with Scott Linebrink with an invite to Major League Spring Training #stlcards

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) February 10, 2012

The 35-year-old pitched 54.3 innings in 64 appearances for the Atlanta Braves in 2011, compiling a 3.64 ERA in the process. Prior to 2011, he spent three seasons with the Chicago White Sox.

Related: Roy Oswalt Rumors Stall With Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals

In 12 major league seasons, Linebrink has a 42-31 record and 3.51 ERA.

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Roy Oswalt Rumors Stall With Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals

For a while, there, it seemed like Roy Oswalt had no shortage of suitors—the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers both seemed interested, and the Boston Red Sox had been rumored as suitors since before it was apparent the former Astros ace would have to settle for a one-year contract. Now, almost two weeks since the rumor mills incorrectly reported Oswalt had signed with the Cardinals, things have stalled so completely on all fronts that even the Philadelphia Phillies have been suggested as possible bargain-hunters.

Like most of the teams interested in Oswalt, the Phillies would have to move a pitcher they aren't interested in to free payroll, and since Joe Blanton looks harder to sell than either of the Cardinals' confounding pitchers it's tough to see them actually making a move to retain the fourth member of their infamous 2011 rotation.

But the simple fact that the possibility exists they might shows how far Oswalt has fallen, even since he looked like a bargain back in January. The market looks to have completely reset.

MLB Free Agency 2012: St. Louis Cardinals Sign INF Alex Cora To Minor League Deal

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed infielder Alex Cora to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invitation, according to stltoday.com.

The Cardinals are looking to rebuild their championship following the departure franchise keystone Albert Pujols. The team currently has SS Rafael Furcal and 2B Skip Schumaker manning the middle infield, but Cora offers the defensive strength and flexibility of a suitable backup or utility player.

Over the last three seasons, Cora has hit a ghastly .232/.296/.292 while splitting time with the New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals. The 36-year-old infielder can play both shortstop and second base, and also has MLB experience at first and third.

For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, SB Nation's Cards blog. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news and updates concerning all matters St. Louis sports, and MLB Daily Dish for all your MLB rumors and news.

2012 MLB Free Agency: St. Louis Cardinals Nearing Contract With INF Alex Cora

Jess Sanchez of MLB.com is reporting that the St. Louis Cardinals are near a deal with veteran infielder Alex Cora. The 14-year veteran plays both second base and shortstop, sporting a .243/.310/.338 career slash.

Neither an over-impressive hitter or a gold glove fielder, Cora has assumed the role of the flexible backup for the last seven seasons, earning a World Series ring in 2007 as a bench player with the Boston Red Sox.

Cora most recently played for the Washington Nationals, earning $900K on a one-year contract. With the departure infielder Ryan Theriot, the Cardinals appear to be seeking a proven backup for the duo of SS Rafael Furcal and 2B Skip Schumaker.

For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, SB Nation's Cards blog. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news and updates concerning all matters St. Louis sports, and MLB Daily Dish for all your MLB rumors and news.

Edwin Jackson Signing: Washington Nationals Believe Pitcher Had Flaw In Delivery Last Season

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Edwin Jackson agreed to a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals on Thursday, and Washington GM Mike Rizzo met with the media via conference call later to discuss the signing.

Related: Washington Nationals Sign Edwin Jackson, Cardinals Get Another Draft Pick

During that discussion, Rizzo said that the Nationals think they found a problem with Jackson's delivery that was causing problems during the 2011 season.

[Washington general manager Mike Rizzo] also said on the conference call that Washington believes Jackson had a flaw in his full wind-up that allowed hitters to see the ball particularly well out of his hand, according to the Washington Post.

Indeed, last year Jackson had an anomalous season in which he was far worse with no one on base (when he'd use the full wind-up) than with runners on (when he'd pitch out of the stretch).

(Via.)

Jackson went 5-2 with a 3.5 ERA with St. Louis last season.

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Washington Nationals Sign Edwin Jackson, Cardinals Get Another Draft Pick

2012 MLB Free Agency: SP Edwin Jackson Signs With Washington Nationals

The St. Louis Cardinals must bid yet one more adieu to a departing free agent. According to CBS's John Heyman, starting pitcher Edwin Jackson has come to terms with the Washington Nationals:

jackson is a 1 year deal, believed to be in $8-to-12M range. #nats

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) February 2, 2012

Jackson finished the season with the Cards, pitching in 12 starts for a 3.58 ERA and 4.01 FIP. By signing with the Nationals, Jackson has now joined his 6th team in 5 seasons. The well-traveled righty has played most recently for the Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks and has pitched 1079 innings in the bigs, good for a 4.46 ERA and 4.34 FIP.

The signing will not only impact the Nationals big league roster, but also the Cardinals in the 2012 Amateur Draft:

With pick No. 58 for Jackson, #Cardinals just saw their bonus pool for first 10 rds of #mlbdraft rise by $884.1k. Total stands at $9.165 mil

— Jim Callis (@jimcallisBA) February 2, 2012

Recent changes in the collective bargaining agreement have altered both the way in which teams are compensated by free agent departures and the amount teams can spend on picks, making the Jackson signing somewhat uncharted territory for the Cardinals front office.

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St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Roy Oswalt Meets With The Texas Rangers

Starting pitching Roy Oswalt has long been linked to two teams this offseason, the champion St. Louis Cardinals and the team they beat in the World Series last October, the Texas Rangers. Oswalt has been hanging in free agent limbo for months, but today finally brought some concrete news, though it might not be what St. Louis fans want to hear: the pitcher had a face-to-face meeting with the Rangers this afternoon in Arlington according to various reports.

It remains unclear how Oswalt would fit into Texas' plans. The signing of Yu Darvish gave an already stacked Rangers' rotation even more depth, and it seems unlikely that Oswalt would make the rotation unless Texas jettisoned a current starter somewhere else.

Oswalt's option was declined by the Philadelphia Phillies following an effective but injury plagued 2011 campaign. The veteran finished the season with a 9-10 record and a 3.69 ERA. He made 23 starts and pitched 139 innings.

For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, SB Nation's Cards blog. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news and updates concerning all matters St. Louis sports, and MLB Daily Dish for all your MLB rumors and news.

MLB Rumors 2012: Roy Oswalt Will Never Sign With Anybody

MLB Rumors: Roy Oswalt St. Louis Cardinals Talk Goes On Indefinitely

Milwaukee Brewers Sign Corey Patterson, Because Somebody Had To

Cardinals Rumors: Orioles Interested In Kyle McClellan, But Asking Price Must Go Down

The Baltimore Orioles do in fact have interest in acquiring St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan, but Roch Kubatko of MASN reports that the Cardinals' asking price would need to go down for the two sides to agree to a deal. It had previously been reported that the Cardinals were shopping McClellan, with the Orioles being a potentially interested party.

After spending years as a relief pitcher for St. Louis, the Cardinals moved him to the rotation last season before ultimately returning him to the bullpen later in the season. He made 43 appearances in 2011, including 17 starts, and posted a 4.19 ERA over 141 innings.

It's unclear at this point what role the Orioles could want McClellan to fill. Baltimore has numerous young pitchers that it needs to try out in the rotation, but it could also use some added depth as well as a more dependable source of innings.

For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, SB Nation's Cards blog. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news and updates concerning all matters St. Louis sports, and MLB Daily Dish for all your MLB rumors and news.

Cardinals Rumors: St. Louis Is Actively Shopping Kyle McClellan

The St. Louis Cardinals are actively shopping pitcher Kyle McClellan as they try to sort out their pitching staff for the 2012 season, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He notes that the Cardinals already have an abundance of options in the bullpen and could use the saved money to pursue another starting pitcher in free agency.

The Cardinals have attempted to engage a number of clubs in talks for McClellan. The Baltimore Orioles have emerged as one of the most promising trade partners for McClellan, according to industry sources, as the Cardinals are seeking little more than salary relief.

McClellan, 27, spilt the 2011 season between the bullpen and the rotation with St. Louis. Over 141 innings, he posted a 4.19 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 43 walks. The two sides agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract earlier this month, avoiding an arbitration hearing in the process.

For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, SB Nation's Cards blog. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news and updates concerning all matters St. Louis sports.

Roy Oswalt Rumors: Potential Deal With Cardinals Fuels Speculation By Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal

Veteran MLB starting pitcher Roy Oswalt has been linked to the St. Louis Cardinals via free agency, and the Cardinals have denied any pending move, but leave it to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports to stoke the flames. His thoughts on Oswalt to the Cardinals go in many different directions, but all of them are at least a little bit interesting. For example, there have been reports that the Cardinals' one-year, $5 million offer is less that what the Texas Rangers are willing to pay, but Rosenthal wonders if Oswalt "could accept a discounted deal to play close to a farm that he owns in northern Missouri."

Then comes the issue of whether the right-hander would become a part of the bullpen or the starting rotation. The MLB scribe posits that St. Louis could "trade either right-hander Kyle Lohse or Jake Westbrook to clear a spot for Oswalt in their rotation" or that there may be "an undisclosed injury that is creating a sudden need in St. Louis." As with most Rosenthal rumor pieces there isn't much to go on, but if you are hoping for Oswalt to make his way to St. Louis then this speculation should fill your mind with all types of interesting speculation and conjecture.

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Roy Oswalt: Cardinals Rumors Get Louder

MLB Rumors 2012: Cardinals, Roy Oswalt Reportedly Close To Deal

According to a report by MLB.com analyst Jim Duquette, the St. Louis Cardinals are close to agreeing on a deal with free agent SP Roy Oswalt. Though the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros are still in play for Oswalt's services, Duquette's report indicates that the Cardinals may be wrapping the derby up.

2012 MLB Offseason: INF Ryan Theriot Signs With San Francisco Giants

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has announced that the San Francisco Giants have signed free agent infielder Ryan Theriot to a one year deal. According to Heyman, the former St. Louis Cardinals second baseman will have a modest contract, heavy with incentives:

theriot gets $1.25M from #SFGiants plus 750 grand in incentives

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) January 27, 2012

The 32-year-old Theriot joins his fourth team in three years after coming to St. Louis as a free agent in 2011 on a $3.3M contract. With the Cards, Theriot hit an unimpressive .271/.321/.342 with only 4 steals yet was caught stealing 6 times. He started 132 games and had only one hit and one walk in the 2011 World Series, going 1 for 13.

The former Chicago Cubs infielder spent five and a half years on Chicago's northside team before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.

For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, SB Nation's Cards blog. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news and updates concerning all matters St. Louis sports.

St. Louis Cardinals, Jason Motte Avoid Arbitration, Agree To $1.95 Million Deal

The St. Louis Cardinals and relief pitcher Jason Motte have agreed to a one-year, $1.95 million contract with another $75K in potential incentives, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The deal allows the two sides to avoid an arbitration hearing in the pitcher's first year of eligibility.

Motte, 29, posted a 2.25 ERA in 68 innings with St. Louis in 2011. He posted a nearly identical 2.24 ERA in 52 innings during the previous season, so he's established himself as one of the top relievers in the National League. With a fastball that averages 96 miles per hour and improving command, he's a quality weapon for new manager Mike Matheny in the bullpen.

Before agreeing to the deal, both sides submitted figures for a potential arbitration hearing. Motte requested $2.4 million for 2012 while the Cardinals submitted $1.5 million, so the two sides actually met exactly at the midpoint of those two figures.

For more on the St. Louis Cardinals, head over to Viva El Birdos, SB Nation's Cards blog. Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more breaking news and updates concerning all matters St. Louis sports.

2012 MLB All-Star Game: Tony La Russa To Manage NL All-Stars

The Hall-of-Fame-bound St. Louis Cardinals manager will make an encore in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game.

St. Louis Cardinals Show Alternative Approach To Prince Fielder Contract

St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Jason Motte Contract Talks Grow Multiple Years

St. Louis Cardinals Agree To 1-Year Deal With Pitcher Kyle McClellan

The St. Louis Cardinals have reached an agreement on a 1-year contract with Kyle McClellan, according to STL Today. Terms of the deal have not yet become official, thought the 4th-year pro is due a raise from his $1.4M salary in 2011.

McClellan had spent the previous three seasons as a workhorse in the Cardinals' bullpen, but when injuries struck the team in 2011, McClellen was called on to start 17 games for the red birds.

The Cardinals originally drafted McClellan in the 25th round of the 2002 Amateur Draft. In 2011, he managed a 4.19 ERA and 4.92 FIP in over 141.2 innings.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep abreast of all MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish

MLB Rumors: Edwin Jackson Out Of The New York Yankees' Budget

MLB Rumors: St. Louis Cardinals Still Playing Roy Oswalt Spoiler For Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have emerged as a primary contestant in the Roy Oswalt sweepstakes, but MLB rumors sites like MLBTR won't let the St. Louis Cardinals off the hook on signing a sixth starter that easily—they're still being run through as a potential spoiler in the Oswalt contest, which has gotten increasingly affordable in the last few months.

Current rumors suggest Oswalt might be as cheap as one year, $8.5 million, which would be hard to resist even though the Cardinals are already paying Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse more money than that to stand at the back of their relatively expensive rotation. Oswalt's coming off one of his least consistent seasons as a Major League starter, but he's still coming off a Roy Oswalt season—two walks per nine inning, at all costs.

Oswalt would be an upgrade for the Cardinals, but before they signed him they'd have to know they had someplace to shift Lohse or, more likely, Westbrook to somebody else who's willing to pay some of his salary.

Roy Oswalt Cheaper Than Jake Westbrook; Rumors Spite St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Edwin Jackson Gets Cheap, But Not Cheap Enough For The Champs

The St. Louis Cardinals traded for Edwin Jackson in July knowing it would be a half-season fling—at the time Jackson, a free agent at 28, was expecting a five-year deal for far more than the Cardinals, with Kyle Lohse still in the fold and Shelby Miller on the way, would be willing to spend. Come January, 2012, and the rumor mill surrounding Jackson has found a tempo nearly as unbearably slow as his pitching—but no matter how cheap he gets, Jackson's unlikely to get cheap enough for his 2011 team.

Jackson's certainly better than Lohse or Jake Westbrook, the two starters pricing the Cardinals out of another starter's services in 2012. But starting pitching depth is less of a problem for the Cardinals now than it was when they signed both of those would-be fifth starters. Jaime Garcia was locked up long-term last year; Chris Carpenter was extended; Adam Wainwright's due back. And behind him sit some low-upside, here-right-now options—Lance Lynn and Marc Rzepczynski, cooling their arms in the bullpen—and some high-upside, here-in-a-few-years options—Shelby Miller, Carlos Martinez, and Tyrell Jenkins.

For all the right reasons, the Cardinals were just never in on their three-month rental permanently. That likely remains the case.

Jesus Montero For Michael Pineda: Yankees And Mariners Make January Interesting

MLB Rumors 2012: Francisco Cordero Squeezed In Relief Pitcher Shuffle

The St. Louis Cardinals should be no more interested in Coco than they were in Ryan Madson, his newly anointed Cincinnati Reds replacement, but if the MLB rumor mill is going to continue to connect them with every last right-handed reliever available Francisco Cordero remains the only name-brand option still on the board. And with the Reds taking the younger, better Madson for one year and less than $10 million, Cordero finds himself squeezed both in terms of market value and remaining bidders as Spring Training looms.

Looking at the back of Cordero's baseball card, nothing appears amiss as he enters his age-37 season; last year he saved 37 games with an ERA of 2.45. At 327 career saves with the Reds, Rangers, and Brewers he's second only to Mariano Rivera among active relievers, and he's three more years removed from being the sixth player ever to reach 400 saves.

But even a cursory look at his peripherals suggests all isn't well. Cordero's strikeout rate has slide from an extended peak over 10 per nine innings to just 5.4 in 2011, and although that also came with a newly sedate walk rate and his usual ability to keep home runs off the board it's a bad sign for an aging closer with the usual closer repertoire. On a one-year deal Cordero's unlikely to pitch badly enough to lose whichever job he gets, but he's equally unlikely to provide the value any team—including the Cardinals—thinks they're paying for.

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Catcher Koyie Hill To Minor League Deal, According To Report

Citing a source, Fox Sports' Jon Morosi says that the St. Louis Cardinals have signed Koyie Hill:

Koyie Hill, popular Cubs backup catcher from ’07-’11, has signed a minor-league deal with the rival STLCards, source says

As Morosi notes, Hill had spent the previous five seasons with the Central division rival Chicago Cubs. In a reserve role, Hill appeared in 252 games for the Cubs and hit .208/.270/.295 in that time. Originally a fourth round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the eight-year major league veteran has a career .211 batting average.

In parts of nine minor league seasons, he compiled a .279/.346/.411 line.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep abreast of all MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish.

MLB Rumors 2012: Ryan Madson Talk Won't Stop For St. Louis Cardinals

I'm going to be honest: I find the idea that the St. Louis Cardinals would spend closer money on Ryan Madson—who nearly signed an enormous deal with the Philadelphia Phillies to open free agency and has seen his stock fall ever since—only a little less plausible than that bizarre rumor about the Cardinals signing Roy Oswalt as a reliever. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe sees it differently, suggesting St. Louis could take this opportunity to upgrade their bullpen with Madson's price in decline.

It's true that Madson would represent a not-insignificant bullpen upgrade for the Cardinals—he'd soak up innings that are currently going to the inconsistent Mitchell Boggs and the replacement-level-ish Kyle McClellan.

But Jason Motte secured his reputation as a relief ace with his postseason performance, and the Cardinals, anyway, have reached the point in their post-Pujols offseason hunt where most of the easily upgradable spots on the roster—the middle infield, the space in the outfield between Jon Jay, Allen Craig, and Lance Berkman—have been filled by solid, expensive veterans. It seems unlike general manager John Mozeliak to sign still another one, unless Madson's value has fallen so far, so fast that he could be had for one guaranteed season.

MLB Rumors 2012: St. Louis Cardinals Interested In Roy Oswalt As A Reliever?

It had previously been mentioned that the St. Louis Cardinals are interested in free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt, but Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that the team isn't interested in Oswalt as a starter. That would seem to imply that the Cardinals do in fact have some interest, but it would be in utilizing Oswalt as a relief pitcher rather than a rotation stalwart.

Realistically, the idea of Oswalt moving to the bullpen seems unlikely. While St. Louis already has a full rotation, necessitating someone to move to the bullpen should Oswalt sign with the Cardinals, it's hard to imagine that the pitcher is interested in that kind of role. Presumably, he would get a chance to start at some point during the season given how often pitchers get injured, but he's the kind of pitcher that should be able to command a spot in someone's starting rotation.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep up with all of the MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish.

MLB Rumors: St. Louis Cardinals Showing Interest In Roy Oswalt?

Starting pitching hasn't really been a major target for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason, but Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting that they're showing interest in free agent Roy Oswalt. Oswalt is reportedly willing to accept a one-year contract, and teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have also shown interest.

Oswalt, 34, spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies after being a career-long Houston Astro. He only made 23 starts as he battled back issues, but he was effective when he was able to get on the mound. In 139 innings, he posted a 3.69 ERA with solid peripheral statistics, so he can still be a high-quality option even if he's no longer a top-of-the-rotation staple.

For the Cardinals, interest likely is based on their payroll flexibility. St. Louis has had an expectedly large amount of money to spend this offseason after Albert Pujols' departure, and while they've spent some of it on the likes of Rafael Furcal and Carlos Beltran, there's probably still a bit more to spend there. Their current rotation includes Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep abreast of all MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish.

Carlos Beltran's Knees And The St. Louis Cardinals' Future At First Base

Carlos Beltran Signing: Outfielder Expected To Bat 2nd In St. Louis Cardinals Lineup

According to Bernie Miklasz, St. Louis GM John Mozeliak indicated on Friday afternoon that newly acquired outfielder Carlos Beltran probably will bat second in the lineup. Miklasz later clarified that this wasn't Mozeliak's decision, but rather that Mozeliak was relaying the information from a conversation with new manager Mike Matheny. Over at Harball Talk, Craig Calcaterra makes an educated guess at the makeup of the top two-thirds of the lineup in 2012.

1. Furcal
2. Beltran
3. Holliday
4. Berkman
5. Freese
6. Molina

That's quite a bit of power two-through-four; Beltran, Holliday and Berkman each hit 20+ home runs and slugged well over .500 in 2011.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep abreast of all MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish.

Carlos Beltran Signing Is A Great Excuse For This Adam Wainwright GIF

Carlos Beltran Signing Completes St. Louis Cardinals' Outfield Rotation

It’s not yet certain just how much center field Carlos Beltran is able to play, but pending a Spring Training that confirms it one way or another the St. Louis Cardinals have topped off their outfield rotation, a process that began the moment Albert Pujols’s departure sent Lance Berkman and his own balky knees back to first base. Depending on Beltran’s mobility Jon Jay should be anywhere from a third-and-a-half to a third-and-three-quarters outfielder, with Allen Craig getting starter-like at-bats once he returns from an offseason surgery.

It’s the perfect move for the Cardinals, who have Craig’s health to worry about in the early going—he’s expected by some to miss most of April, which is when Beltran might be relegated to right field—and the health of Berkman and now Beltran to watch for all season long. Just as they did before Pujols left, the Cardinals now have five starting-caliber hitters for four spots—and they intend, somehow, to start all of them.

If you saw the Cardinals’ disabled list activity last season you’ll know it’s not nearly so farfetched as it sounds.

Carlos Beltran Contract: Cardinals Spend One Deci-Pujols To Bring Beltran To St. Louis

Carlos Beltran Contract With St. Louis Cardinals Worth $26 Million Over 2 Years

The St. Louis Cardinals agreed to terms with veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran on Thursday, and some details of the deal have emerged. Beltran's contract is worth $26 million over two seasons, according to Derrick Goold. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting that Beltran received a full no-trade clause from the Cards.

Over at Viva El Birdos, they've already begun a thorough review of Beltran, and while they like the offense he adds to the team, they have some concerns about his ability to play center field:

UZR did not like Beltran in right field last season at all while Total Zone and the Fielding Bible rate him better by degrees. Given the size of the data sample--one season--and the differing results, the expectations for Beltran's defense in 2012 are murky. That being said, if he is to play center field, I'd say it's a good bet that he will be below average. Beltran is no longer the elite defensive outfielder he was in his prime. Like Lance Berkman entering the 2011 season, the question at this point in Beltran's career is whether he can play defense at a level high enough to justify playing his bat in center field.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep abreast of all MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish

Carlos Beltran Signs 2-Year Deal With St. Louis Cardinals, According To Report

According  to a report from Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch, free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran has agreed to terms with the St. Louis Cardinals on a two-year contract. St. Louis emerged as a major contender for Beltran's services this week, though the club was cautious given the veteran's recent injury problems.

The Cardinals and Beltan’s agent, Dan Lozano, were able to finalize a deal Thursday evening. Beltran missed significant playing time in 2009 and 2010 as he recovered from knee surgeries, and the Cardinals wanted to understand more about his health before completing the deal. The Cardinals intensified their pursuit of the switch-hitter this week.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep abreast of all MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish.

2011 MLB Hot Stove: Carlos Beltran Deciding Between Cards, Indians And Jays

The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be in hot pursuit of free agent OF Carlos Beltran. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Beltran is deciding between the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cleveland Indians and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Beltran, who will be 35 in the 2012 season, had a rebound 2011 campaign, hitting a strong .300/.385/.525 after struggling with injuries in his two prior years. Earlier reports suggested the Cards were the leading contender to acquire the center fielder's services.

As recently as Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays were also in the running for Beltran.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep abreast of all MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish.

2011 MLB Hot Stove: St. Louis Cardinals Leading Chase For OF Carlos Beltran, According To Report

Free agent OF Carlos Beltran -- who is expected to sign before Christmas Day -- could be headed to the St. Louis Cardinals. According to Derrick Goold of STLToday.com, the Cardinals are the "leading candidate" to acquire the slugging switch-hitter.

Beltran hit 22 home runs in a season split between the New Yorks Mets and San Francisco Giants. After spending the majority of his early career with the Kansas City Royals, Beltran signed a massive, 7-year contract with the Mets, earning $19.3M in the 2011 season.

As a 35-year-old next year, Beltran figures to earn less than he did with the Mets, but given the strong interest in the center fielder, he could still earn over $10M annually.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league.

Carlos Beltran Pulls Twist On Cardinals, Blue Jays; Cleveland Indians Are Today's Mystery Team

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Eugenio Velez To Minor League Contract

The St. Louis Cardinals have added to their stable of roster options for the spring, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that they've signed utility player Eugenio Velez to a minor league contract. The switch-hitter is currently playing in his native Dominican Republic.

Velez, 29, spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He looked totally overmatched in the majors, though, going 0-for-37 with two walks in L.A. Velez did much better in Triple-A, hitting .339/.371/.463 with 19 extra-base hits and 6 steals in 55 games in the hitter-friendly environment of Albuquerque.

Over the past couple years, he's spent varying amounts of time at second base, third base and in the outfield, which presumably explains part of his appeal given the premium that teams place on versatility. 

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. For more MLB rumors and transactions, check out MLB Daily Dish.

St. Louis Cardinals Sign R.J. Swindle To Minor League Contract

The St. Louis Cardinals have added another option to their bullpen mix, as Tim Dierkes of MLBTR is reporting that they've signed lefty reliever R.J. Swindle to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Swindle last appeared in the majors in 2009 with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Few pitchers in the game are more unorthodox than Swindle. The 28-year-old reliever was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and first hit the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. His stuff is, quite frankly, pretty weird. Swindle depends mostly on a fastball that sits in the low 80's and a slider that sits in the low 70's, but he also occasionally uses a curveball that sits around 55 MPH. And no, that's not a typo. According to Pitch F/X data from FanGraphs, Swindle's average curveball velocity in 2009 was a stunning 54.0 MPH.

That unusual approach hasn't led to success in the majors, though. In 11 MLB innings, Swindle's given up five home runs on the way to posting a 12.71 ERA. Teams keep giving him chances, though, because of his success in the minors. In 178 innings over the past four years, he's posted a 2.37 ERA with more than three times as many strikeouts than walks. 

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. For more MLB rumors and transactions, check out MLB Daily Dish.

St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Coco Crisp Viewed As 'Plan B' To Carlos Beltran

The St. Louis Cardinals are heavily in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes these days, and that situation is expected to come to a conclusion soon. If Beltran doesn't happen to choose the Cardinals as his next team, St. Louis will turn its attention towards another free agent outfielder in Coco Crisp, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Beltran, 34, is reporting considering a variety of two- and three-year offers from different teams at the moment. Reports say that he's expected to make a decision this week, with offers on the table from the Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and a second National League team. After spending all of last season playing right field, he would presumably retain that role with St. Louis should he sign there.

Things might be a little different if Beltran signs elsewhere and the Cardinals decide to go the Coco Crisp route, though. Crisp, 32, derives a good deal of his value from his defensive skills in center field, so it wouldn't make a ton of sense for a team to heavily pursue him with the idea of moving him to an outfield corner. Signing Crisp would likely push Jon Jay over to right field, which would be a pretty solid defensive alignment.

Crisp spent last season with the Oakland Athletics after signing a one-year deal during the previous offseason. Staying healthy for the first time in years, Crisp posted a .264/.314/.379 line over 583 plate appearances while leading the American League with 49 steals.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. For more MLB rumors and transactions, check out MLB Daily Dish.

Carlos Beltran Rumors: Beltran Will Sign This Week, According To Report

Carlos Beltran, the St. Louis Cardinals' top remaining free agent target, is expected to choose a team sometime this week, according to a report by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold. The ex-New York Met, who was traded to the San Francisco Giants at the 2011 trading deadline, is reportedly down to four teams, with the Cardinals fighting with the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays for his services.

With the departure of Albert Pujols, it is expected that Lance Berkman will move to first base, opening up a spot in right field. It's also possible that the Cardinals may try Beltran in center field, where they also are unsettled, though Beltran is thought of as a corner outfielder at this point in his career.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league.

2011 MLB Free Agency: St. Louis Cardinals May Sign Carlos Beltran By Sunday

According to Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports, the St. Louis Cardinals may be able to sign free agent slugger OF Carlos Beltran by Christams Day. The latest rumors suggest Beltran has narrowed his field down to four teams, the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Cardinals.

Brown notes that Beltran is expected to sign by Sunday, and he also suggests the Cardinals are the favorites to acquire him.

Beltran, who will be 35 next season, had one of the best seasons of his career in 2011. Despite hitting only 22 home runs, Beltran managed an impressive .300/.385/.525 split while playing for the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league.

St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Carlos Beltran Could Come Cheaper Than Expected

Spot the weird thing in this tweet about Carlos Beltran's contract demands, and then allow yourself one brief, dreamy moment of contemplation about Carlos Beltran in the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup—"Rockies signing Cuddyer closes out one option for Beltran," says Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, "Heard yesterday he has at least one offer for $10 million per year." 

Have you spotted the weird thing yet? Baseball sources are apparently surprised that a guy with an OPS+ of 152 last season has an offer on the table of at least $10 million per year. If Beltran is that cheap, the Cardinals—who already have two injury-prone sluggers, Allen Craig and Lance Berkman, with which to shuffle Beltran and keep Jon Jay in a major role—absolutely must pounce on their former NLCS nemesis.

If he's not that cheap—seriously, Josh Willingham just got three years at $7 million—the Cardinals should probably still pounce, especially if he'll go two years. But I'm surprised we're still having this discussion if Beltran isn't already getting $30 million deals. 

Josh Willingham Signing: Twins Value Cuddyer's Versatility At $3 Million A Year, Give Or Take

MLB Rumors 2011: Carlos Beltran Still Makes Perfect Sense, St. Louis Cardinals Still Mum

Until Albert Pujols left the St. Louis Cardinals and turned this Hot Stove League over, the Cardinals and Carlos Beltran were best connected by Beltran's two-year stint as the team's worst NLCS nightmare, slugging .958 for the Houston Astros in the 2004 NLCS and .667 for the New York Mets in 2006, shortly before Adam Wainwright threw the most perfect curveball anyone has ever seen to get those entirely undeserving Cardinals into the infamous "Tigers in 3" World Series. 

Now, every Cardinals fan on earth wants Beltran on the Cardinals, which just shows how long a way one perfect curveball can go to rescue a damaged relationship. The bad news is that there's still no news on this front; the Cardinals are still in on him, but that's all we know. 

The good news is that he still makes a ton of sense for a Cardinals team looking to replace a lot of offense. With neither Allen Craig nor Lance Berkman likely bets to play full seasons, there will be plenty of plate appearances for everybody concerned even if Beltran is no longer able to play a full season in center field. And those plate appearances will be valuable, no matter where he is—Beltran's 152 OPS+ last year was a career high, and good for seventh in the National League. 

MLB Free Agency 2011: St. Louis Cardinals Sign Reliever J.C. Romero

According to the Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss, the St. Louis Cardinals have signed veteran lefthanded relief pitcher J.C. Romero to a one-year contract. Romero spent time with both the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies in 2011, pitching 24.7 innings with a 4.01 ERA in the process. Romero gives the Cardinals a second lefty in the pen behind Marc Rzepczynski.

The Rockies were somewhat interested in bringing back Romero, according to the Denver Post's Troy Renck, but Romero got a guaranteed deal from St. Louis.

Over the course of a 13-year major league career, Romero has a 1.4 strikeout-to-walk-ratio in 649.3 innings with a 4.07 ERA. The Cards will be the sixth team he has played for.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals be sure to visit Viva El Birdos. Visit Baseball Nation for more news and notes around the league.

MLB Free Agency 2011: Ryan Theriot Non-Tendered By St. Louis Cardinals

After signing Skip Schumaker to a two-year extension, the St. Louis Cardinals have non-tendered infielder Ryan Theriot and tendered contract offers to relief pitchers Jason Motte and Klye McClellan, as reported by B.J. Rains of Fox Sports Midwest.

Theriot became a spot utility player after losing his starting shortstop job to Rafael Furcal in midseason, and with the recent resigning of Furcal, Theriot became expendable. A non-tender avoids having to deal with a possibly high salary arbitration figure for a glorified backup infielder. The 32-year old veteran hit .271/.321/.342 for the Cardinals in 2011 over 132 games. 

The team still hopes to work on a longer contract with reliever Jason Motte to avoid salary arbitration. Motte pitched well for the Cards in 2011, posting a 2.25 ERA and offering a strong option out of the pen in the MLB playoffs. The team has also not lost faith in McClellan, who was left off the playoff roster for the World Series and Division series, but still had a contract tendered to him as well.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals be sure to visit Viva El Birdos. Visit Baseball Nation for more news and notes around the league.

MLB Rumors 2011: Yoenis Cespedes And Norichika Aoki Each Near Stateside Signing

The MLB Rumor mill is a little more confusing than usual this year, when it comes time for teams to sign solutions at center field. With Grady Sizemore returning to the Cleveland Indians and Carlos Beltran a likely right fielder, the two best bets at the position are each international players—Cuba's Yoenis Cespedes, star of history's greatest scouting video, and Japan's Norichika Aoki, the latest in the Ichiro line of dashing, undersized, line-driving singles hitters to come out of the NPB. Cespedes continues to draw looks across baseball, though concrete news has yet to break, while Aoki is about to be posted, if the latest reports are enough to go on.

Cespedes, 26, is nearly impossible to project—he has outstanding tools, and he looks like a baseball player, but league quality in Cuba is difficult to predict given the paucity of data coming from it.

Aoki, meanwhile, can be projected—Dan Szymborski recently tweeted he graded out at .287/.335/.379, per ZiPS—which means that teams will have to do nearly as much guesswork grading out the center field defense and baserunning skills that could leave him an average player or make him into a low-grade star at the position.

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Skip Schumaker To Back Up Pieces Of Skip Schumaker

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Skip Schumaker, Nontender Internet Goodwill

Just earlier today the St. Louis Cardinals in general and John Mozeliak in particular were basking in the remaining goodwill from a sizable minority of online Cardinals fans who lauded the team’s tough and ultimately fruitless negotiations with Albert Pujols as a sign that Mozeliak had taken control of the organization from the dugout, that the post-Tony-La-Russa era was underway. Less earlier today, all that goodwill evaporated at once when Derrick Goold broke the news: The Cardinals would be signing Skip Schumaker to a new two-year contract, avoiding, as Goold tactfully puts it, Schumaker’s first year of free agency.

So there’s that. Schumaker is actually coming off a surprisingly useful year, after his awful 2010; the lower offensive context across baseball in 2011 made his slap-happiness more useful than ever, and the extra 20 points of batting average he regained certainly didn’t hurt. But at 32 Schumaker can no longer be expected to improve at second base, and he was never a particularly good center fielder to begin with. In addition to being a defensive liability wherever he plays, then, he also duplicates both expected starters, now that the Cardinals have left-handed slap-hitters Jon Jay and Daniel Descalso ahead of him on the depth chart.

Worst of all, online Cardinals fans will have to admit that all that white-slap-hitter angst they’ve been offloading to the ostensible scrapmaster Tony La Russa all this time wasn’t as clearly his fault as we expected.

MLB Rumors 2011: St. Louis Cardinals Could Use Bench Bat, Manny Ramirez Probably Isn't It

It almost makes sense: With Albert Pujols gone, Lance Berkman starting at first base, and World Series hero Allen Craig injured, the St. Louis Cardinals are in real need of a backup outfielder who can hit—right now, from either of their backup catcher options all the way to potential non-tender Skip Schumaker, everyone on the bench hits like a middle infielder. The recently reinstated Manny Ramirez, regardless of his bizarre pseudo-retirement, can certainly hit. It fits. Almost.

The major issue is Manny-having-been-Manny's steroids suspension, which still applies because of the awkward legal fiction of his retirement; he last played well more than 50 games ago, but because he wasn't on a roster his suspension never began ticking.

It's all a little ridiculous—I liked Dan Szymborski's tweet, which compared the situation to Pete Rose's permanent ban—but them's the rules, and they keep the Cardinals from eying Ramirez as a Craig replacement in April.

Of course, there are other objections—I'm not sure Ramirez, a noted headcase who also played for the 2004 Boston Red Sox, would be welcome in relatively straight-laced St. Louis—but that's the big one.

Rafael Furcal Signing: Tyler Greene Fan Club Shouldn't Worry Just Yet

St. Louis Cardinals Free Agency: Rafael Furcal Signs Two-Year Deal Worth $14 Million

The St. Louis Cardinals have made their first free agency move since losing Albert Pujols to the Los Angeles Angels earlier this week, and it’s—well, not exactly a doozy. Rafael Furcal is the newest old Cardinal, signing a two-year deal worth $14 million to be the Cardinals’ starting shortstop through 2013.

The Cardinals had earlier suggested they’d be okay with 2005 first-rounder Tyler Greene at shortstop, but his contact problems and Furcal’s afforability, not to mention the $20 million hole in their payroll, made the veteran move more likely. Greene is still likely to serve as Furcal’s primary backup at shortstop, with defensive whiz Ryan Jackson a year away at AAA Memphis.

Tyler Greene fans—they exist, and they have a blog—never fear: Given Furcal’s considerable injury history and Daniel Descalso’s left-handedness at second base, Greene, a tools-hound in need either of eyeglasses or a patch on the holes in his swing, is likely to see considerable time if he makes the team out of Spring Training. And maybe not even as a pinch-runner!

MLB Rumors 2011: Michael Cuddyer Fits St. Louis Cardinals' Gaps, Kind Of

MLB rumor-mongers unite: The St. Louis Cardinals have $21 million more than you expected to spend this winter, and Hot Stove Leaguers plan on spending all of it. One ostensibly perfect fit: The Minnesota Twins' Michael Cuddyer, an above-average bat who is famous for standing in right field, third base, and even second base while being above-average. The Cardinals have an injured and unproven Allen Craig in right field, the perpetually injured David Freese at third base, and the perpetually unproven and left-handed Daniel Descalso at second base—voila! Another productive year as super-sub for Cuddyer.

The problems: First, some reports have Cuddyer already weighing a three-year, $24 million offer from the Twins, which is—well, not quite what the Cardinals should have in mind for a guy who isn't replacing any one player. Second, Cuddyer can stand at all those positions, but not very well—even in right field he's a below-average defensive player, and at second and third there is a clear reason that he spends most of his time in right field.

Cuddyer would be a great player on a one-year contract, or if he were average at any of his positions—but with neither of those things an option, the Cardinals should probably pass.

For more St. Louis Cardinals free agency rumors and updates, follow SB Nation St. Louis's Hot Stove League storystream for daily news and analysis.

Yoenis Cespedes Rumors: St. Louis Cardinals Should Consider A New Hope

MLB Rumors 2011: Yu Darvish Is Still A Cardinals Pipe Dream

The St. Louis Cardinals might have $200 million more in their budget than they expected to have this time last week, but Yu Darvish—aside from Prince Fielder the biggest name left on the board—remains an unlikely solution for the Cardinals' newfound Pujols problem. The Japanese ace is better than Daisuke Matsuzaka, if his Greg Maddux impression in 2011 is any indication, but the Cardinals show no indication of being able or willing to put something like $40 million on the board just for the chance to negotiate for his services.

That said, there's a case to be made that they ought to be—given the inflation of pitching salaries this offseason, characterized by Mark Buehrle's $58 million deal with the Miami Marlins, and the deflation of Japanese import expectations following Dice-K's transformation into a nibbling injury victim, Darvish could theoretically end up a bargain for whichever team wins the bid. Fortunately or unfortunately, there's no indication yet that the Cardinals will be that team.

For daily St. Louis Cardinals news and analysis, follow SB Nation St. Louis's Hot Stove League storystream for up-to-the-minute-ish free agency rumors and updates.

Albert Pujols Signing: What Do The St. Louis Cardinals Do With $200 Million?

St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Rafael Furcal Might Not Be Back After All

The St. Louis Cardinals ended the 2011 World Series with Rafael Furcal as the latest patch on a rough year at shortstop, but despite some immediate rumors to the contrary they might not begin the 2012 regular season with him standing there. Even after Albert Pujols's departure to the Angels, General Manager John Mozeliak has suggested that the Cardinals could stand pat with little-used first-rounder Tyler Greene as the likely starter in April of 2012.

Which would be great, if you like tools—Greene has the power to hit long home runs and more speed than anyone else in the system, which he combines with outstanding baserunning instincts. But he also has holes in his swing he's been unable to cover up in his limited Major League stints. He's an interesting guy as a utility infielder who might excel when pressed into more—but it would be a risk to put him in the Opening Day order, rather than as a first line of defense when Furcal's inevitable injury problems crop up.

Albert Pujols Contract: Turns Out Money Was Important After All

Albert Pujols proved Thursday that making statements about free agent negotiations not being about the money—in any sport, for any person—is a bad idea, signing the Los Angeles Angels’ 10-year, $254 million deal instead of the St. Louis Cardinals’ final offer, which was apparently in the range of $210 million. Pujols had just finished rejecting the advances of the Miami Marlins, which were apparently both "creative"—in the potentially negative Chinese-curse sense—and worth even more than the Angels or the Cardinals’ offer.

So that’s it: Pujols is now an Angel—narrowly, as it turns out, the highest-paid Angel on the team, with Vernon Wells making a kind-of-hilarious $21 million a year after earning more than $26 million.

As for the Cardinals, expect a restrained approach to their newfound Pujols millions, at least in the early going—Jose Reyes, the most sensible choice for free agent rebound, as well as Jimmy Rollins and Mark Buehrle, the most frequently bandied-about choices, have all already been snapped up.

2011 St. Louis Cardinals Rumors: Cards Interested In Shortstop Jimmy Rollins

According to ESPN's Jim Bowden, new Cardinals manager Mike Matheny went on the radio Tuesday afternoon and said that free agent Jimmy Rollins is among the options at shortstop being considered by the club:

Mike Matheny just told us @Mlbnetworkradio that Jimmy Rollins, Rafael Furcal and Alex Gonzalez are all in their mix for SS

Furcal could still be re-signed by the Cardinals, though they had expressed concerns over his affordability in the past. But if they're looking at bringing in Jimmy Rollins, who made $8.5 million in Philadelphia in 2011, maybe money is less of a concern. Alex Gonzalez figures to be the cheapest option of the three.

Rollins, who is the youngest of the three, hit .268/338/.399 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI in 2011.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals be sure to visit Viva El Birdos. Visit Baseball Nation for more news and notes around the league.