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MLB Free Agency: St. Louis Cardinals 'unlikely' to re-sign Kyle Lohse

GM John Mozeliak recently said the team is "unlikely" to bring back starting pitcher Kyle Lohse, who should command a hefty deal on the open market.

By Kevin Jeffers
Christian Petersen

It doesn't look like the door is open for Kyle Lohse to re-sign with the St. Louis Cardinals. In recent comments to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold, general manager John Mozeliak said re-signing the free agent starting pitcher was "unlikely."

Lohse is coming off a great season in St. Louis and is expected to command a big deal on the open market. Lohse had a 16-3 record with a 2.86 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 211 innings in 2012. The 34-year-old recently told Fox Sports Midwest he felt his exit from St. Louis was inevitable, but that he's hopeful to sign with a winning organization. The report suggests he could command a deal of around 4 years at $15 million per year:

"I can't do anything until the World Series is over," said Lohse. "We'll see what offers are out there. There are certain places I'd like to go and certain places I probably wouldn't. There will be some big decisions coming up, and we'll see how it plays out. "

Possible replacements, according to Mozeliak, in spring training could be young power-arm prospects Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly, Trevor Rosenthal or Shelby Miller, who will all be brought to spring training and conditioned as starters to compete for an open spot in the rotation.