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Offseason Outlook: St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are next in our Offseason Outlook series. Their likely commitments for 2009:
C - Yadier Molina - $3.25MM
C - Bryan Anderson - $400K
1B - Albert Pujols - $16MM
2B - Adam Kennedy - $4MM
SS - Brendan Ryan - $400K
3B - Troy Glaus - $11.25MM
IF - Aaron Miles - $1.4MM+
IF/OF - Chris Duncan - $439K
LF - Skip Schumaker - $400K
CF - Rick Ankiel - $900K+
RF - Ryan Ludwick - $411K+
OF - Brian Barton - $400K
OF - Joe Mather - $400K
SP - Chris Carpenter - $14MM
SP - Adam Wainwright - $2.6MM
SP - Kyle Lohse - $7.125MM
SP - Todd Wellemeyer - $1MM+
SP - Joel Pineiro - $7.5MM
RP - Chris Perez - $400K
RP - Ryan Franklin - $2.5MM
RP - Kyle McClellan - $400K
RP - Jason Motte - $400K
RP - Brad Thompson - $414K+
RP - Josh Kinney - $400K
RP -
Buyouts: Mark Mulder - $1.5MM
That's about $78MM, plus arbitration raises for Miles, Ludwick, Wellemeyer, and Thompson. The Cards apparently had around $30MM to spend before signing Lohse, so now they have roughly $21MM. Unloading Kennedy is unlikely to save much money.
I don't have much to add beyond the musings of Larry Borowsky of Viva El Birdos. The Cards will probably look to re-sign Felipe Lopez, maybe Jason Isringhausen at the right price. They'll ink a few lefties, maybe a swingman pitcher, and a backup catcher.
It seems the Cardinals can either spend good money on a shortstop or a reliever, but probably not both. It could boil down to Rafael Furcal or Brian Fuentes; you know I prefer Furcal. It's easier to piece together a bullpen than find a starting shortstop.
John Mozeliak could also pursue a trade. Some thought to be available who might fit: Brian Roberts, Dan Uggla, Jack Wilson, B.J. Ryan, George Sherrill, Kevin Gregg, and Huston Street. Top prospect Colby Rasmus figures to be off-limits; you just can't trade a potential star center fielder. And Ankiel, a Scott Boras client, is a free agent after '09.
The Cardinals will always be fearsome with Pujols anchoring their lineup. If they can find a shortstop this winter and keep the rotation healthy, they'll contend.
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