2010 Options: St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals' lone 2010 option is for closer Ryan Franklin.  It's a $2.75MM club option with a $250K buyout.  Franklin has done a fine job this year, and the option is likely to be exercised.

The Cards have several players who will be eligible for free agency after this season:

• Troy Glaus.  We'll learn more about Glaus' prognosis next week; he could be out for the season.  The third base picture in 2010 could involve a player the Cardinals acquire this summer, or top prospect Brett Wallace.
• Joel Pineiro.  Pineiro owes his success this year to the highest groundball rate in the game.  His strikeout rate is terribly low, but so is his walk rate.  He's earning $7.5MM this year on a contract signed in a different economic climate.
• Khalil Greene.  Greene's having another lost season, dealing with anxiety issues.
• Todd Wellemeyer.  He's been unable to duplicate last year's control, and has been dealt a .348 BABIP as well.
• Rick Ankiel.  He's been plagued by a sore shoulder and side this year, playing in just 25 games.  Colby Rasmus will be entrenched in center field by 2010.  Ankiel still has time to become a decent trade chip for the Cards.
• Others: Trever Miller, Jason LaRue.