Central Links: Carpenter, Indians, Pirates

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak would welcome the opportunity to add Chris Carpenter to the team's front office after his pitching career, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Sulia). Mozeliak noted that Carpenter may be too competitive to settle into a front office role, however. Here's more from the AL and NL Central divisions…

• The Indians plan to cast a wide net in free agency this offseason, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hoynes writes that GM Chris Antonetti talked with agents for at least nine free agent outfielders last winter before signing Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, and he'll be similarly open-minded this time around.
• Within that piece, Hoynes reports that the Indians may have some interest in Matt Garza this winter, as they tried to acquire him from the Cubs at the trade deadline. The Indians didn't want to part with Lonnie Chisenhall, however, according to Hoynes.
• Dave Cameron examined the 2014 Pirates' prospects for contention in a piece for Fangraphs. While the team's offense isn't expected to decline much, the bullpen is in line for significant regression and the starting rotation is a wild card, Cameron says.
• A major decision looms for the Pirates' front office as A.J. Burnett, who was key to the team's 2013 success, prepares to hit free agency. That Burnett may opt to retire complicates matters. The team must also decide whether to attempt to retain Marlon Byrd and Justin Morneau, who were acquired at the trade deadline, Thomas Harding of MLB.com writes.

Aaron Steen contributed to this post.