St. Louis Cardinals

If the Cardinals fail to re-sign left fielder Matt Holliday, their next move apparently will not to be pursue free agent Jason Bay.

"Is (Bay) a possibility? Sure," general manager John Mozeliak said. "But right now it's fair to say he's not one of our top priorities."

According to the Cardinals' front office ratings, Bay ranks as an inferior outfielder to Holliday. So, the Cardinals, failing to sign Holliday, might look elsewhere, especially if Bay's price tag is in the $15 million to $16 million range.

Externally, Xavier Nady, who finished the season on the Yankees' disabled list, might be an option as a free agent. Or the Cardinals might explore the trade market with a partner such as Washington, which has Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham as possibilities.

Internally, the Cardinals might look at infielder/outfielder Allen Craig, the organization's player of the year. Craig hit 26 homers and batted .322 for Pacific Coast League champion Memphis last season. However, Craig isn't considered a strong fielder.

As for Holliday, the club's first choice for left field, the Cardinals didn't submit an official offer to agent Scott Boras before the period began when all teams could begin bidding for free agents.

—If the Cardinals don't re-sign LF Matt Holliday, they may funnel that money into several positions, including starting pitching. "There are some starters out there we find intriguing," GM John Mozeliak said. "I also think there are some starters available via trade. Overall, it's probably fair to say the market doesn't offer the big brand names that we saw a year ago, but it does offer pitchers that allow you flexibility."

• There seems little talk about re-signing INF/OF Mark DeRosa, who had postseason surgery on his left wrist after a disappointing showing for the Cardinals. Acquired from Cleveland on June 28, DeRosa, no doubt bothered by his wrist, hit only .228 with 10 homers over the last three months with St. Louis.

• Manager Tony La Russa, who finished a distant second to Colorado's Jim Tracy as National League Manager of the Year said, "There's no doubt that Jim was the man. He earned it. He deserved it. We've talked quite a bit over the years. I have been for a long time a big fan of the way Jim goes about his job."

• The Cardinals purchased the contracts of eight players to run their winter roster to 34. They added LHP Tyler Norrick; RHPs Adam Ottavino and Francisco Samuel; OFs Jon Jay, Allen Craig and Daryl Jones; 1B Mark Hamilton and C Bryan Anderson. Samuel, a hard-throwing reliever, offers intrigue in that he had 22 saves for Class AA Springfield, fanning 59 in 47 2/3 innings while giving up just two homers. He did, however, walk 46 and had a 5.56 ERA.

• RHP Chris Carpenter, the Cy Young Award winner in 2005, would have had no reservations about fellow Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright winning the award this year. Instead, San Francisco's Tim Lincecum was the winner, with Carpenter coming in second and Wainwright third. "What Adam Wainwright did this year, he did all year long," Carpenter said. "He was consistent through the whole season. Look at whatever number you want. Wins, ERA, strikeouts—he's at the top of them all."

By The Numbers:

6—Times Tony La Russa has finished second in Manager of the Year balloting. He has won four Manager of the Year awards, three in the American League.

Quote To Note:

"He's taken what he was and what everybody hoped he would become, and he's just run with it."

—RHP Chris Carpenter, on teammate Adam Wainwright.

The Cardinals didn't have many needs as the season ended although they probably could use one more veteran starting pitcher to go with RHPs Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright and Kyle Lohse. RHPs Joel Pineiro and Todd Wellemeyer, who filled out the rotation, both likely will be gone as free agents.

Biggest Needs:

When the Cardinals were dismissed early from the playoffs, they set the wheels in motion to try to re-sign free-agent LF Matt Holliday and also 3B Mark DeRosa. Holliday, however, seemed likely to go into the open market.

Free Agents:

RHP Joel Pineiro, RHP Todd Wellemeyer, RHP John Smoltz, C Jason LaRue, INF Khalil Greene, INF Mark DeRosa, 3B Troy Glaus, OF Rick Ankiel, LF Matt Holliday, RHP Brad Thompson (released).

The Cardinals have large interest in keeping Holliday and DeRosa and some interest in both LaRue and Smoltz. The others probably are gone.

Arbitration-eligible:

OF Ryan Ludwick, 2B Skip Schumaker.

Schumaker will make more as a second baseman than an outfielder. Ludwick likely will get close to $7 million and might have to be traded for payroll relief if Holliday signs a multiyear deal.

In Limbo:

OF Ryan Ludwick, a candidate to be traded last year, could be dealt this time. RHP Josh Kinney, a playoff hero in 2006, probably won't return.

Medical Watch:

3B Mark DeRosa (left wrist surgery in October 2009) should be ready for spring training.

1B Albert Pujols (arthroscopic right elbow surgery in October 2009) should be back at full strength for spring training.