Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.The Cardinals increased their win total from 86 to 91 in 2009, and in so doing they won the National League Central going away. They had both the presumptive NL MVP (Albert Pujols) and two of the top candidates for the NL Cy Young (Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter) on their club.
Despite that very good season, there were promptly dumped out of the playoffs in three games by the Dodgers, and they suddenly find themselves facing an uncertain offseason with key free agents and the contract of a certain once-in-a-generation first baseman looming over everything. To say this offseason is important for the Cardinals would be an understatement.
Who Might Leave
Matt Holliday, LF; Joel Piniero, SP; Rick Ankiel, OF; Khalil Greene, SS; Mark DeRosa, IF; Troy Glaus, 3B; Jason LaRue, C; John Smoltz, Aging Legend; Todd Wellemeyer, SP
Shopping List
With nine free agents, the Cardinals have a few weaknesses that are going to need addressed before Opening Day 2010. The first and most pressing need is to find a bash brother for Pujols, whether that comes by re-signing Matt Holliday or by pulling in another free agent. The market for that kind of thing is pretty limited after Holliday and Jason Bay, so if the Cardinals fail to bring Holliday back into the fold they may have to try and reload via another trade.
Beyond that, they'll probably need a third baseman now that Brett Wallace is in the A's system (DeRosa and Chone Figgins are their best options, but they'll both be heavily pursued) and at least some rotation help for Wainwright and Carpenter with Piniero on the free-agent market. They can try to bring him back, but there will likely be some outside interest in him as well.
Money Matters
The Cardinals only have two arbitration-eligible players this offseason -- Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker. Ludwick will probably be due a raise on his $3.7 million 2009 salary, while Schumaker is in his first year of arbitration and likely won't be too pricey. Ludwick is too important a part of their offense with Ankiel departing and Holliday likely to go, so they'll tender him a contract, too. The most important contract matter for St. Louis this winter is actually one that won't be officially up until after the 2011 season. That's Albert Pujols, who's signed with a team option through that year. The Cardinals of course want to work out an extension with him, but he's made it pretty clear in the past that he wants a commitment to winning from them and with Tony La Russa's future after 2010 up in the air, John Mozeliak's front office needs to have a good winter to assuage their star.
That's not to say that Pujols wants to leave or is planning his escape route from St. Louis. It's just that the specter of his free agency is looming over everything that the team does, even when its two years down the road.
Offseason Goals
The nine free agents are a double-edged sword for the Cardinals. On one hand, losing those nine to free agency creates a lot of holes on the roster. On the other hand, the high number of free agents with a low number of arbitration cases means that they should have plenty of financial flexibility to take care of their needs and stay at the top of the division. Even if they go into the season without crossing off all the goals on their shopping list, La Russa has done a good job recently of finding unexpected offense from players like Ludwick or shuffling Schumaker around the diamond (he was actually pretty good at second base once he adjusted to the position) to fill needs and Dave Duncan is a magician with the pitching staff, turning around guys like Piniero and resurrecting John Smoltz after an ugly stint in Boston.
