Albert Pujols is six months away from free agency and 20-game winner Adam Wainwright is out for the year. It's not yet opening day and already the St. Louis Cardinals are scrambling.
Capsules of National League teams, listed in order of finish last year:
Physically, this has been one of Albert Pujols' best spring trainings in a long time. No rehabbing from elbow woes, unlike 2009 and 2010.
Lance Berkman needed to see his name on a St. Louis Cardinals jersey for the switch to sink in: After 13 spring trainings with the Astros, he had joined Houston's NL Central rival.
Lance Berkman needed to see his name on a St. Louis Cardinals jersey for the switch to sink in: After 13 spring trainings with the Astros, he had joined Houston's NL Central rival.
The St. Louis Cardinals needed outfield depth. Jim Edmonds needed a place to extend his career.
Albert Pujols repeatedly has said he wants to spend his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Staring at a spring training deadline for contract negotiations, the team chairman remains hopeful the three-time NL MVP will get his wish.
Tony La Russa quickly put Matt Holliday's concerns to rest.
Lance Berkman is headed back to the NL Central, joining a team he knows really well.
