By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | Dec. 7, 2015, 9:00 am CT
Image via Major League Baseball on Twitter
With the Winter Meetings in Nashville this week running through Thursday, the Cardinals appear poised to make at least one sizable move. A few quick notes on the latest developments from Sunday:
[Latest Cardinals-related reports & news from Day 2 of the Winter Meetings]
PRICE “A SPECIAL CASE”
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sunday that the team’s pursuit of David Price was “a special case” and that his staff was able to do so “reassessing” prior to the winter meetings. The redbirds reportedly finished second in the bidding for Price by $37 million with a seven-year, $180 million contract offer. While Price reportedly believed he was close to wearing the birds on the bat, the Red Sox swept in with a winning seven-year, $217 million offer.
HEYWARD REMAINS A FOCUS
Mozeliak also told Goold that resigning Jason Heyward remains a focus during the Winter Meetings, and the team at least hopes to soon have some clarity on if a possible reunion is possible soon. Quiet thus far, the market for top outfielders could soon heat up at the meetings after one of the elite options (Heyward, Alex Gordon, Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton) falls off the board.
SHORT-TERM DEAL FOR STARTER?
Mozeliak stressed on Sunday that the team is not afraid to start the 2016 season with one of Tyler Lyons, Marco Gonzales, or Tim Cooney serving as the team’s fifth starter, but also said the team will continue to evaluate the market for starting pitchers — just not likely for top-tier options. “We will assess where we are,” Mozeliak told Goold. “I do think something shorter rather than longer makes more sense for us, if we do engage.”
After previously describing the team’s wish for “horsepower” from the market, Mozeliak told Goold the team will now look for “fit and usefulness” in a free agent starter they would sign.
CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported Sunday that the Cardinals are “looking closely” at 28-year-old free agent Mike Leake, who would seem to fit that mold (full story).
TRADE FOR INFIELDER?
Finally, Goold reports that the Cards plan to look into trade opportunities for a backup infielder, and potentially a reliever as well.
While the Cardinals had been tied to the extremely versatile Ben Zobrist in their search for a reliable backup in the middle infield, Zobrist is now expected to land a four-year contract and is choosing between four teams (Mets, Giants, Dodgers, Nationals).
Check back here at stlbaseballtoday.com and follow @STLBBToday on Twitter for the latest news from the Winter Meetings.
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Report: Cardinals “looking closely” at free agent starter Mike Leake
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