St. Louis Cardinals yet to go for any substantial transaction – MLB News
Winter Meetings’ being full of negotiations are as reasonable and predictable as they get. However, there does not appear to be any substantial transaction that the St. Louis Cardinals have made so far as their wish list was enunciated to be moderate in terms of filling the roster.
John Mozeliak, the club’s general manager, did – however, indicate that a lot of things were in the air with regards to the ongoing talks; which have apparently had not much urgency so far.
"There are a lot of things in the air," Mozeliak said, "and hopefully we'll bring something to the conclusion in the near future."
Mozeliak has an altogether different approach this season. "We're not spending as much time as people think in this market," Mozeliak said. "Our focus has been on other areas, but we have certainly kicked tires."
Unlike the past year’s Winter Meetings which witnessed a seeming unending round of talks over the fate of Albert Pujols – the Cardinals' former slugger, the ongoing Winter Meetings have been relatively quiet as has been reported so far.
The club, however, does need a shortstop, among other things. The Cardinals had once rebuffed the suggestions that they were looking for one as the news of Rafael Furcal’s likely return surfaced.
Furcal has been out of line-up due to a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. There were previously reports that the club was in talks with veteran Marco Scutaro – the free agent who has now signed a multi-year deal with the San Francisco Giants.
"I'm bullish on Furcal being able to go next year, so I don't think it's a situation where we have to do something," Mozeliak said. "I think again, we've always approached this middle-infield pocket as opportunistic. If something makes sense, we want to pursue it."
Be that as it may, slow and seemingly quiet as the talks have been, the Cardinals have had a different approach with regards to talks with free agents. They are looking forward to bringing some players to fill the spot. But it will be quite meticulous and quiet.
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