Pujols' contract was only part of the payroll. Cut out Beltran and Carpenter's contracts in the 2011 offseason and you are at the same base payroll. Same payroll that they absorbed this year with the Molina and Craig extensions already done.

Furthermore, it assumes that it's an impossibility that the Cardinals would have bumped up their payroll to account for the other moves.

There is more than one way to skin the proverbial cat. Either way, **** him, it's over with.

I was for resigning Pujols because he was my favorite Cardinal since Gibson and didn't want to see him in another uniform. But the thought of paying Pujols $30 million a year two years from now would have killed us. The Angles with their BILLION $ TV contract won't miss it at all.

So Motte has elbow issues. Not surprising the way he puts the stress on the elbow. Probably start the season on the DL.

Methany pencils in Boggs as the closer. Boggs was good last year but I just don't trust the guy to be consistent. MAYBE he has matured.

I'm damn glad we have Rosenthal in case Boggs pulls an Izzy/Franklin. Now, that guy I trust but he is more valuable as a starter in the long term.

Matheny. The guy doesn't do meth.

STL Today's 2013 Cardinals Season Preview

Links and text from Derrick Gold

Here is a one-stop list of all of the stories, complete with links:

GREAT EXPECTATIONS, the lead preview
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 2d57a.html

ADAM WAINWRIGHT, talks elbow health, one-team pitchers and BBQ
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 021d2.html

BERNIE MIKLASZ, Cards thinking "now and later"
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... 09bb8.html

MIDDLE MASH, Rick Hummel's look at the middle of the order
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 45abd.html

MATHENY 2.0, What manager expects in his sophomore season
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... dd0ce.html

HUMMEL'S POSITION by POSITION BREAKDOWN
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 8b910.html

THE MUSIAL MODEL, how the Cards have adopted a person-development system within their player-development system
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... 3e08d.html

JOE STRAUSS, NL Central is a two-team race
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ ... 4e493.html

RAISING OSCAR, the program in place to develop Taveras
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... a424d.html

FAB FIVE, five other prospects who could impact 2013
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball ... c7400.html

COVER STORY, the explanation behind Chris Lee's dynamic cover photo
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/colu ... b726c.html

That ought to fill a few days of reading. That's the hope. The preview section, with Lee's suitable-for-hanging-up cover, is available at newsstands now in the St. Louis area. Hope you enjoy.

Derrick

http://www.ky3.com/news/chi-lohse-br...edium=facebook

Free agent right-hander Kyle Lohse is signing with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to multiple reports Monday.

Lohse, 34, was 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 33 starts last year for the St. Louis Cardinals.

He had a difficult time finding a team because of the league's new draft pick compensation system. The Brewers have to forfeit the 17th overall pick in the June draft to get Lohse.

Explain this BRC: Brewers forfeit #17 pick, but Cards are reportedly awarded #19. Does that sound right?

Jen Langosch explains it:

http://atmlb.com/ZQHIRc

Can't quite believe the Brewers are willing to do that. Maybe Lohse is taking much less money than he was asking for earlier in the year.

I was thinking that he might be sitting until June, when the MLB draft happens and he no longer costs a pick to sign.

The comp pick will be the 28th pick in the draft. Our pick is now the 20th pick in the draft. Same slot last yesr that we took wacha as comp for pujols.

Shelby is now the #5 SP. Glad to see he won it.

Evidently about 3/$33.

It's a good thing for the near term for the Brewers, without question.

Long-term, it's a win for the Cards.

Me, too. Glad I protected him in my keeper league now.

Eh, if I were a Brewers fan, I'd be pissed.

Lohse was strong in St. Louis after drinking the Dave Duncan koolaid, but how many of those guys have succeeded after leaving St. Louis?

It's a lot of money (though 1/2 of what he was looking for) and a valuable draft chip for a guy who is (relatively) old, has a bad injury history, doesn't strike out hitters, and has been awful outside the Cardinals in his career.

That decision and contract have DM written all over them. Shocked we weren't the dumbasses bending over on this one.

Terrible deal for the Brewers. Far too much compensation for a pitcher who cannot get the swing and miss.