TOWER GROVE — As many as seven of the St. Louis Cardinals better prospects must be added to the 40-man roster in the near future or the team will risk losing them through the Rule 5 draft in December. The process of clearing space on the 40-man roster has already begun.

Jarrett Hoffpauir, a Class AAA second baseman, was picked up off waivers late last night by the Toronto Blue Jays. (See the Toronto take on the Jays’ official web site here.) Hoffpauir, 26, played in eight games for the Cardinals’ last season and hit .250 with a couple key RBIs against Cincinnati. At Triple-A Memphis, Hoffpauir hit .291 with 14 home runs and 53 RBIs. The emergence of Daniel Descalso at the same position altered the Cardinals’ depth chart at second base and made it possible to float Hoffpauir through waivers and possibly off the 40-man roster.

Earlier, players like infielder Brian Barden, were set loose into free agency to clear another spot.

The spots on the 40-man roster could be a premium, especially a year after the Cardinals elected not to place reliever Luis Perdomo on the 40-man and lost him, for good, in the Rule 5 draft. The righthander started the year with San Francisco, but spent most of the regular season in San Diego’s bullpen.

Players who must be placed on the 40-man roster to avoid being eligible for the Rule 5 draft are those who are three or four years removed from signing their first pro contract. The date depends on if the player can out of college, out of high school or were undrafted free agents, and it is based on age. The rule was changed in the last round of collective bargaining to increase the years to four (19 & older) and five (18 & under).

Some of the noteworthy players who the Cardinals must consider for the 40-man roster are:

• Bryan Anderson, the Class AAA catcher, lefthanded-hitter and .300 batter.
• Allen Craig, the organization’s newly-crowned Player of the Year.
• Mark Hamilton, a first baseman who is learning the outfield in hopes of improving his stock and adding a position to what’s been a consistently productive power bat.
• Jon Jay, the high-average outfielder who did well in 2008’s major-league spring training.
• Daryl Jones, the 2008 Player of the Year, who is out in Arizona and is a highly regarded prospect.
• Francisco Samuel, power-armed reliever who has one of the fastest fastballs in system.
• Trey Hearne, control pitcher who had success in Class AA.
• Mark McCormick, power-armed riddle who has had difficulty staying healthy, staying consistent.
• Tyler Norrick, a lefty who moved to the bullpen and had 78 Ks in 59 ip for Class AA.

For more information about many of these players, check out the ongoing Bird Land Community Top 21.

Players who are added to the 40-man roster are eligible for promotions to the major leagues, but they also must be optioned out of spring training — which starts the clock on their option years. If a player is taken in the Rule 5 draft that player must stay on the selecting team’s 25-man roster or be offered to the 28 other teams before then returning to the original team.

The Rule 5 draft is Dec. 10, and the roster must be finalized earlier that week.

The Cardinals will have other spots on the 40-man roster coming open as players — like Rick Ankiel, Troy Glaus, Khalil Greene, Matt Holliday and others — file for free agency.

With Toronto claiming Hoffpauir, the Cardinals have 38 players on the roster. That number was reduced by three more with moves made this morning that included releasing Brad Thompson.

That includes the players positioned to be free agents and players such as Joe Mather, Nick Stavinoha and Joe Thurston who have to have their contracts renewed.

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