Thirty-four-year-old Mark DeRosa, the newest St. Louis Cardinal, has been in five postseasons _ three with Atlanta and the last two with the Chicago Cubs. So it’s no wonder that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa would label DeRosa, who had 50 runs batted in for Cleveland this season, a winning player.

As to what position DeRosa, who is playing left field today, plays the best, La Russa said, “He plays a lot of them in a winning way.”

As to where DeRosa, who is hitting fourth, best helps the lineup, La Russa said, “He hits in a lot of different spots in a winning way, which makes him a valuable player.”

The Cardinals also have cast their lines out to try to get outfielder Matt Holliday from Oakland but La Russa said of what happened Saturday night, “Let’s enjoy the moment.

“As I’ve said many times, our guys (in the front office) have been trying. If you’re trying, that’s the most you can ask.

“I know we’ve been trying to improve our club. I thought the effort they were making was enough for me. Sometimes, it doesn’t work out.
“(With this trade) I think our guys are interested in making us better.”
DeRosa was acquired at the expense of righthanded reliever Chris Perez and a minor league player to be ne named later.

“I’m sorry to see Chris go. I like Chris and I think he’s going to have a terrific career,” said La Russa.

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As to how his players would receive the news of the DeRosa trade, La Russa said, “I think they’ll be very excited because he’s got a well-deserved reputation of being a great teammate and a winning player. I think the guys will be enthused.”