Kevin Weber: If a team signs a free agent this offseason who is subsequently suspended for 25-50 games because of the information in the Mitchell Report, he does not get paid does he? Actually how does that apply to current players as well if they get suspended?

Jeff Gordon: Players are looking at unpaid suspensions. What's interesting, though, is that most of the Mitchell Report will address what happened before baseball got serious with a drug policy -- stuff like the Ankiel revelation. I'm curious to see how many actual suspensions occur.

Tim: If Rolen is traded, will the Cards make a strong push for Tejada to play 3rd? If not who will replace Rolen? ARe they even interested in him right now?

Jeff Gordon: Rolen's exit would leave an obvious hole. Would the team rely on, say, Spiezio to fill that hole? I would guess not. Tejada is an interesting player, since his power/run production could increase if his wrist gets healthy.
Remember, third base is a lean position in the majors. A lot of teams had a lot of heartache at that spot. I'm with Bernie -- the Cards should ride it out with Rolen to see if he heals up. Then he would have more value to this team and more trade value elsewhere. A healthy Rolen could fetch a third base prospect in return, should he and La Russa still not click.

Tim: Are the Cards interested in Burnett at all since he may be on they trade block?

Jeff Gordon: Interested? Of course. Positioned to make a deal? Well . . . let's see, The Cards may have enough trade chips to make one big pitching deal. I wouldn't trade Rasmus, but you're hearing baseball people saying the Cards took take that step in the right deal.

Cardinals: Hey Jeff,

I appreciate all the work you do for the site, and I always enjoy your columns. I just have a few questions regarding the Cardinals' offseason...

1.) In my opinion, we shouldn't bring back Eckstein, and instead we need to look for a new shortstop. Eckstein has a bad arm, bad speed, and he's bad defensively, and almost at the age of 33, I don't think he's the answer. What do you think the chances are of trading for Miguel Tejada? He's good defensively and he has a big bat. People look at his numbers and think that they went down this season, but they really didn't. It was only because he played in 25-30 less games. He still put up good numbers, and had he played in every game like he did in 2005 and 2006, the guy is capable of hitting 20-30 HR's and 90 RBI's. I'll take that in this lineup that's lacking power.

2.) Are we looking for another right-handed bat that's an outfielder? I think our starters may be set with Duncan, Edmonds, and Ankiel - but that's three lefties. Are the Cards ready to let Ankiel start, or will they bring in a guy with a big bat to start in RF?
An idea that I like is to trade for Wily Mo Pena and just platoon him with Duncan in LF and let Ankiel start in right. It wouldn't take much to land him, and both guys could hit for power. Your thoughts on the outfield for 2008?

Thanks. Looking forward to free agency starting...

Jeff Gordon: Pena is a fascinating case, like Duncan. Lots of power upside with both guys, yet you wonder if either can become a 500 AB guy. Maybe Duncan's decline this year was all hernia related -- or maybe he couldn't adjust to the pitching. We'll see.

Tejada is interesting for the reasons you mention, but other teams are eyeing him as a third baseman -- which makes you wonder about his glove at SS in the near term. But he would fill the need for a RH bat to put behind Pujols.

hammer: Is Perron going to stick around past the nine game trial?

Should it be a sign of things to come that Backman was scratched last game? Maybe a trade.

What do you make of Kariya'sand Snipeniak's lack of goals?

Jeff Gordon: The offense has to get going -- and now! Perron has created some chances with more playing time, so I think the team needs him to stay. Murray is extremely reluctant to push the kid, for obvious reason, but the needs him.

Trading a "D" is always possible and Backman is a player that hasn't met expectations here. Would another team like him enough to give something back of value? That I can't tell you. His name doesn't come up with the rumormongers.

Stempniak needs a two- or three-goal game to get himself going. He's Cheechoo, Shanahan and some of the other slow starters this year.