The name has changed; the emphasis remains the same.

The Cardinals approach today's nonwaiver trade deadline still in pursuit of starting pitching with the Cleveland Indians' Jake Westbrook apparently replacing Roy Oswalt as their primary target.

"The clock being the clock, you're forced to take things a little more seriously and move a little quicker," general manager John Mozeliak said before Friday night's rain-delayed game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "As we sit here we're not close to doing a deal. But in all candor it becomes a lot different when you have a deadline.

"I anticipate things moving a bit more quickly (today)."

Westbrook, 32, has remained on the Redbirds' radar for more than a month but became more prominent in organizational thinking after the Houston Astros rebuffed the Cardinals' attempt to acquire ace Roy Oswalt.

Mozeliak did not note specific trade targets Friday but allowed that his emphasis is unchanged from last weekend when talks for Oswalt crested. The Cardinals GM added that he felt it unlikely he would land help for both the starting rotation and the offense.

"I think it's more 'either/or' when you look out there and see what it will probably take to get something done," Mozeliak said.

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro represents a frequent trading partner. The Cardinals moved one-time top pitching prospect Anthony Reyes to Cleveland in 2008 for reliever Luis Perdomo, whom it subsequently lost in the December 2008 major league draft. The Cardinals last June dealt relievers Chris Perez and Jess Todd to the Tribe for utility starter Mark DeRosa.

Scheduled to start today's game in Toronto, Westbrook is a pending free agent who owns a 6-7 mark and a 4.65 ERA after 21 starts this season. Westbrook also is owed $11 million this season, the final installment of a three-year contract that includes a $2 million trade bonus.

Interest also persists in Indians starter Fausto Carmona, 26, a pricier commodity probably beyond the Cardinals' reach after last summer's trade frenzy.

"We're still looking at a variety of things to see ways to improve the club," Mozeliak said. "There's a chance we don't do anything. If that happens, it won't be for lack of trying."

An unsuccessful pursuit of Oswalt left some bruises on the Cardinals front office. Astros general manager Ed Wade insisted a better player match and not a divisional rivalry led him to send Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-player package that included pitcher J.A. Happ. Mozeliak said he believed Wade's characterization "a little overstated" and "a little bit of an odd comment."

Unlike Oswalt, Westbrook represents a "rental," something the Cardinals have said they prefer to avoid when forced to deal prospects or young players off their major league roster. Yet concern lingers that the current rotation is short on innings, something that could sabotage a September run if the bullpen begins to fray. Westbrook worked three consecutive 200-inning seasons (2004-06) before requiring elbow ligament replacement surgery in June 2008.

Mozeliak insisted Kyle Lohse's accelerated return from arm surgery in May does not change the team's thinking about the need for another starter.

Lohse is scheduled to make the second of at least three rehab starts today at Class AAA Memphis; however, coming off such a lengthy pitching hiatus, he does not yet project as the innings-eater the Cardinals desire.

"I'm trying to keep that situation independent," Mozeliak said. "His start (Monday against Oklahoma City) was encouraging. But I don't think that should be foremost in our thinking when we're talking about a trade."

Manager Tony La Russa asserted Friday that Lohse likely needs at least two more rehab starts before returning to the major league rotation.

The Cardinals have inquired about Colorado Rockies starters Aaron Cook and Jorge De La Rosa but appear to be making little progress on either. Cook was unexceptional in a seven-out start on Thursday and appears to be trending downward.

The Cardinals made inquiries regarding Baltimore Orioles infielder Miguel Tejada before he was traded Thursday to the San Diego Padres. Some had speculated the Cardinals saw Tejada as an offensive upgrade at shortstop; however, the Cardinals' interest was confined to Tejada as a stopgap for David Freese if the rookie third baseman failed to progress from ankle and toe injuries.

Freese has improved enough that he is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Memphis this weekend and could be activated before next weekend.

The Cardinals are in a much stronger position this season than prior to last season's acquisition of DeRosa and Oakland A's left fielder Matt Holliday, according to Mozeliak.

"It's a different equation," Mozeliak insisted. "Last year we had to go outside to get better. This year, if we get healthy, we can get better."