Full contact free agency officially opens today. Any team may now contact any representative for any free agent. The Cardinals accordingly have prepared their shopping list.

A talented but thin club that just left an unfulfilling 86-win season behind believes it can address its needs for another starting pitcher, a lefthanded reliever and a backup catcher through the market. Other possible upgrades for infield depth and perhaps a starting second baseman or shortstop could also be addressed, though general manager John Mozeliak believes a mix including trades more likely.

"We can look at many ways to add offense," Mozeliak said Friday.

The Cardinals remain engaged with their own free-agent pitcher, Jake Westbrook, on a potential two-year deal that may involve an option for a third season.

Mozeliak believes no deal with Westbrook "imminent," but sources familiar with talks expressed more reason for optimism at week's end than at its beginning. In each of the three previous seasons, the Cardinals' first significant move has been to cement its rotation — Joel Piñeiro (2007), Kyle Lohse (2008) and Brad Penny (2009). Acquired via a three-team trade that involved right fielder Ryan Ludwick last July, Westbrook represents a perfect fit for the team's pitching philosophy. The Cardinals represented a nice fit for Westbrook's low-key demeanor.

Should Westbrook go elsewhere, the Cardinals are certain to pursue a free-agent alternative. They are just as certain to remain outside of the Cliff Lee sweepstakes likely to involve the New York Yankees.

Javier Vazquez, coming off a disappointing final season within a three-year, $34.5 million contract, offers a more plausible fallback.

Mozeliak abstained from discussing specific players since the market does not officially open until Sunday. However, pitching remains a priority for a club that confronted depth issues after Penny and Lohse went down on consecutive days last May. Given Lohse's return from a rare surgery to release entrapped muscle, the Cardinals are less prone to again risk exposure by signing a free-agent pitcher with recent medical issues.

The Cardinals have committed about $80 million to nine players for next season. Even if payroll increases 10 percent — to about $105 million — little room exists for pricey error.

Sensitive to the value of draft picks, the Cardinals are reluctant to sign a Type A free agent offered arbitration by his previous team. Such a consideration will weigh heavily within the team's consideration of veteran lefthanded reliever Arthur Rhodes, a potential replacement for Dennys Reyes.

Rhodes, a 19-year veteran, earned the same salary ($2 million) as Reyes last season with Cincinnati while limiting righthanded hitters to a lower average (.182) than lefts (.214). Just as impressive, the 41-year-old walked only one of 89 lefthanded batters faced last season. Scott Downs, who last season limited lefthanded bats to a .152 average for Toronto, and J.C. Romero serve as alternatives. The Cardinals have another opportunity to pursue 2009 AL saves leader Brian Fuentes, who represented their No. 1 target after the 2008 season, but will likely look elsewhere for financial reasons.

The Cardinals on Friday tipped their hand about their plans for a backup catcher when they waived longtime organizational staple Matt Pagnozzi, who will now become a minor-league free agent.

Pagnozzi drew praise in September for his ability to handle a veteran staff, previously considered enough for the team's backup catcher. This winter the club intends to seek more from the role after Jason La Rue announced he would retire following three years in the role. Left unsaid is a desire for the next backup to take on more of the catching load; Yadier Molina has ended the last three seasons with knee issues.

"I think we may change our model there," Mozeliak said. "I don't think we can look at the backup from solely a catch-and-throw standpoint. We need to consider offense, too."

The Cardinals again hope David Freese will develop into their everyday third baseman. But just as the club is reluctant to again expose itself within the starting rotation, strong sentiment exists to acquire veteran insurance for a player who has lost much of the last two seasons to repeated ankle injuries. The club has never slotted more than $1 million to the role.

Freese continues to recover from surgery in August to reconstruct his right ankle following a mishap suffered while on a rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield.

Manager Tony La Russa and a front-office faction have long pressed for the acquisition of 2002 American League MVP Miguel Tejada. A Cardinals trade target last July, Tejada would offer insurance for both Freese and shortstop Brendan Ryan, who hit .223 last season while failing to amass a .300 on-base percentage in any month.

Mozeliak believes the club could upgrade at second base or shortstop through trade, though opinions vary within the organization about whether to discard Skip Schumaker after two seasons as primary second baseman.

Mozeliak may use this month's general managers meetings in Orlando, Fla., to ply a trade market that could include Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew or second baseman Kelly Johnson.

Failing to sign arbitration-eligible Dan Uggla to a multi-year extension, the Florida Marlins may make available the power-hitting second baseman, though it appears unlikely the Cardinals will add another potential $10 million salary.

Though Mozeliak downplays free agency as a likely answer for the team's middle infield, internal support exists for a pursuit of free agent Orlando Hudson, a four-time Gold Glove winner who last season with Minnesota ranked high among AL second basemen in many defense metrics. The Cardinals refrained from pursuing Hudson in 2009, when he remained unsigned as spring training opened. Hudson that year won a Gold Glove and amassed a career-most 50 extra-base hits.

Wrist issues have robbed Hudson of some power. His slugging percentage has dropped from .450 to .372 the last two seasons, and his 2010 production was less than what Schumaker had averaged in two previous seasons.

The Cardinals still project Allen Craig and Jon Jay as an organizational right field platoon. Craig's stock rose with a more assertive September, while concerns sprouted as Jay's overall average fell from .373 on Aug. 14 to a season-ending figure rounded up to .300.