DALLAS • On his morning flight home from the winter meetings on Thursday, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak surveyed the new landscape of his team and saw an opportunity where most will only see a vacancy.
Life without Albert Pujols is not up in the air.
It is, however, a chance to chart a new direction.
"It really is," Mozeliak said hours after the three-time MVP had informed the Cardinals he would be accepting a 10-year, $254 million deal from the Los Angeles Angels. "I was like, 'Wow, it does create some flexibility for the organization.' We knew that was a possibility, and that's what we'll try to do."
In the wake of Pujols' departure, the Cardinals have immediate needs but also unexpected long-term elasticity. While they'll look for a shortstop or second baseman and probably an outfielder to fill openings in the 2012 lineup, the Cardinals now have the possibility of seeking another core player in the year or two to come. The Cardinals' payroll won't be stretched to cover the five years and $85 million remaining on Matt Holliday's contract and the heavier weight of nine years and more than $200 million for Pujols. Mozeliak has room to work.
There new elasticity presents an opening to pursue a cornerstone player and clear a spot for Adam Wainwright two years from now should he be positioned for a windfall as a free agent.
The more pressing considerations will be how to fill the openings for next season. Mozeliak said he has talked with Lance Berkman, who will shift to first base and be the Cardinals' everyday player there. Allen Craig, who had a breakout postseason, is positioned to be the everyday right fielder once he returns from recent knee surgery. Mozeliak acknowledged that Craig could miss the first month or two of the regular season and a "bridge" would be needed.
Mozeliak said the obvious place to shop is the free-agent market.
"My preference would be through free agency if we could because I think our farm system is in such great shape," Mozeliak said. "It's strong. I'd hate to really deplete that, but we will explore some trade opportunities between now and February."
The Cardinals remain engaged in conversations with free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. The switch-hitter who finished the season as the Cardinals' starter was interested in returning to the Cardinals partially because it would have offered a chance to play alongside Pujols. His market, however, lost an option Thursday when the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a one-year contract with former All-Star shortstop Alex Gonzalez.
Jimmy Rollins, the NL MVP in 2007, is also fielding offers, though sources familiar with his request say the switch-hitter is seeking a five-year deal. The Cardinals would be reluctant to enter the bidding for Rollins until the term of the contract desired is less.
According to a source familiar with the conversation, the Cardinals have explored what the market is for outfielder Carlos Beltran, who fits the profile of the team's needs with Craig on the mend.
Beltran, who will turn 35 in April, hit .300 with 22 homers and 84 RBIs in 2011, a season he split between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. Coming back from knee surgery, Beltran played right field last season after a career in center. The Cardinals would like to find a righthanded-hitting center fielder to complement Jon Jay and that could be the outfielder who fills in for Craig early in the season. A switch-hitter with a career on-base percentage of .361 and slugging percentage of .496, Beltran fits that description.
Former Cardinal Ryan Ludwick, a righthanded bat who can play center and right, is also a free agent this winter.
Mozeliak agreed the team's roster is better prepared to recover from Pujols' absence today than it appeared when it was entering the 2011 season.
"I think the big difference there is you have Berkman with a breakout year," Mozeliak said. "Last February, a lot of people questioned the signing, let alone him having the success that he had. I think that's the biggest difference. A player like Allen Craig proved to be an exciting player when on the field. It's different."
The biggest impact bat remaining available is Prince Fielder, a home-run king and All-Star as Milwaukee's first baseman. The Cardinals have publicly stated that they wouldn't enter the Fielder mix if Pujols departed because of the years and salary he's expected to command. But it wouldn't be unusual for Fielder's agent, Scott Boras, to at least double-check.
Fielder's market has developed slowly this winter, mainly it appears because of Boras' signature patience and teams pursuing Pujols.
On Thursday at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Boras described how Fielder was "a National League player and a better fit (than Pujols) for a National League team." Boras mentioned Fielder's age (27) and the likelihood he can be a fixture at first base for the life of a big contract. He declined to say whether he had already approached the Cardinals about Fielder, preferring instead to say the first baseman had drawn a lot of interest.
Mozeliak acknowledged that many of the things the team can do now — a Plan B, so to speak — were on hold to address Plan Albert.
"It obviously created a situation where we weren't pursuing other options," Mozeliak said. "I assure you we have our irons in the fire now and as things get into next week, we'll be active and I think have a pretty good idea of what we want to see happen now."
The Cardinals plan to shop for a lefty reliever in the near future, and they have had discussions with agents for lefty J.C. Romero and Mike Gonzalez. The Cardinals have interest in bringing back utility infielder Nick Punto, especially as they also consider giving Tyler Greene a shot at winning the everyday shortstop role. The middle-infield market is not robust this winter, especially since Kelly Johnson accepted arbitration from Toronto late Wednesday night and is no longer available.
At the winter meetings, the Cardinals were approached by teams about starting pitching, including Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook. Mozeliak said he didn't see the makings of a deal, and one would be done only to "reallocate" funds for another pursuit.
Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said the Cardinals will be targeting a $110 million payroll for 2012. Mozeliak said not having Pujols as a part of that doesn't adjust the payroll downward.
It just allows them to take it in a new direction.
"Well, if we can find $21 million worth of talent we would consider it, but it's all going to be on what we're purchasing and how we're getting it," Mozeliak said. He added: "We want to be competitive because we are the reigning world champs."
Staff writer Tom Timmermann contributed reporting to this article from St. Louis.
