By winning the World Series this fall, the big-budget Yankees have made the offseason more challenging for Cardinals manager John Mozeliak.

The Yankees' success accentuates the failure of the cross-borough Mets. Since that franchise also has lots of money to spend, thanks to a new stadium, we can expect it to spend big while playing catch-up.

The Mets could really use a player like Matt Holliday. That team may not get him, but it will almost certainly set the market for him. And that market would blow the Cards away.

The Red Sox also watched the Yankees resurgence with dismay. With their arch-rival looking more formidable for years to come, thanks to the ambitious Steinbrenner boys, Boston will have to buck up to keep free-agent outfielder Jason Bay.

The former Pirate is the No. 2 free agent available, behind Holliday. He would like to stay right in cozy Fenway Park. That is a great ballpark for him offensively and defensively.

He’ll need to get paid, though, and we’re guessing that Boston will outbid the Cards or anybody else to keep him.

Having just lost to the Yankees, the Phillies are looking to improve. Could an overhaul include the addition of Cards free agent Mark DeRosa?

Philly just declined its option on Pedro Feliz for next year, citing his lack of production. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is exploring all options at third base.

The Yankees’ championship may convince them to keep old-timers Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui and stay out of the Holliday shopping. But in that scenario, New York could decide to keep Xavier Nady as he comes back from repairs, as insurance against either Damon or Matsui fading.

That could knock the Cards out of the bidding for an intriguing corner outfield option.

So this is shaping up as a difficult market for Mozeliak and the Cards. The free agents the front office covets most seem likely to land elsewhere, since the Cards need to set aside a LOT of money for the Albert Pujols Contract Extension.

In the face of all this, we would recommend that the Cards:


* Re-sign DeRosa if his recovery from wrist surgery progresses well. Mark could start some games at third base to ease David Freese into that job, play some second base for Skip Schumaker against tough lefties and play a lot of left field, too. The Cards need DeRosa’s power, versatility and leadership. He seemed happy here. Make it happen!


* Let Pineiro walk as a free agent and sign a lefty starter like Doug Davis instead. The Mets may overspend to get lefty Randy Wolf, so I’d like to see what Dave Duncan can do with this guy. It’s time to balance the rotation. Even if Jaime Garcia makes the rotation, another lefty would help this group.


* Spend whatever it takes to land free agent reliever Rafael Soriano. The Cards need another power arm in the bullpen. Unless he insists on closer guarantees, he would be the ideal fit for St. Louis. He could set up or he could close, should Franklin fail to regain his edge. He is a strikeout pitcher, which the Cards need for the pen.


* Give Freese at least 400 at-bats this season. He offers the sort of pop the Cards couldn’t get out of Joe Thurston, Khalil Greene or Troy Glaus last season. This team may not secure heavyweight protection for Albert Pujols during this offseason, but it can certainly upgrade the lineup depth and supporting cast. Third base was an offensive vacuum most of last year.


* Give hitting prospect Allen Craig a shot to earn a part-time job. He hit well for the Cards in spring and finished with a flourish for Class AAA Memphis. He can play the corner infield and outfield positions and he could offer additional power, as Joe Mather was supposed to before suffering his wrist injuries.


* Let Rick Ankiel depart for the Pirates (or wherever) and search out a lefthanded hitting bench player with some pop. When the free agent music stops, we’re guessing that some significant options will be sitting out there, still looking for a dugout seat. Find a guy capable of making consistent contact against tough righties.


* Extend Pujols' contract. He would be open to listening to any contract extension that offered serious, market-value financial security. If the Cards took all the steps I suggested, Albert could see that the team is still serious about contending.


* With Albert locked in to his long-term deal, monitor the inevitable salary dumping that occurs to see what fits. The club can also monitor the progress of young hitters like Rasmus, Freese and Craig as the season progresses, to reassess its needs. Just as opportunities arose last season, opportunities will arise in 2010 as well. Everything doesn’t have to be in place by Feb. 15.


Thanks to their sustained commitment to player development, the Cards won’t have to gamble on an iffy commodity or overspend to fill a hole. The team has enough organizational depth to fill its gaps and balance the budget.

That depth, plus the money freed up by exiting veterans, should allow Mozeliak to build better pitching balance and more offensive depth.

The Yankees have made his job more difficult, but not impossible. By becoming aggressive on some fronts and remaining patient on others, Mozeliak can construct a better overall team than he sent into last spring.