Read More: Jake Westbrook (P – STL), Roy Oswalt (P – PHI), Kyle Lohse (P – STL), Carlos Beltran (RF – STL), Rafael Furcal (SS – STL), Albert Pujols (1B – ANA), Adam Wainwright (P – STL), Jaime Garcia (P – STL), St. Louis Cardinals

Starting pitching hasn’t really been a major target for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason, but Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting that they’re showing interest in free agent Roy Oswalt. Oswalt is reportedly willing to accept a one-year contract, and teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have also shown interest.

Oswalt, 34, spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies after being a career-long Houston Astro. He only made 23 starts as he battled back issues, but he was effective when he was able to get on the mound. In 139 innings, he posted a 3.69 ERA with solid peripheral statistics, so he can still be a high-quality option even if he’s no longer a top-of-the-rotation staple.

For the Cardinals, interest likely is based on their payroll flexibility. St. Louis has had an expectedly large amount of money to spend this offseason after Albert Pujols’ departure, and while they’ve spent some of it on the likes of Rafael Furcal and Carlos Beltran, there’s probably still a bit more to spend there. Their current rotation includes Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Cardinals, be sure to visit Viva El Birdos or drop by Baseball Nation for more news and notes from around the league. Keep abreast of all MLB transactions and rumors at MLB Daily Dish.

The St. Louis Cardinals lost the league’s biggest bat when Albert Pujols signed on with the Los Angeles Angels this offseason. So it’s going to need to find offense in all sorts of  new places next season.

According to ESPN, one new face that might be trying to help put runs on the board for the Cards next season is Carlos Beltran. The site notes that St. Louis is after Beltran and a “resolution (is) possible early in the week.” Word came Saturday from Fox Sports that Beltran was considering offers of two and three years. The other teams involved, according to Fox, are the Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox.

Beltran, of course, spent most of the last six seasons with the New York Mets, missing large chunks of two of them due to injury. This past season, the team traded him to the San Francisco Giants as the Giants tried to inject some offense into its World Series defense. Unfortunately for Beltran, he had a  stint on the DL soon after arriving there. However, he did hit .323 with seven homers when he was in the lineup for the Giants. For the season, the switch-hitting outfielder had 22 dingers and batted .300.

For his career, the 34-year-old six-time All-Star has won three Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger trophies, but hasn’t taken home any of those awards since 2008.

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Related: Albert Pujols, Carlos Beltrán, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals finalized a two-year, $14 million free agent deal with shortstop Rafael Furcal, a trade deadline pickup who helped them in their run to the World Series title.

The deal was completed Wednesday after the 34-year-old Furcal passed a physical. He gets salaries of $6 million next year and $7 million in 2013, along with a $1 million signing bonus.

Furcal batted .255 with St. Louis, solidifying the defense along with the leadoff slot. He turned 36 double plays, most among National League shortstops, in the final two months.

The Cardinals moved to retain Furcal after star slugger Albert Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels, freeing up payroll. They had been considering giving prospect Tyler Greene a shot at regular duty.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jeffrey Loria quickly marched down the hallway with his team president and hustled into a meeting room with a labor lawyer from Major League Baseball.

Having already made the biggest splash at the winter meetings, the Miami Marlins owner was trying to reel in Albert Pujols and perhaps other big-name free agents with the newfound riches from their new ballpark.

“He’s not the only guy,” Loria said about 20 minutes later.

Baseball’s new Big Fish were the talk of the winter meetings Tuesday, with teams wondering how close the Marlins were to an agreement with Pujols on a deal that could be worth $200 million or more over 10 years for the three-time NL MVP.

St. Louis said it submitted a new offer Tuesday to keep Pujols with the Cardinals, a team he’s already led to two World Series titles in the last six seasons. No specifics were available.

Traditional big spenders such as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox were reduced to spectators.

“They have a new stadium. They’re excited about it, and it’s good for baseball,” former Marlins and current Yankees manager Joe Girardi, an East Peoria native, said. “Our roster is pretty set. We have a lot of guys that are on long-term deals. That’s why maybe there’s not a lot happening for us.”

Having already reached deals with All-Star closer Heath Bell ($27 million for three years) and All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes ($106 million for six), the Marlins’ interest in Pujols is real. What’s unclear is whether the first baseman is prepared to go to Miami or whether his talks with the Marlins are an attempt to push the Cardinals higher.

“I know the ownership group is putting their best foot forward and trying to do everything that they can to make this possible,” new Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said, “but I also know it’s a complicated decision on both sides. There’s a lot going on, a lot that I’m not even involved in, but I think it’s clear to say that St. Louis Cardinals would love to have Albert, and we’ll see how it all plays out.”

Read More: Kyle Lohse (P – STL), Mark Buehrle (P – CWS), Albert Pujols (1B – STL), St. Louis Cardinals, Florida Marlins

According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, the St. Louis Cardinals are shopping for a suitor take on RHP Kyle Lohse. The trade, says Rogers, is intended to free up a rotation spot and roster space for a potential Mark Buehrle signing:

… the source indicated that the Cardinals are trying to make room for Buehrle by trading right-hander Kyle Lohse… He’s had an up-and-down career and is due to make $11.875 million this season, however, which lessens his desirability considerably.

The 33-year-old Lohse finished last season with an above-average 3.39 ERA and 3.67 FIP through 188 and 1/3 innings.

The Cardinals are also currently engaged in a bidding war against the Miami Marlins for the services of Albert Pujols. However, but replacing Lohse with Buehrle, they are almost certainly reducing their available budget for Pujols.

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