ST. LOUIS (AP) -Rather than overpay for any of the remaining free-agent pitchers, the St. Louis Cardinals would prefer to go with what they have.
"I think our alternatives are very good," general manager Walt Jocketty said Wednesday. "You don't always have to have big names and pay a lot of money to get quality pitching and quality players. I think people have to keep that in mind."
The World Series champions remained in contention to re-sign injured left-hander Mark Mulder and Jeff Weaver but think the price might be too high to keep Jeff Suppan.
Mulder, who isn't expected back from September shoulder surgery until perhaps midseason, is getting married this weekend and Jocketty expects him to settle on a team before then.
"We're still very hopeful," Jocketty said. "He indicated to me he still thought this was the best place for him and we certainly feel it's the best place for him."
Jocketty said there have been no conversations with the agent for Suppan the last few days.
"I definitely believe that we would slightly overpay him," manager Tony La Russa said. "The difference between slightly overpaying and way overpaying is where the argument is. I'm not disrespecting anybody's decision not to come back, because this is their time to make some money."
After ace Chris Carpenter and free-agent addition Kip Wells, the Cardinals' rotation likely will include right-hander Anthony Reyes, who pitched eight shutout innings in the World Series opener.
Absent other addition, Brad Thompson and Braden Looper will contend for a spot. Adam Wainwright, who filled in as closer after Jason Isringhausen got hurt, also may start.
"Our young pitchers like Wainwright, Thompson and even Looper may have a higher up side than some of the guys that are on the market, with the exception of Weaver and Suppan," Jocketty said. "As we see Izzy progressing more and more we feel more comfortable taking Adam out of that role."
On Tuesday, the Cardinals declined to offer pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel a contract, making him a free agent. St. Louis said it intends to continue negotiations with Ankiel and reliever Jorge Sosa, who also wasn't offered a contract.
The 27-year-old Ankiel missed last season after hurting his left knee in spring training, the latest in a series of setbacks.
"The idea of non-tendering him was to re-sign him to a minor league contract so we wouldn't have to go through this process in spring training," Jocketty said. "I'm still hopeful that will get done."
