After winning their first division title in three seasons, the Cardinals really had only one real offseason mission -- to re-sign LF Matt Holliday. This they did at a cost of $120 million for seven years. Their only other player-personnel move of consequence was to sign RHP Brad Penny to replace departed RHP Joel Pineiro in the rotation. They also made one prominent coaching change, hiring former slugger Mark McGwire to replace Hal McRae as the hitting coach.

ARRIVALS: RHP Brad Penny (free agent from Giants), LHP Rich Hill (minor league free agent from Orioles), INF Ruben Gotay (minor league free agent from Diamondbacks), INF Felipe Lopez (free agent from Brewers).

DEPARTURES: RHP Brad Thompson (released, signed minor league deal with Royals), INF Joe Thurston (free agent, signed minor league deal with Braves), 3B Troy Glaus (free agent, signed with Braves), INF Mark DeRosa (free agent, signed with Giants), INF Khalil Greene (free agent, signed with Rangers), OF Rick Ankiel (free agent, signed with Royals), RHP Joel Pineiro (free agent, signed with Angels), RHP Todd Wellemeyer (free agent, signed minor league deal with Giants), RHP John Smoltz (free agent, unsigned).

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Chris Carpenter

2. RHP Adam Wainwright

3. RHP Kyle Lohse

4. RHP Brad Penny

5. LHP Rich Hill or LHP Jaime Garcia

Penny, a free agent acquisition, replaces RHP Joel Pineiro, a 15-game winner who signed with the Angels. RHP Todd Wellemeyer had the most starts from the fifth spot last year, but he wasn't re-signed, so Hill, Garcia and perhaps RHP Kyle McClellan will contend for the fifth spot. No Cardinals lefty started a game last year, as Cy Young Award candidates Carpenter and Wainwright led an often-dominant, all-right-handed rotation.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Ryan Franklin (closer)

RHP Jason Motte

RHP Kyle McClellan

RHP Blake Hawksworth

RHP Mitch Boggs

LHP Trever Miller

LHP Dennys Reyes

Franklin had a stellar, 38-save season in his first full year as the closer, although he was wobbly at the end. The bullpen was one of the strengths of the division-championship club, and it is likely that it will return almost intact this season. McClellan might be moved into the rotation, if the need arises.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. 2B Skip Schumaker

2. CF Colby Rasmus

3. 1B Albert Pujols

4. LF Matt Holliday

5. RF Ryan Ludwick

6. C Yadier Molina

7. 3B David Freese

8. SS Brendan Ryan

The key lineup question for manager Tony La Russa is the No. 2 spot. Does he go for "damage," as he likes to put it, with CF Colby Rasmus, knowing that Rasmus, one of his best base stealers, isn't apt to run much in front of Pujols? Or does he go at Nos. 1-2 with Schumaker and Ryan, neither of whom hits for much power nor walks much, in front of Pujols and Holliday?

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C Jason LaRue

INF Julio Lugo

INF/OF Joe Mather

INF Felipe Lopez

OF Allen Craig

The late-February signing of Lopez added some experience to the bench.

Craig, who batted .322 with 26 homers and 83 RBIs at Class AAA Memphis, is an intriguing rookie. The 25-year-old was signed as an infielder but has been moved to the outfield, where he is not an accomplished defender. Still, next to the batter's box, the outfield appears to be his best position. Mather, a valuable extra man in 2008, had a terrible season (.176 at Class AAA Memphis and .209 at Class AA Springfield) in 2009 as he had continued trouble with a left hand on which he had surgery in 2008.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--SS Brendan Ryan (right wrist surgery in February 2010) hopes to be healthy for the start of the regular season.

--LF Matt Holliday (sore right rib cage) was sidelined for two weeks in March. He was day-to-day.

--RHP Josh Kinney (right shoulder impingement) was sidelined in mid-March after having two cortisone shots.

Copyright (C) 2010 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.