--The Texas Rangers are believed to be one of the teams eyeing 2B Mark Grudzielanek should they trade Alfonso Soriano. Grudzielanek, who has expressed a wish to return to the Cardinals, also has drawn attention from Boston, the New York Mets and Kansas City.

--The Royals earlier had LF Reggie Sanders, a Cardinal for the previous two seasons, in town to tour the city and club facilities, including a visit to the Negro League Baseball Museum. "It was a nice trip," Sanders' agent, Mike Powers, said. "Every team is assessing need right now and is going after its priorities first. ... (The Cardinals), they have certain priorities they are addressing more at this point."

--With the south section of Busch Stadium already down, demolition and groundwork to make way for the new ballpark are ahead of schedule. The plan calls for having half of the job done by early January -- two months after the headache balls began swinging -- and old Busch completely demolished by early March. The initial timetable called for the stadium to be razed by late June. The Cardinals say they'll have the new stadium ready by April 10, for the team's 2006 home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers.

--The New York Yankees will make their first visit to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., to play the Cardinals since the Cardinals began training there in 1998. The game is scheduled for March 17.

--The Cardinals have moved their short-season team in the New Jersey-Penn league to State College, Pa., from their previous site in Augusta, N.J.

BY THE NUMBERS
35, 25 -- It had been 35 years since a Cardinals pitcher won the Cy Young Award and 25 since a Cardinals player had won the Most Valuable Player before RHP Chris Carpenter and 1B Albert Pujols ended those droughts.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Very preliminary. It seems to be developing slowly across the board." -- Agent Barry Axelrod, discussing interest in free-agent right-hander Matt Morris and other free agents.

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