--The Cardinals reaffirmed their intention not to count so much on rehabbing pitchers, as they quickly moved to cut LHP Mark Mulder adrift, not picking up his $11 million option for 2009. Mulder had had two shoulder surgeries in two years and was able to throw only 16 pitches at the big-league level in 2008.
--The entire coaching staff will be back to assist Tony La Russa, who will be entering his 14th season as the Cardinals' manager. Pitching coach Dave Duncan agreed to a one-year extension, plus an option year. La Russa is in the last year of a two-year deal. --Fast-rising 3B Brett Wallace, the club's first-round draft pick last June who finished the season at Class AA Springfield, was chosen to play in the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game.
--San Diego RHP Jake Peavy listed the Cardinals as one of the teams to which he would agree to be traded. However, if the Cardinals were to go after him, they surely would have to give up prized center field prospect Colby Rasmus and be ready to take on a huge contract that, before it ends, would make Peavy the Cardinals' highest-paid player.
--1B Josh Phelps, who had 31 home runs for Class AAA Memphis before being called up in September, was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for LHP Charlie Manning, claimed off waivers from Washington. Manning held left-handed batters to a .203 average last season but walked 31 hitters in 42 innings.
BY THE NUMBERS: 0 -- Games LHP Mark Mulder won for the Cardinals the past two seasons.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I would have given up anything to have done well in that city and with that team." -- LHP Mark Mulder, after his $11 million option for 2009 was not picked up.
