The Non-Tender Deadline

It’s December 2nd and that means it is the deadline to tender contracts to eligible players.
Oct 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay (19) hits a fielders choice to score the game winning run against the Boston Red Sox during the ninth inning of game three of the MLB baseball World Series at Busch Stadium. Cardinals won 5-4. Image Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Because of the recent trade with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the St. Louis Cardinals are not in the bind that they would have been. Both Fernando Salas and David Freese would have been players that the Cards would have had to make decisions on unless they were moved. They were moved.

Had neither player been moved, I would think that, in all likelihood, general manager John Mozeliak would have chosen to not tender a contract and get nothing in return. That’s neither here nor there but after the subpar year Freese had and not having room in the everyday lineup due to Kolten Wong and Matt Carpenter, I didn’t see Freese having much of a future with the Cardinals.

According to Derrick Goold:

"The Cardinals entered the winter with six players eligible for arbitration, and six players who had to be offered contracts before tonight’s 11 p.m. St. Louis time deadline."

Freese and Salas were traded so that subtracts two of them from the mix.

The other four players, per Goold, are:
RHP John Axford
OF Jon Jay
UT Daniel Descalso
OF Peter Bourjos

Bourjos, Jay, and Descalso are both eligible for arbitration for the first time. It is the second time around for Axford.

Bernie does ponder what to do about Jay.