Former St. Louis Cardinals players find new homes

Three of the St. Louis Cardinals free agents have found new teams in the past two weeks.
Oct 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Carlos Beltran (3) waves to the crowd as he is honored with the Roberto Clemente Award before game three of the MLB baseball World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Busch Stadium. Image Credit: Tannen Maury/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Relief pitcher Edward Mujica, who found a role as the Cardinals closer this season following the breakdown of Mitchell Boggs, is going to be playing for the Boston Red Sox. Mujica, acquired from the Miami Marlins for 2010 first round draft pick Zack Cox, put in a year and a half with the Cardinals after being acquired in 2012. This season, the reliever saved 37 games with a 2.78 ERA. He also earned an invitation to this season’s All Star Game.

According to Jeff Passan, Mujica’s deal with the Red Sox is a two-year, $9.5 million deal.

Former Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal will take his talents to the Miami Marlins for one year as a second baseman upon passing a physical. The 36-year-old will make a reported base salary of $3.5 million with incentives for health. In over 1,500 games, Furcal has only played second base for 30 of them.

Carlos Beltran, who was signed by the Cardinals to replace Albert Pujols‘ offense, has a 3-year deal with the New York Yankees for $45 million. Beltran’s signing is the only one that gives the Cardinals a draft pick as the team gave the veteran outfielder a qualifying offer. Many teams pursued his talent but, in the end, Beltran decided to return to New York City.

Post-Dispatch columnist Derrick Goold offers a Q & A session on the Cardinals.

The winter meetings start this week but some of the big deals are already out of the way.