John Mozeliak: St. Louis Cardinals to non-tender Daniel Descalso

Daniel Descalso is expected to be non-tendered by the St. Louis Cardinals, John Mozeliak announced tonight during an interview on KMOX with Mike Kelly.

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Mozeliak told Kelly that he had been unable to confirm reports that Oscar Taveras died in a fatal car crash as a result of driving under the influence.

At the GM Meetings, the Cardinals have been talking with a lot of agents and this week will have an impact on how the Cardinals shape their club going forward.

“The work we are doing now is laying groundwork for future decision,” Mozeliak said. “We could see some things happening as early as Thanksgiving.”

On the subject of Adam Wainwright, Mozeliak said that “everything we have heard from Wainwright is business as usual.”

The Cardinals GM told KMOX that infielder Dean Anna gives the club “some depth for our system,” and that they “like his offensive projection.” For the Cardinals, “he was a nice type of player to add now.”

Michael Wacha, because of the stress reaction in his shoulder, has been seen as a question mark for next season.

“Wacha is going to have a great off season,” Mozeliak said. “He’s in a great spot, his end of the year MRI came back clean.”

With Kolten Wong‘s breakout during the postseason and Matt Carpenter taking charge at third base, there’s not much of a home for Descalso with the Cardinals signing Anna to a Major League contract. Mozeliak doesn’t disagree.

“I would imagine that Descalso will want to move on,” the GM said. “He’s going to want at-bats and it will be tough for him here.”

Mozeliak expects that the 2015 starting rotation will consist of Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Wacha, John Lackey, and Shelby Miller.

As far as Marco Gonzales and Carlos Martinez, Mozeliak said that “it’s going to be tough for those guys to break into the starting rotation. But as I’ve learned, you can never have enough depth.”

On the bullpen front, Mozeliak spoke about Pat Neshek and whether they can find him a spot in the pen.

“I’m sure Neshek is exploring the market right now,” Mozeliak said. “I certainly think we need to add, but not sure if we can find him a happy place.”

As popular as Jason Motte has been with the team and fans, Mozeliak isn’t sure that they can find him a spot in the bullpen for the 2015 season.

Neither A.J. Pierzynski or Mark Ellis will be re-signed by the Cardinals as a free agent for the 2015 season. Ellis had been signed to a one-year deal more so as an insurance plan for Wong. The Cardinals plan to keep Tony Cruz as Yadier Molina‘s backup catcher.

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