Jayson Stark of ESPN is reporting that Smoltz is "strongly leaning" toward coming to St. Louis, even after the Cards expressed interest in putting him in late-inning bullpen situations. Smoltz started 8 games for the Red Sox, posting an ERA over 8, but in his last 7 outings, his ERA in the first two innings was 0.64. ...

UPDATE: Smoltz is currently on waivers and the Cardinals are extremely big players for him, but nothing will be official until tomorrow. Joe Strauss reports that no teams will likely put in a claim. If he goes unclaimed, I think the Cardinals will likely get him...

The Elias Sports Bureau's recent FA projections have Mark DeRosa listed as a Type-A free agent at the end of the season if he continues his current pace. What this means is that if the Cardinals offer him arbitration and he declines and is signed by another team, the Cardinals get two first-round picks from that team. Matt Holliday will be a Type-A after the season as well, so the Cardinals could get as many as five first-round draft picks for next year...

I feel as though I've not done my duty as a blogger during the Matt Holliday acquisition, but it couldn't really be helped. I knew on Thursday night there was almost a 100 percent chance we were getting Holliday, but I wasn't able to blog since my internet is on the fritz at my apartment. At any rate, let me get into some discussion...

It's been quite a while since I've written in this blog. Credit that to a combination of moving and finishing up one of my summer graduate school courses. At any rate, here are some observations I've made about the Cardinals and other teams throughout the season...

This is a column I wrote this past school year for my school newspaper, where I was the sports editor. The column is written about Harding University, which is a private university associated with the churches of Christ. I thought some of the readers might find it a bit humorous, but keep in mind that this is very facetious writing...

Just a quick update post here. The Cardinals have traded RHP Chris Perez and a player to be named later to Cleveland for Mark DeRosa. DeRosa is currently hitting .270 with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs. Looks like the Cardinals have obtained their third baseman, and he will also be able to spell left-handed outfielders when a lefty is pitching. ...

Joe Strauss, the Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, had the following to say about Athletics slugger Matt Holliday: "My information is that Holliday badly wants to play in St. Louis and would be receptive to a long-term arrangement if the Cardinals acquire him. That said, the A's are asking a ransom for him (Ludwick, Motte/Perez, prospect). That price may drop next month. However, right now it's one the Cardinals aren't prepared to play."...

Here is this week's installment of The Payoff Pitch, where I'll voice my opinions on non-Cardinals-related issues. This week, I'm going to list my opinion on the most overrated baseball players in the history of the game. Let's be honest; the only reason Rizzuto is in the Hall of Fame is because he was on the Yankees. ...