http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/article_683a72c2-d313-11e0-a377-0019bb30f31a.html


Yadier Molina, C -- Type A

Albert Pujols, 1B -- Type A

Lance Berkman, OF/1B -- Type A

Chris Carpenter, SP -- Type A

Edwin Jackson, SP -- Type B

Octavio Dotel, RP -- Type B

Arthur Rhodes, RP -- Type B


The post-dispatch lays the issue out nicely.  Trading Berkman would have to bring in a good haul because the Cardinals would lose 2 draft picks.  However the flip side of that to me is that if the Cardinals offer Berkman arbitration he will likely accept.  He has said he wants to return to St. Louis and accepting would ensure that will happen and he will get a raise.  If they trade him and want to resign him as a free agent the Rangers could offer him arbitration and cost the Cardinals a first round draft pick.  It is the perfect catch 22.  The only way this is clear cut is if the Cardinals have no plans of resigning him next year, seeing Craig as the full time RFer.  If that is the case you trade him because the team could get return without risking arbitration. 

As for the other player:

Molina- pick up option

Pujols- try to resign

Carp- offer abitration.  His type A status will hurt his FA appeal and if he accepts I doubt he make the 16 million his option ensures him.  If he doesnt accept the Cardinals still might be able to resign him as a free agent if the market isnt their for him.

Jackson- let him run and take the draft pick.

Dotel and Rhodes-  I am not sure about these guys.  I wouldnt want to risk having Rhodes on the roster in 2012.  I guess it would depend on what the team thinks that could get in arbitrations.