Joe, the difference between the two is going to be the commitment necessary to land them and the competition for the pitcher's services. Mike Gonzalez makes a lot of sense for the Cardinals in terms of years. Burnett appears likely to get a three-year deal (ala Affeldt) or a two-year/option deal. Gonzalez has moved around here recently and would certainly like security, but it's more likely that he'll go for a term that doesn't lock a team like Burnett would. Both have the interest of the Cardinals. Burnett's market could speed up here this week. One person I talked to said the lefty would like to get some resolution or direction this week.

We've all heard that since Drew went on the free agent market. There are members of the Cardinals staff who have advocated getting Drew before, and the planets haven't aligned. He was hurt. The Cardinals had a shortstop. So on. "Dirt" -- that's the nickname the Cardinals know him by because of his initials S-O-D (get it? get it?) -- could be in a similar situation this winter. If he and his agent Scott Boras seek a short-term deal to set him up for the next deal -- like, say, Kyle Lohse did -- then he'll be looking for immediate playing time. When it comes to shortstop, the Cardinals are playing the long game this winter. They don't only want to bring insurance in for 2013, but wouldn't mind having an answer for the position for the years beyond that. The minor-league system has Pete Kozma and Ryan Jackson to offer for life after Furcal. If there is a better option out there this year, the Cardinals would pursue. Otherwise, they would revisit the position next winter and maybe the stars align then for Drew if he seeks that short-term deal now.

Nope. If Hamilton's price drops into a Central team it could be Milwaukee.

Scooter, The Cardinals do not want to part with their high-end pitching talent. Rosenthal, Miller, Kelly, and Martinez would top that list because of the talent and the years the Cardinals have them under control. Deals that have been suggested including more than one of those players would be hard for the Cardinals to stomach. Rosenthal appears to come up a lot as a target of interest for other teams. No kidding. That's why the Cardinals would like to keep him.

Carlos Beltran has a no-trade clause. It was one of the things that Mozeliak included in the negotiations right from the start as an enticement. It was one of the reasons Beltran accepted the Cardinals offer.

That's a fine question and it's one that would have to be addressed in short order. There would be a logjam at a position. So, would one of them move to second base? It's almost too hypothetical at this point to do anything but speculate. The contract would be a huge tell on who the Cardinals are making a commitment to at shortstop.

Who is the Houston Astros' highest paid player?

There isn't a Holliday-type that has drawn the Cardinals interest in the free agent market. The player that you're talking about -- that middle-order, All-Star caliber type -- the Cardinals expect to ascend to that level is already on the roster. His name is Allen Craig. That said, if there is a trade to be had for that level of player the Cardinals would certainly pursue. That market may not be there now. It could be in July.

Allen Craig's future for the Cardinals is at first base. Oscar Taveras is the right fielder-in-waiting. The equation would only change if Taveras makes strides in his ongoing work in center. He's supposed to play CF a couple times a week in the Dominican Winter League. Come spring training one of the things to watch closely is how much playing time Taveras gets in center and how real possibility the Cardinals want to make that. Clearly where Allen Craig plays impacts where Matt Adams fits for the Cardinals, and as we learned often during the playoffs Craig feels most comfortable in the outfield. That was something that Matheny valued.

Kevin Siegrist is the highest upside lefty who has been used as a starter. John Gast is next. The Cardinals don't seem concerned about filling quota of lefty starters. Garcia is signed long-term. The thin spot in the system is lefty relief. That's why Siegrist may move to a relief role and will be looked at for one this coming spring. Gast has the stuff of a starter and isn't considered that classic lefty specialist.

As it stands right now, short-term insurance seems more likely than a long-term answer. That long-term answer either hasn't been made available or it isn't public. In talking with a few people in the past week, it's clear that the Cardinals see the market for shortstop as something that could develop over time. It's not robust right now. It could be in July. It could be next winter. They would have to hold fast and have faith in Furcal for that stretch and then revisit the opening at the position for 2013 and beyond when they can be selective -- but also in need.

I have not heard anything about what it would take to get Lowrie. It does seem like the Astros want to keep Lowrie -- who is still relatively cost-effective for what he does -- and build immediately around him and Altuve. Does a big bat the Astros can use at DH make that deal? I suppose it's possible. It would fit into what the Astros are looking for. The asking price for Cabrera has been steep. I've heard it described as anywhere from two high-end pitchers to three. While I have not heard direct names attached to any discussions, you can do the math on who the Indians would be asking about from the Cardinals.

I do think so. I have been working to confirm so as well, to be completely blunt. It appears that Parra would be interested in the kind of opportunity the Cardinals can offer him in their bullpen.

A quick summary: The report about a four-year deal was incorrect or misunderstood. Burnett is not shooting for a four-year deal when Jeremy Affeldt landed a three-year deal. Three years is the deal du jour for relievers like him. That could be a 2+1 framework or a straight 3. There are going to be options out there for Burnett that use both.

From the Cardinals? If there is one, it's Jason Motte. He's about to make some real money as a closer, more than doubling his salary. This is his second year of arb eligibility, and that means he has one more and then free agency. If the Cardinals are sold on him as the closer now and for awhile, then the timing is right. Carlos Marmol signed for a three-year, $20-million extension at about the same time, and he cashed-in a year of free agency in exchange. There is one caveat here: consider how much the Cardinals have spent on closer in recent years. They have shied away from the big spending on a position that the market overvalues. I explored that topic in the blog last week: www.stltoday.com

That would be more appealing to the Cardinals, yes.

Espinosa has a lot of the elements the Cardinals would be drawn to: power at the position, ability to play both middle-infield spots, and control. There are two additional elements to keep in mind, however. One, the Nationals want pitching in return and that's why they've been connected to Tampa Bay and the starters the Rays have there. Two, Espinosa has spent most of his time at second base and while he isn't arb eligible for another year the Cardinals have a second baseman who they think will be taking over the position soon and for a long time, Kolten Wong.

As of this weekend, that deal didn't seem to have legs, not with what the Indians have been asking for in return. Lynn would make sense as part of a lot of these deals that are being bandied about, if the Cardinals are certain that Miller-Kelly-Rosenthal would produce the fifth starter needed. Lynn is under control and for some teams would be a sell-high pitcher right now. Kelly is valuable to the Cardinals because of how much longer he's under control.

If you have Troy Tulowitzki on your roster and you play him at second base, you're in the wrong sport. Tulowitzki is the big-name du jour based on some speculation that's going around. He'd be a fit for a lot of teams. If he has a healthy year or a healthy half season then the Rockies can really boost the asking price. Riddle me this: If you're Colorado, when is it likely to get the best return on a franchise player like Tulowitzki?