ST. LOUIS -- Landing an impact bat may be the Cardinals' top offseason priority, but it's hardly the only item on the to-do list for an organization seeking to rise back to the top of the National League Central.
After watching the bullpen atrophy at the most inopportune time, the Cardinals are cognizant of the need to reinforce their relief corps. Some of that will be done as it was last July -- by plucking starters squeezed from the rotation and sliding them into the 'pen. There will also be a search for outside help.
"When you're looking at last year versus this year, I do feel like we're looking at more depth than we had a year ago at this time," Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said this week.