The Cardinals have six soon-to-be free agents, most notably starting right fielder Jason Heyward and veteran right-hander John Lackey. Matt Belisle, Randy Choate, Mark Reynolds and Carlos Villanueva round out the rest of that group.
It will be re-signing Heyward, however, that tops the Cardinals' offseason to-do list.
The Cardinals envisioned Heyward as more than a one-year fit when they swung a November 2014 trade with the Braves that cost them 10 years of controlled pitching for one guaranteed year of Heyward. By bringing Heyward in a year ahead of his free-agency eligibility, the Cardinals hoped to help him find a home.