With the end of the World Series, baseball tiptoed Thursday morning toward the opening of free agency next week and the start of what the Cardinals hope will be a winter of acquisition.
But first, a few goodbyes.
Lance Lynn was one of four Cardinals declared free agents, by rule, at 8 a.m. St. Louis time Thursday, the morning after the Houston Astros’ coronation as World Series champs. Lynn and relievers Seung Hwan Oh, Juan Nicasio and Zach Duke will be available to all teams after a five-day window when only the Cardinals have exclusive rights to talk financial details with the free agents.