ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Cardinals have John Lackey at a bargain price next season, but may be willing to sweeten the deal.
General manager John Mozeliak said Wednesday he'd meet with the agent for the 36-year-old right-hander at the winter meetings next week.
Lackey's contract calls for a $500,000 salary next season, the major league minimum, because he missed the 2012 season while recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery. The right-hander just completed a five-year, $82.5-million contract he signed with Boston.
Lackey was traded from the Red Sox to St. Louis last July. He went a combined 14-10 with a 3.83 ERA and was 1-0 in two postseason starts for the NL Central champion Cardinals.
Mozeliak also said former Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter would not return to the front office after serving one season after his retirement.
III
St. Louis declined to offer Daniel Descalso a 2015 contract, making the infielder a free agent Wednesday.
He hit .243 with 10 homers and 111 RBI in five seasons, helping the Cardinals win the 2011 World Series.
Descalso made $1.29 million this year. He became expendable when the Cardinals signed infielder Dean Anna and acquired Ty Kelly from Seattle.