Cardinals reiterate their desire to re-sign Jake Westbrook

Yesterday’s news that Jake Westbrook recently underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder hasn’t changed the Cardinals’ interest in re-signing the free agent-to-be. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch general manager John Mozeliak “did reaffirm the team’s plan to pursue Westbrook this offseason for the team’s vacancy in the rotation.” Westbrook has repeatedly said that he’d be open to remaining in St. Louis after posting a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts following a midseason trade to the Cardinals. Westbrook just completed a three-year, $33 million deal signed with the Indians in 2007, logging 203 innings after missing most of 2008 and all of 2009 with an elbow injury that required surgery. At age 33 and with his injury history Westbrook is unlikely to approach those lofty salaries on the open market, but he should have little trouble securing a multi-year deal in a weak offseason for free agent starting pitching.