Baseball

Craig had surgery in late November to have screws inserted into his right knee and is still strengthening his atrophied right quad. He's expressed hope of being ready for the beginning of the season, but the Cardinals aren't counting on having him until May. The 27-year-old will be a backup at the corner outfield and infield positions in 2012 and can also play second base and center field in a pinch.

Molina is currently slated to become a free agent after the 2012 World Series, and apparently plans to treat any negotiations that might take place between then and now with an unsentimental attitude. "They let Albert [Pujols] go," said the 29-year-old catcher. "It's business for the team, too. It's out of my hands." Regarded as the top defensive catcher in baseball and an improving hitter, he would likely attract a ton of interest on the open market.

In other words, he'll have no restrictions as he makes his way back from Tommy John surgery. Wainwright was an early arrival to the Cardinals' spring training complex last month and is already throwing to hitters. We'll know a lot more once he starts pitching in games again, but all signs are pointing toward him being ready for the start of the season.

Wainwright, who missed the entire 2011 season following Tommy John surgery, has thrown about every third day since arriving to camp and estimates that he's throwing his fastball about 90 percent effort. "I just feel really good," said Wainwright. "I feel strong. I feel ready to go. It's one of the things where the power of understatement can be really great. But at the same time Cardinal fans should know that I'm feeling pretty danged good." Barring any setbacks, it appears that he'll be able to reach his goal of being ready for Opening Day.

Molina has already been in Jupiter, Florida for five days, gearing up for the start of spring training. He'll be looking to improve on a breakout 2011 campaign that saw him hit .305/.349/.465 with a career-high 14 home runs and 65 RBI in 518 plate appearances. He's scheduled to become a free agent after the 2012 World Series.

Cora's contract comes with an invitation to spring training, where Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the 36-year-old will "serve as both competition and mentor for the club's group of less-experienced infielders." It doesn't sound like he has much of a shot at grabbing an Opening Day roster spot.

Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com hears that it's in the $10 million range. While Jackson didn't get the lucrative multi-year contract he was looking for, that's still a pretty good chunk of change this late in the offseason. The 28-year-old right-hander went 12-9 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.44 WHIP between the White Sox and Cardinals last season and should give a boost to an improved Nationals' rotation. Jackson was a Type B free agent this offseason, so the Cardinals will receive a supplemental first-round pick now that he has signed elsewhere.