Mark McGwire's Hall of Fame candidacy looked drastically different in December of 2006, when he first appeared on the ballot, than it did when he retired following the 2001 season. The question now is whether the picture looks that much different in his second year of eligibility. McGwire, who retired as the No. 5 home run hitter of all time (he's now eighth), looked like a stone cold lock for immortality back when he called it a career. But by '06, the question of illegal performance-enhancing in drugs in baseball had become a front-burner issue, and McGwire was the first true casualty in Hall of Fame voting. "Big Mac" was named on 23.5 percent of ballots his first time around, ranking ninth among all candidates. It was more than enough to keep him on the ballot for another year, and he's the seventh-leading returning vote-getter on the '08 ballot. The Hall of Fame announcement will be made on Jan. 8.

Ten years after throwing the first pitch in Roger Dean Stadium history, Cliff Politte is returning to the Cardinals? spring training campus to win a job. The Cardinals finalized a minor-league contract with the righthanded reliever and Vianney grad on Friday. Politte, who will turn 34 during spring training, won a World Series with Chicago in 2005 but is coming off a 2007 season erased by recovering from shoulder surgery. "I know (the Cardinals) organization, and I know I?ll be given a chance to win a job," said Politte, whose No. 15 is retired at Vianney. "I also know that I could come out and be dominant in spring and still need to go spend a month in Triple-A. I understand that. I hope to go to spring training and make the best impression I can."

Hours after talks broke off with Mike Cameron, the Padres agreed in principle Friday to acquire center fielder Jim Edmonds and cash from the Cardinals for a minor leaguer. The deal was waiting approval from the commissioner's office because it will involve around $1 million going from the Cardinals to the Padres, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized. The Cardinals will get minor league third baseman David Freese.

The Blue Jays have been mostly quiet this off-season, waiting for the right player to become available at a reasonable price. That player finally has emerged -- free-agent shortstop David Eckstein. The Jays are on the verge of signing Eckstein, according to a major-league source. Terms of the contract were not immediately known. Eckstein, a two-time World Series champion, likely will become the team's everyday shortstop, returning John McDonald to a backup role.

Outfielder So Taguchi has been released by the St. Louis Cardinals after six seasons with the team, according to MLB.com. By cutting the 38-year-old Taguchi, the Cardinals made room on their 40-man roster to allow them to make a selection in Thursday's Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in Nashville. Taguchi, who signed with the Cards before the 2002 season after a successful career in Japan, established himself as a valuable member of the club in 2004 when he appeared in 109 games. In parts of six seasons with the Cardinals, Taguchi batted .283 with a .336 on-base percentage and became a fan favorite for his hustling style and performance in the 2006 postseason.

Cardinals' Manager Tony La Russa wants third baseman Scott Rolen back. But only on the team's terms. "He's got a contract to play, and we need him to play," La Russa said Wednesday at the baseball Winter Meetings. "And he's going to be treated very honestly. If he plays hard and plays as well as he can, he plays. And if he doesn't, he can sit. If he doesn't like it, he can quit."

The Cardinals released outfielder So Taguchi on Wednesday. A six-year veteran, Taguchi hit .290 with three home runs and 30 RBI in 130 games last season. The 38-year-old Taguchi has hit .283 with 19 home runs and 154 RBI in 578 career games - all with St. Louis.

Talks between the Cardinals and Brewers about third baseman Scott Rolen have cooled because, according to one source who spoke with the two teams, the Cardinals are hesitant to trade Rolen within the division.

The Brewers, Dodgers, Rangers and Giants are teams considering Scott Rolen, who is known to have a tumultuous relationship with Cardinals' Manager Tony La Russa. Rolen has three years and $36 million remaining on his contract.

Free-agent third baseman Pedro Feliz is one option for the Cardinals if they trade Scott Rolen. Feliz and Rolen are both represented by Sam and Seth Levinson, and the Cardinals will need to work with the agents to persuade Rolen to waive his no-trade clause. Feliz and shortstop Cesar Izturis, however, would give the Cardinals sub-par offense on the left side of the infield. Rather than sign Feliz, who also is drawing interest from other clubs, the Cardinals also could trade for a third baseman such as the Orioles' Miguel Tejada or Rangers' Hank Blalock. The Rangers are expected to be quiet at the meetings, but Blalock could become an attractive option once Tejada and Miguel Cabrera are moved.