The Cardinals dined with popular free agent A.J. Burnett earlier this week, remain in contact with the representative of pitcher Matt Morris and have put in a call to the agent of free agent reliever Octavio Dotel. More than the big money, big commitment that it will take to land Burnett, it's the Dotel interest that smacks of a Cardinals move. Dotel, 31, is rehabilitating his right elbow from ligament-replacement surgery in early June. He and his doctors expect him to be able to throw in spring training and to be game ready around opening day, his agent said. Dotel was Oakland's closer at the time of the surgery, which has obviously altered the kind of contract he can command. Dotel's representative Friday confirmed the Cardinals had called.