Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told fans on Thursday that the club has no interest in trading Colby Rasmus. Mozeliak also said that he expects the team's payroll to go up in the next three years and to have a resolution on manager Tony La Russa's future soon.

Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez said Saturday he's undecided on whether to return for $14.6 million or exercise an escape clause to become a free agent. "That's going to be after the season," he said. "I haven't talked to my agent about it. ... ( The Cubs) have a lot of other things they have to address." If he returns, the Cubs seem unlikely to pick up his $16 million option in 2012 when they can exercise a $2 million buyout.

Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano has pitched well as of late, making an already tough decision even harder on the team. Do they hold onto Zambrano to fortify their starting rotation for 2011 or trade him and the $36 million left on his contract while his value is relatively high? Zambrano is now 5-0 since returning from the restricted list on Aug. 9. "I don't want to talk about that," he said of trade rumors. "I feel happy, I love this team and I want to stay here. I want to stay here the rest of my contract. No more trade talk." The right-hander has a full no-trade clause in his contract.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is weary of discussing outfielder Colby Rasmus' past trade request and what is perceived as a rough relationship between the two. However, La Russa was emphatic on whether one of them would have to go next year. "It's one of the most incorrect evaluations and analyses that I can ever remember. To say that in 2011, either I'm going to be gone or he's going to be gone ... our relationship is nowhere near that," said La Russa. "I think that almost every quote I've made about him has been positive and if you point out something he's doing wrong, it has to do with experience and normal development. "I talk to him every day. We've had a lot of great conversations. "But there's no free lunch. Stuff is going to fly. If you don't like it, stay home and do something else for a living. In his case, what I told him is that he's a highly talented player. He's going to get more attention and he's not under the radar screen. "I said, 'What would you rather do, be a guy with no talent and be under the radar screen, or have talent and have a chance to be a real impact guy?.' "

Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is considered one of baseball's nice guys. However, Pujols has no tolerance for teammates that don't want to be in St. Louis. If reports that outfielder Colby Rasmus requested a trade earlier this season are true, Pujols thinks the young player should be gone. "It's a privilege to play in this organization, just behind the Yankees with 10 World Series (titles) and be able to be in the postseason almost every year," Pujols said. "I have nothing negative to say about this organization. "For a young kid to come up and say that, that he wants to be somewhere else, I don't know why."

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has confirmed reports that outfielder Colby Rasmus requested a trade earlier this season. "I think he's thinking probably the grass is not greener other places and that this is a good situation, a great organization, teammates, everything. That's what I think. You can ask him," La Russa said. Rasmus declined to confirm or deny any trade request before the game and afterward offered a denial following a face-to-face discussion with La Russa. "I never did that," Rasmus told a crush of reporters at his locker. "I don't know where that's coming from. I just want to play baseball and have fun." La Russa confirmed the request again a few minutes later.

The Yankees were awarded pitcher Ted Lilly on waivers earlier this week, but the Dodgers aren't expected to deal the left-hander to the Bronx. The Dodgers have informed the Yankees that they have no intention of trading Lilly, according to a source. "They're going for it," the source said. "They put [Hiroki] Kuroda on the wire, too, and didn't move him either."

The Yankees were awarded a waiver claim on pitcher Ted Lilly, but the Dodgers appear unwilling to trade the left-hander. Los Angeles doesn't believe they are out of the postseason race yet. New York will continue to make a push for Lilly, according to a source. Even though the deal could happen Wednesday or later, the Yankees believe there is a loophole that because they were awarded the claim before the first of the month, they could use Lilly on their postseason roster.