The Cardinals will check in Sunday for Major League Baseball's annual Winter Meetings intent on fortifying their starting rotation and gauging the value of two veteran stars. Two days after signing free agent shortstop Cesar Izturis as the presumptive heir to 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein, the Cardinals seek to address their offseason priority: a rotation that will open next season without injured former Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter and perhaps still waiting on lefthander Mark Mulder. Mozeliak insists he will first try to address the void through trade before diving into a knee-deep free agent pool, a scary thought when Carlos Silva may command more than $10 million per season for five years as the most attractive arm available. Club officials, including Mozeliak, insist top prospect Colby Rasmus is untouchable. Meanwhile, Mozeliak has tried to stir interest in the club's outfield and bullpen depth with only marginal success. "Clearly our need is pitching," Mozeliak said after Friday's signing of Izturis to a one-year, $2.85 million deal. "But one of the things we needed to address in support of pitching was our defense. And I think we accomplished that with Izturis."