Bill Gayton Hired By Cardinals As Pro Scout; Cardinals Holding Out With Two-Year Deal For Jake Westbrook

— Gayton, who was never allowed to make his own first-round choice until his final year in San Diego, 2009, was hired as a pro scout by the St. Louis Cardinals.

— St. Louis is striking out in efforts to keep free-agent Jake Westbrook with a two-year deal. The free-agent pitching market is so questionable after Cliff Lee — and nobody other than the Yankees and Rangers even feel they have a shot at Lee — that Westbrook's value is rising rapidly.

Westbrook was 10-11 with a 4.22 ERA with the Indians and Cardinals last year. The numbers, however, that caught the attention of scouts were his 33 starts and 202 2/3 innings. Having undergone elbow surgery in June of 2008, which sidelined him the entire 2009 season, Westbrook alleviated concerns about the health of his throwing arm.

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