Free agent reliever Russ Springer told Matthew Leach of MLB.com Friday that the Cardinals have not expressed a desire a to bring him back for the 2009 season.
"I loved the opportunity to play for the Cardinals and the fans," said Springer. "I did everything I can to come back. I told them I’d take a pay cut, play for incentives. And it just never went anywhere… They don’t have any interest in bringing me back. That’s fine. That’s baseball. I enjoyed the time I played there and I made a lot of good friends there. I want to put myself in the best opportunity now to go out and play for a competitive team and maybe get to the playoffs."
Springer, 40, posted a 2.32 ERA in 50 1/3 innings for St. Louis last season. He claims to have a couple of contract offers on the table, but would not reveal which teams they’re from.
