ST. LOUIS _ As he verbally navigated around the high-traffic questions he couldn't avoid and the answers he insisted he couldn't give, Cardinals executive John Mozeliak eventually arrived at one word to explain the team's current direction _ and had to defend it almost as soon as he said it.
"Probably the most important word for this group: Patience," the president of baseball operations told the media Saturday morning. "I know you hate when I use it. But keep it in your back pocket."
As he led off the Winter Warm-Up press conferences Saturday morning, Mozeliak addressed everything from additions the team could yet make to the improvement the offense must see, and he circled back often to that notion of _ wait for it _ patience. Although he declined to discuss specific names, the team continues to explore outside additions, whether it's the trade market and the uncertain availability of All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado or the return of free-agent Marcell Ozuna. But no move seems imminent. The Cardinals have options for cleanup and closer and yet no obvious answer as spring training nears. But they don't need to know until games begin. The least thunderous offense in the postseason hasn't made an addition in part because the Cardinals believe returning players will be improved players. But they need playing time to show it.
