ST. LOUIS - The Cardinals have already been busy this offseason, and the moves continued on Monday.
The Cardinals made a qualifying offer to free agent Lance Lynn and announced the unconditional release of veteran relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal.
The qualifying offer to Lance Lynn is for one year and $17.4 million, which is the mean salary of the league's 125 highest-paid players. If Lynn turns down the offer, he will have draft pick compensation attached to his free agency. The team that signs him would have to surrender a pick in next year's draft, and the Cardinals would gain a draft pick after Competitive Balance Round B, which is just after the second round of the draft.
Rosenthal was in the middle of a bounce-back season and was serving as the Cardinals closer when he tore his UCL and required Tommy John Surgery. He would have been a free agent next year.
They also outrighted infielder Alex Mejia and catcher Alberto Rosario off the 40-man roster. Mejia will be assigned to triple-A Memphis and Rosario will become a minor league free agent.
The moves now leave the Cardinals with 35 players on their 40-man roster.