The Brewers and Cardinals met Monday to discuss Scott Rolen and expect to meet again Tuesday. However, the Cardinals are reluctant to trade Rolen to a division rival, according to major-league sources.
The Cardinals still figure to move Rolen, whose relationship with manager Tony La Russa has become untenable. If no deal with the Brewers is possible, Rolen could be sent to one of the teams that loses out on Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera.
The Brewers, though, might be Rolen’s first choice, and his no-trade clause gives him the right to veto any deal. Rolen, a native of Jasper, Ind., likely would prefer to remain in the Midwest.
He also is close with Brewers pitcher Jeff Suppan, his former teammate with the Cardinals.
Rolen is owed $33 million on the final three years of his contract, and injuries have limited him to fewer than 115 games in two of the past three years. The Cardinals almost certainly will need to contribute cash to the deal, particularly if they want better players in return. Left-hander Chris Capuano likely is one of the Cardinals’ targets.
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