by BY JOE STRAUSS jstrauss@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8371 , St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Anytime you win your division, I believe it's to be considered a tremendous accomplishment," DeWitt said regarding a 91-71 season in which the Cardinals broke the Chicago Cubs' two-year hold on the division crown. "I'm fairly certain that most analysts didn't see us winning it at the start of the season. But we did. It's something I believe everyone connected to the team should be proud of."

DeWitt attended a two-hour meeting at Busch Stadium with general manager John Mozeliak, manager Tony La Russa, the major league coaching staff and several members of the front office. The traditional season-ending meeting was more a look forward projecting the team's needs for 2010 than a review of its three-game wipeout against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

La Russa on Saturday asserted the club enters the offseason in a far stronger position than a year ago. DeWitt endorsed the stance, noting the team's returning core of starting pitching and the arrival of several young position players.

"I think there's plenty of reason to feel good about the situation going forward," DeWitt said. "I think we all understand our needs and our capacity to address them."

For now, the Cardinals see re-signing pending free agent Holliday and forging a contract extension with first baseman Albert Pujols as priorities.

DeWitt reiterated Monday the club's willingness to move quickly in talks with Holliday's agent, Scott Boras, but stopped short of predicting a timeline.

Holliday and the team's other pending free agents - Troy Glaus, Rick Ankiel, Jason LaRue, Joel Pi?eiro, DeRosa and Khalil Greene - may file for free agency within 15 days after the World Series ends. Sources familiar with Holliday's thinking recently set long odds for the left fielder bypassing free agency by agreeing to a long-term deal before the market opens.

The Cardinals ended the season with a payroll, including potential awards incentives, barely eclipsing $100 million - or about $10 million less than 2008's season-ending figure.

The Cardinals chairman said it is possible for the club to simultaneously negotiate with Boras and the Beverly Hills Sports Council, which represents Pujols. DeWitt, however, did not detail how the club could operate within its current fiscal framework if, as most in Baseball believe, extending both players takes an average annual commitment exceeding $43 million.

"It's a high priority to sign Albert to make him a lifetime Cardinal," DeWitt said.

DeWitt denied that Boras rejected a formal proposal to Holliday before the sides tabling talks in early September.

Monday's meeting touched on contingencies if Holliday defects. There is also internal debate about what role rookie third baseman David Freese might play following an injury-shortened but productive season at Class AAA Memphis.

The Cardinals retain interest in bringing back DeRosa, who will undergo surgery later this month to repair a torn tendon sheath near his left wrist.

DeRosa suffered the injury within a week of his June trade from the Cleveland Indians and said last weekend that he will seek several opinions before scheduling surgery near his Atlanta home.

Mozeliak made no announcements Monday regarding a major league coaching staff that left town after the meeting. Numerous changes in minor league staffing are believed to be in the works, with significant tinkering occurring on the pitching side. Mozeliak declined to comment Monday on the matter, saying no changes are official.

La Russa remained in town and will continue to meet with Mozeliak.

Like La Russa and others in the clubhouse, De Witt expressed dismay over an abbreviated postseason run in which the Cardinals were steamrolled by a team they defeated in five of seven regular-season games.

DeWitt, however, still favored the moves that cost the club relievers Chris Perez and Jess Todd, third baseman and top prospect Brett Wallace, pitcher Clayton Mortensen and outfielder Shane Peterson.

This season marked the seventh outright division title and the eighth postseason appearance in La Russa's 14-year term. It also represented the first postseason berth during Mozeliak's two-year term as general manager. DeWitt hardly diminished the feat in light of the Cardinals missing the playoffs the previous two seasons.

"Every spring you go into the season with the goal of winning your division and playing postseason Baseball. When you have that opportunity, you do whatever you can to do it," DeWitt said. "It doesn't mean every year you're going to reach the postseason, but the better your opportunity, the better your chance of winning a world championship. Winning a division title is a tremendous accomplishment by itself."

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