John Mozeliak Quotations

We felt it could be high-reward. What we see are the indications that we feel he has a chance to make the team. He has the ability to be in the major leagues.

Now that we've got these problems resolved and got everybody in camp, with one exception, we're looking forward and not backward.

Obviously, given what we saw we think he has an opportunity to make the team. Give him a full spring training as a true position player and maybe some winter ball, it's something that we think he has the ability to play in the big leagues.

He requested his release. He was looking for a Double-A opportunity. He felt he wasn't going to get that with us, which is true.

I think we've identified what we're trying to accomplish. Where we are today is trying to send out feelers and get a sense for the major league's free-agent market as well as get a temperature of what all clubs are trying to do.

I think that (situation) has become encouraging. I don't know the exact date that we're going to try to really test it 100 percent, but I think it's sooner than later. If I were going to define that, I'd say probably this week.

Larry wanted to come in and play and really show us that he could have an impact on this club, and unfortunately he just hasn't been able to do that at this point.

You look at the last month he had, it's prolific. When you look at our depth in the outfield, it just seemed to make sense.

There was a little miscommunication with some of that paperwork this year to the players. They knew they needed that paperwork, and I think the problems started to happen when they didn't know where to get it.

There was a delay in the process. I'm not exactly sure what that is at this moment, nor do I know if I'm even going to press for it, with the fact that they got it. So they'll be traveling to Florida tomorrow.

The most effective model is a balance of both. A source of young talent to inject into your major league team is always beneficial. ... It's highly desirable. And I think as we move forward, you're going to see more of an infusion of players drafted and signed by the Cardinals.

It may seem like it, but it's not a strategy. Is there a risk to running that model year after year? Sure.

I'm extremely flattered and honored for this opportunity. But I'm also realistic. It's just an opportunity to be interviewed at this point. It's hard to put the cart in front of the horse. I'm making sure I'm doing due diligence to get to a level of comfort and awareness with the organization.

In his mind, he needed to get himself to Double-A, with his age. We respected that.

I met with Landry Carr with the U.S. consulate and let him know we really wanted to get this thing moving. I wasn't looking for any favors. I was as polite as I could be and let him know if there was anything we needed to do to speed things up, I was there to help.

I'm very flattered for this opportunity. It's an early part of the process, but it's also a unique opportunity, and it's a chance everyone in this business in my position is eager to get.

I do think I can complement an organization with my diversity of experience. In that regard, I feel I'm very prepared.