New boss in the nest

Former assistant and interim GM John Mozeliak gets the full-time job:

The Cardinals have named John Mozeliak general manager, FOXSports.com has confirmed.

Mozeliak, previously the assistant GM to Walt Jocketty, had been serving as interim GM. However, he might not have been the Cardinals' first choice.

Indians assistant GM Chris Antonetti, the front-runner to replace Jocketty, turned down the job after the Indians negotiated with him to stay, according to major-league sources.

The team likely agreed to increase Antonetti's salary to the level of a GM's and perhaps gave him assurances that he eventually would succeed Mark Shapiro, who could move up to club president.

Funny thing about Antonetti. I guess this explains why he hasn't agreed to become top dog elsewhere, but imagining Shapiro moving upstairs so young is weird.

The Cardinals told GM candidates that they would operate with full autonomy, but the reality might be quite different. Manager Tony La Russa is under contract for the next two years. The rise of Jeff Luhnow, vice-president of amateur scouting and player development, led to the departure of Jocketty.

Mozeliak, due to his stint as assistant GM, already has working relationships with La Russa and Luhnow. The news of his hiring was first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which said that Mozeliak received a three-year deal.

Hmmmm... I thought Luhnow would be more willing to take on the job himself. In any case, try to keep an eye in the Cards' office politics.

Mozeliak inherits a tough situation. The team is clearly in a downward slope, with two elements of MV3 declining abruptly and Chris Carpenter succumbing to injury once again. The farm, while improving, is far from top class, and it will be hard to build back up to contention before Pujols is eligible for free agency. Being on the weakest division in MLB helps, though.