"To see a few guys who have bought into that packing their stuff up – yeah, there’s a business here, but we’re asking for more than just business.”

The move for Lackey is the Cardinals’ second in as many days for a starting pitcher. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said he did not feel anything was close for the Cardinals in the waning moments of the trade deadline.

The Cardinals did engage Tampa Bay and Boston about the two top lefties available via trade, David Price and Jon Lester, respectively. Mozeliak said he did not have conversations with the Rays in the final moments before the three-team trade that took Price to Detroit. He described the Lester deal as one that was clearly not one they matched up on. Lester is signed only for the next couple months, and Mozeliak had expressed an aversion for a high-cost rental.

Price was the more likely fit for the Cardinals, and while he did not talk in specifics Mozeliak acknowledged that the Cardinals did have the prospects on hand to make a play for Price.

They just didn't have the interest in meeting the Rays' Price.

"I think we clearly could have matched up with the other," Mozeliak said, referring to the Rays as the "other." "But didn't want to go down that path."