Naturally, Heyward's words were a popular topic at Day 1 of Winter Warm-up on Saturday at the Hyatt Regency downtown.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter said he took no offense.

"I've even talked to him (Heyward) about it," Carpenter said after his autograph signing. "I think that came out a little different than he meant for that to come out."

"I just know him personally," Carpenter said later. "I know that he didn't necessarily mean it the way he meant it. I'm putting words in his mouth, but I would assume that he looked at it as, (with) the length of a 10-year contact, he had an opportunity in Chicago to extend relationships with these guys. In 10 years, Matt (Holliday), (Adam) Wainwright and myself might not be playing here anymore. But, again, it's going to be a fun year."

Carpenter dismissed the idea of Heyward's comments adding extra fuel to one of baseball's best rivalries.