A year ago, the Cardinals had a $7.4-million limit. That ranked 13th in the majors. They won 100 games in 2015 and jumped to 10th in cap space.

Thank Heyward and Lackey for signing elsewhere, and the Cubs for being the team that signed them.

The edge isn't the picks, it's the money. Always the money.

It's not the picks the Cardinals got because those didn't come directly from the Cubs. The Cardinals would have landed those picks from some other team or teams. The picks the first-place Cubs gave up to get current talent created a sizable gap in bonuses the rivals can spend on 2016's amateur talent.

The Cardinals received two comp picks as a result of Heyward and Lackey signing with the Chicago Cubs. The Cardinals have four picks — Nos. 23, 33, 34 and 70 — before the Cubs have their first pick, at No. 104.

The Cubs would have regained one of those picks had Dexter Fowler signed elsewhere this offseason. Fowler returned to the Cubs and has been a key part of their strong start to this season. Fowler signed a one-year deal, so the Cubs could still get a comp pick for him in 2017 unless they keep long-term.