Matt Carpenter shifts to third base, but should something happen to Goldschmidt, he will return to first base as the Cardinals true alternate.

This spring, Jedd Gyorko, Yairo Munoz, and Francisco Pena also will see some time at first base to prep for possible appearances at the position. Catching prospect Andrew Knizner, set to be the starter at his position in Class AAA Memphis, will also do some work at first base.

Martinez still won't need that glove.

"Bye bye," he said.

To get Martinez's bat in the lineup this past season, the Cardinals started him 84 times at first base -- most of them coming in the first half of the season. He hit .305/.364/.457 overall and had 83 RBIs to go with 17 home runs. Yet, in the second half of the season he saw his playing time shrivel because his defensive play had been costly at first base.

He committed seven of the 20 errors the Cardinals had at first base, and he has, in a self-deprecating manner, acknowledged his role in plays not made at first base.