With Albert Pujols leaving via free agency to the Angels, the Cardinals' biggest offseason question has been answered — though not in a favorable way. The club now has money to spend and needs to spend it on, and with Pujols' status resolved, it can get to work on doing just that.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington left the Winter Meetings on Thursday with the comforting knowledge that David Ortiz will be back for another season, but he wasn't able to complete any other transactions.

While the loss of Albert Pujols — one of the game's best players and a franchise icon — is significant, the Cardinals will still be among the best teams in the NL next season.

Maybe Reds pitchers will sleep a little better next season knowing that superstar Albert Pujols became another division's problem.

If a grade was being handed out to Ken Williams for the White Sox Winter Meetings' work this year in Dallas, it would have to be "Incomplete."

While the neighboring Angels were rocking the baseball world with stunning signings on Thursday at the Winter Meetings, the Dodgers quietly put the finishing touch on their starting rotation by confirming the signing of right-handed pitcher Aaron Harang.

Albert Pujols is — excuse me, was — the St. Louis Cardinals. More than just the face of a franchise, he was the soul of one of the truly great baseball cities. Now, he's gone. His westward migration monetized to the tune of $250 million-$260 million over 10 years.

A dozen Minor League hopefuls will get a shot at the big leagues next spring after being selected in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft.

Opening Day just got more interesting for the Royals. They'll launch the 2012 season in Anaheim with Albert Pujols in the Angels' lineup on April 6. "A player of that caliber is going to make any lineup better," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.

The Marlins signed three key players during this week's Winter Meetings, but two others they were hopeful for — Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson — opted to go elsewhere.

The Tigers found the man they wanted to shore up the middle of their bullpen, and Octavio Dotel found another new home. Detroit reached an agreement with the veteran reliever Thursday morning on a one-year contract with an option for 2013.

Japanese star pitcher Yu Darvish of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters will be posted for availability to Major League clubs, according to a tweet sent out early Thursday morning by Darvish's agent, Don Nomura.

As Brewers general manager Doug Melvin gave the strongest indication yet on Wednesday that Milwaukee is moving on without free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, the player's agent touted a robust market for the 27-year-old slugger.

The Brewers spent much of Wednesday at the Winter Meetings in a holding pattern before free-agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez accepted the club's offer for arbitration, a late-night decision that carries significant consequences for 2012.

The favorite for the Dodgers' right-handed reliever role still needing to be filled remains the man who had the role last year, Mike MacDougal, who turned into the bargain pickup of the winter.

Nearly everybody at the Winter Meetings expects the Phillies to re-sign Jimmy Rollins. It could happen soon, but a deal hasn't been finalized yet.

The Angels are closing in on a deal for veteran right-hander LaTroy Hawkins, a source familiar with the negotiations told MLB.com on Wednesday night.