Two cornerstones of the Cardinal franchise over the last 3 years are teetering on a seesaw of doubt.  Although nothing is set in stone, there's a good chance the Redbirds could open their '08 season without their proverbial All Star, Gold Glove, cleanup hitting third baseman and their heart and soul, All Star, World Series MVP shortstop.  Scott Rolen's unhappiness and icy relationship with Tony LaRussa has led to the club finally reporting that they will entertain offers for him.  David Eckstein is a potentially pricey free agent that has regressed in health and defensive ability over the past year and the club hasn't shown a great deal of interest in resigning him.  So the question is, should they stay or should they go?

Scott Rolen
It's obvious that Rolen has become increasingly unhappy over the past few seasons and his relationship with LaRussa has deteriorated to the point of no return.  Scott has expressed issues with the way the team's doctors and training staff have handled his incredible amount of injuries and he was publicly outraged about a letter sent to him this off season from LaRussa, stating what Rolen needed to do to basically look better in Tony's eyes.'  The problem is, with Tony signing a freshly inked 2-year deal, he's not going anywhere.  So do the Cardinals risk a potential clubhouse cancer, or deal Rolen to another team while he still has some value?  Let's take a look at both sides.

The Pros:  What Scott has going for him
¢Â Â Â  Rolen is reported to be completely healthy and has a solid chance of returning to form.  The average will go up and the power numbers should drastically improve from last year's totals.
¢Â Â Â  His defense is irreplaceable.  Rolen is still hands down the best defensive 3-sacker in the game.
¢Â Â Â  At $12 million a year he's a decent bargain for a cleanup hitter in the currently over inflated market.
¢Â Â Â  If he ...

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