According to Rob Biertempfel over at the Trib, via Ben Nicholson-Smith at MLBTradeRumors.com, the St. Louis Cardinals are interested in Pirates IF Andy LaRoche. Their interest is the result of starting 3B David Freese's season-ending injury. The Cardinals do have two mediocre internal replacements already (Felipe Lopez and Allen Craig), so the acquistion of LaRoche seems to me like it would make little sense for the Red Birds.LaRoche is hitting a meager .223/.290/.299 this season. I think it is also worth mentioning that the Pirates have control over LaRoche through 2013, his first year of arbitration is this year. Unless the Cardinals offer a good prospect or two, I wouldn't expect anything to happen. LaRoche is more valuable to the Pirates as a Utility Man than any poor prospect at A or Rookie League. Despite being pushed to the bench by Pedro Alvarez's call-up and being held out of the lineup by Neil Walker's consistent play, LaRoche hasn't showed signs of frustration and he seems to be a good clubhouse prescence so IMO we should keep LaRoche unless they offer a B- or possibly C+ prospect.