The St. Louis Cardinals have exercised their 2015 contract option on pitcher John Lackey, which is at the major league minimum. Lackey did not pitch in 2012 after reconstructive elbow surgery. The major league minimum next year will be $500,000 plus a cost-of-living adjustment to be determined Nov. 20, which is likely to be $9,000 to $10,000. Lackey, who turned 36 on Oct. 23, was 14-10 with a 3.83 ERA last year with the Red Sox and Cardinals and was 1-0 in two postseason starts for the NL Central champions. More...