"The Cardinals elected to offer arbitration to first baseman Albert Pujols and starting pitcher Edwin Jackson before tonight's deadline.

The offers of arbitration assure that the Cardinals will receive draft picks as compensation if either player signs with another team.

Players can accept arbitration and that binds them to the 2012 roster with a salary to be determined through an arbitration hearing. It is unlikely that Pujols or Jackson will accept the arbitration offer because both are expected to land multi-year deals through free agency."