"Talks for free agent first baseman Albert Pujols may finally have found their missing element: momentum.

The Cardinals and Miami Marlins further defined themselves Monday as the leading contenders to secure the three-time National League most valuable player during alternating talks with Pujols' representation at the headquarters hotel for Major League Baseball's winter meetings.

Having recently spoken directly to Pujols, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak met for roughly an hour earlier in the day with agent Dan Lozano before scheduling a late-night session that was expected to produce a modified proposal.

That meeting, however, was postponed until this morning and apparently will occur without DeWitt, who left town Monday night."