Fan favorite Jim Edmonds could be playing his final season in St. Louis. The ever-hustling center fielder wants to continue playing baseball but realizes that it might be for another team.

Edmonds has struggled this season battling a shoulder injury and isn’t sure Cardinals front office officials are going to pick up the $10 million option on his contract for next season. He thinks it’s more probable they’ll decide to pay him a $3 million buyout instead.

The lefthanded, eight time Gold Glove winner has seen his playing time diminish this season. Manager Tony LaRussa has often chosen to sit Edmonds against lefthanded pitching in favor of the righthanded So Taguchi. In fairness to LaRussa and the Cardinals, Edmonds hasn’t been producing like a $10 million player either. He finished the 2005 season hitting .263 with 29 homers and 89 RBI. So far this year, those numbers look awfully similar (.260, 16 home runs, and 59 RBI).