According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, free agent pitcher Jeff Weaver is close to signing a deal with the Seattle Mariners. Terms of the deal have not been released, but the Mariners are believed to be offering more guaranteed money than the Cardinals are willing to give up. If Weaver does leave the Midwest for the rainy Northwest, that would leave the Redbirds with only two starting pitchers from last year’s World Series roster. Jeff Suppan and Jason Marquis have both signed free agent deals to play elsewhere. Only Chris Carpenter and Anthony Reyes are still with the team.