ST. LOUIS - News of Edwin Jackson's one-year deal with the Washington Nationals helped finalize the Cardinals' lengthy list of draft picks early in this year's Amateur Draft.
The Cardinals will have six selections in the top 100 of the June draft, their most since also having six picks in the top 100 in the 2005 draft. Among the selections that year were Colby Rasmus and Tyler Greene.
The Cardinals received the No. 19 overall pick as compensation from the Anaheim Angels for losing Albert Pujols. They will also have their normal first-round pick at No. 23 overall.
In addition to the two first round picks, the Cardinals will pick No. 36, No. 52 , No. 58 and No. 85 in this year's draft. With a few free agents remaining, the No. 58 and No. 85 picks could still drop one or two spots.
The Cardinals received pick No. 36 for losing Pujols, No. 52 for losing reliever Octavio Dotel and No. 58 for losing Jackson to the Nationals.
The draft will be quite the challenge for Dan Kantrovitz, who took over as the director of scouting when Jeff Luhnow left to be the general manager of the Houston Astros.
