Dotel, 31, is rehabilitating his right elbow from ligament-replacement surgery in early June. He and his doctors expect him to be able to throw in spring training and to be game ready around opening day, his agent said. Dotel was Oakland's closer at the time of the surgery, which has obviously altered the kind of contract he can command.
Dotel's representative Friday confirmed the Cardinals had called.
The Cardinals signed Chris Carpenter and stayed with him through rehab, a patience that paid off with this year's Cy Young Award.
"It doesn't hurt," agent Dan Horwits said when asked whether the Cardinals' record with Carpenter is an attraction. "He should be healthy at the start of the season, but having had a guy who has passed through there in a similar situation is a factor in it. Is it a deciding factor? I'd have to ask (Dotel). He's gotten a tremendous amount of offers."