CHICAGO -- Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak met with starter Lance Lynn on Saturday to offer some transparency about the organization's plans leading up to the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline and the fluidity of Lynn's status.
Lynn is due to be a free agent after the season, which is why the Cards are open to dealing him if the right return were to be offered this month.
"This is a very fluid period," Mozeliak said. "The thing for the Cardinals and my role with the Cardinals is to try and figure out what's best for the short-term but also the long-term. Where Lance plays into that, it can be a little muddied at times. He knows where we stand, and if nothing else, at least he has the peace of mind with that knowledge."
Lynn's case is as complex a one as the Cardinals have had in quite some time, given that the club is looking to improve for the long-term without sacrificing a short-term opportunity to make a push in the National League Central. The Cardinals entered the day trailing first-place Milwaukee by 3 1/2 games, and Lynn, at 8-6 with a 3.30 ERA, remains a stabilizing piece in the rotation.
But with seemingly no plans to re-sign Lynn at the end of the season, the Cardinals must decide whether to let the 30-year-old right-hander walk for Draft pick compensation or flip him for a future investment now.
Lynn has publicly stated his disappointment that there have been no talks about a possible contract extension, and he has wondered aloud why the club would be looking to trade him if it wants to contend this year.
"I get it," Mozeliak said. "If that was my name being bandied about, I would be uncomfortable, too. And look, I'm trying to not have his name bandied about. I would like to squash it and not talk about it. But that's sort of the nature of our business. That's the hardest part about it -- someone who has been drafted, grew up in our system and has been for five-plus years a key member of our Major League team. And then you hear, 'Oh, I might be traded.'"
Should the Cardinals chose to keep Lynn through the rest of the season, they would net an extra Draft pick after Compensation Round B by making him a qualifying offer.
Down on the farm
• The Cardinals have permanently moved Triple-A reliever Mike Mayers into a relief role, believing that it provides Mayers with the best path to a future Major League promotion. Since making the transition, Mayers has allowed two hits and struck out six in five scoreless innings out of the 'pen.
• While the organization hasn't ruled out a potential future utility fit for Aledmys Diaz, Mozeliak said Diaz will continue to work exclusively at shortstop for now. Since being demoted to Triple-A in late June, the former Major League All-Star is slashing .240/.250/.360. He returned to the field on Friday after missing five games while on a personal leave of absence.
Worth noting
• Jose Martinez was cleared to play on Saturday after passing all concussion tests. Martinez was struck in the head by a foul ball into the dugout in the Cardinals' win on Friday.

• Having heard Mike Leake's recent comments about pitching at less than full strength, Mozeliak said the Cardinals will talk internally about whether changes need to be made to Leake's schedule, preparation and/or diet. The club would prefer not to have to skip him in the rotation.