By Jim Banks / MLB.com

Mark Mulder worked seven or more innings in 20 of his 33 starts in 2004. (Jeff Roberson/AP)

No, not that one -- a younger one with a better career winning percentage than Randy Johnson.

On Saturday, the Redbirds announced that they had acquired Mark Mulder from the Oakland A's in exchange for right-handers Danny Haren and Kiko Calero and catching prospect Daric Barton.

The Cardinals won 105 games last season and reached the World Series on the strength of a starting rotation that had solid No. 2 and 3 type pitchers throughout. But the lack of an "ace" was felt in the postseason, and Mulder -- who has posted a 2-2 record with a 2.25 ERA in four October starts -- will fit that bill.

"We are extremely excited to have obtained a pitcher of Mark's caliber," Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty said. "He is the top-of-the-rotation-type pitcher that we've been working hard to obtain this offseason. It was difficult to part with the three players that we traded, but to acquire someone like Mulder, we felt that this deal made sense for us in several ways."

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Mulder, 27, went 17-8 with a 4.43 ERA in 33 starts for the A's in 2004 and has a career record of 81-42 with a 3.92 ERA. He becomes the second of Oakland's Big Three to be dealt in the past three days. On Thursday, right-hander Tim Hudson was traded to Atlanta.

"I'm still a zoo right now," Mulder said after the trade. "But I almost feel bad for Barry [Zito], because I'm going to a team that was just in the World Series, Huddy's going to a great team in Atlanta, and Barry's probably like, 'Now what?' I just hope everything works out for him. For him and the A's.

"Right now, I'm kind of excited about going to the Cardinals and getting to hit again and all that, but Huddy told me, 'Dude, give it a couple days to sink in.' And it hasn't really sunk in. When it does, I'm sure it's going to be sad."

Mulder is signed through 2005 with a club option for 2006. He also gives the Cardinals something they didn't have in 2004: a lefty starter.

"We like the idea that Mulder, No. 1 is left-handed, but also that we have control over him for two years," Jocketty said.

Mulder has battled hip and other injuries the past three seasons, but made at least 26 starts each season. Cardinals trainer Barry Weinberg has been in touch with the A's doctors, and is confident that Mulder is healthy.

He will be joined in the Cardinals rotation by Chris Carpenter, who posted a strong season in 2004 after rebounding from shoulder surgery. Carpenter was 15-5 with a 3.46 ERA but was unable to pitch in the postseason due to nerve irritation in his bicep. When healthy, he and Mulder should be a formidable one-two punch atop the rotation.

And then there was one ...

Analysis of the A's-Cardinals deal for Mark Mulder. The move leaves Oakland with just one of their Big Three pitchers:

Of the Big Three, Mulder might be the most gifted, the most naturally athletic and the best built for pitching. Now that he's with the Cardinals, he's back to his Midwestern roots and thrust into a more lonely ace position for the defending National League champs. He gives their rotation instant credibility. While right-handers Dan Haren and Kiko Calero are fine additions to any pitching staff and Daric Barton shows promise at the age of 19, this deal tilts the A's toward pretenders in '05 after years of being contenders. On the heels of the Tim Hudson trade to Atlanta, this deal leaves Barry Zito as the lone remaining member of the Big Three in Oakland. (For now?) --John Schlegel

Also returning to the rotation is former ace Matt Morris, who had surgery this offseason to repair some fraying of his rotator cuff and hopes to be back to his old self in 2005. Battling it all season, he nevertheless went 15-10 with a 4.72 ERA. Jason Marquis (15-7, 3.71) and Jeff Suppan (16-9, 4.16) round out a rotation that is on par with any in baseball.

The bullpen is still solid despite the losses of Haren and Calero. Right-handed setup men Cal Eldred and Julian Tavarez return, as does left-hander Ray King. Jason Isringhausen will be the closer.

Jocketty said the A's insisted all along that Haren and Barton be included in any deal for Mulder or Hudson. When the Cardinals agreed to include Calero also, the deal was basically sealed.

"I don't even know if they have a word for what I felt," said Mulder, who got the news over the phone from A's general manager Billy Beane. "I mean, it was complete and utter shock. I didn't know what to say. It's like I was paralyzed. Billy's talking to me about it, and I honestly couldn't carry on a conversation. My head was swimming, just trying to comprehend what it all means."

Mulder's addition comes just days after the Redbirds lost All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria through free agency. Jocketty said the two transactions were intertwined.

"We had to do one or the other, basically," Jocketty said, "and in the end we just felt that one of the strategies we had going into the offseason was to improve our rotation and that was the best way to do it."

The Cardinals are hopeful that left-hander Rick Ankiel, who has been outstanding in the Winter Leagues, can return to the big club and perform as a second left-hander and perhaps long man in the bullpen. Veteran right-handers Mike Lincoln and Al Reyes will battle for spots in the pen as well and there is still time to add a veteran reliever.

Haren, 24, is a promising young right-hander who performed well in the postseason, allowing two runs in 8 1/2 innings. During the regular season, he went 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA in 14 games, including five starts. Calero, 29, emerged as a dependable setup man (3-1, 2.78, two saves) who could get strikeouts when needed.

Barton was one of the best catching prospects in baseball. The left-handed hitter was an offensive force at Class A Peoria, hitting .313 with 13 home runs and 77 RBIs. He also walked 69 times while striking out only 44, making him desireable to Beane, who values on-base and slugging percentage above all else.

Jim Banks is a regional editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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