Cardinals ink Adam Kennedy, Kip Wells
The St. Louis Cardinals made their first big moves since winning the World Series, agreeing Tuesday to a three-year, $10-million US contract with second baseman Adam Kennedy and a one-year, $4-million US deal with pitcher Kip Wells.
The Cardinals also agreed to a one-year, $900,000 US contract with backup catcher Gary Bennett, with a mutual option for 2008, and a minor-league contract with Eli Marrero, once their starting catcher.
Kennedy, selected by St. Louis in the first round of the 1997 amateur draft, was considered the Cardinals second baseman of the future before he was traded to the Anaheim Angels in 2000, a deal that brought centre-fielder Jim Edmonds to St. Louis.
Kennedy now replaces Ronnie Belliard, who was acquired from the Cleveland Indians last summer and became a free agent.
"Different time, different player," Kennedy said of his return to St. Louis. "I think it'll be a good situation for everybody."
Kennedy, 30,hit .273 with 55 runs batted in and 16 stolen bases last season for the Angels. He has a career batting average of .280 with 52 home runs and 123 steals.
Kennedy will be reunited with David Eckstein, the most valuable player in the World Series, who played alongside Kennedy with the Angels.
"It should be a good partnership for a number of years," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said.
Kennedy's contract calls for salaries of $2.5 million US next year, $3.5 million US in 2008 and $4 million US in 2009. He made $3.38 million US this past season in the final season of a three-year contract.
Wells fills pitching vacancy
Wells, 29, could fill one of three vacancies in the rotation created when Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver and Jason Marquis became free agents.
Wells was 1-5 with a 6.69 earned-run average for the Pittsburgh Pirates, then was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31 and went 1-0 in two starts.
The right-hander finished the season on the 15-day disabled list with a foot injury. He will have pins removed from the foot Wednesday and said he will be ready when spring training begins.
For his career, Wells is 57-74 with a 4.46 ERA.
"He'll be a big part of our rotation," Jocketty said.
Wells gets $850,000 US next season and the Cardinals hold a $900,000 US option for 2008 with a $50,000 US buyout.
If St. Louis exercises the option, Bennett could void the option but would lose the buyout.
Earlier in the off-season, the Cardinals agreed to two-year contracts with Edmonds ($19 million US) and utilityman Scott Spiezio ($4.5 million US).