Cardinals sign Adam Kennedy, Kip Wells, Gary Bennet, and Eli Marrero

[T Park]

Bennet the back up last year is brought back, good, I liked him, solid defensively, good rapport with the team, and was clutch in the games Molina was hurt.


Adam Kennedy is a steal at 3 years 10 million according to Ken Rosenthal. Kennedy is a stud in the playoffs, and a 275 hitter in the regular season.
Good to great defensively, Great signing WJ :tu

Eli Marrero still has something, and its a minor league deal, nothing to lose.

Kip Wells is a pretty good starter who the only thing wrong with him is health, if he can be heatlhy, let Duncan work his magic, then he will be a 15 to 18 game winner next year. Another good signing :tu

[leemajors]

15 to 18 game winner is just a bit of a stretch. 12 wins would be a success.

[T Park]

15 to 18 game winner is just a bit of a stretch

The guy came close to winning 15 for the Pirates.


The Cardinals being the defending world champions couldn't help him win 15 or 18?

Okie doke.

[leemajors]

The guy came close to winning 15 for the Pirates.


The Cardinals being the defending world champions couldn't help him win 15 or 18?

Okie doke.

lemme put it this way - how many pitchers won 18 games last season?

[leemajors]

cubs offer 44 mill over 3 seasons to schmidt.

[MajorMike]

Walt is the master of economy. He offers Edmonds a deal most thought was too much and signs Speizio then days later the market starts blowing up. Get 'em cheap early.

On Wells, I offer these stats:
Suppan (pre-Cards) - 62-75 ERA 4.90 WHIP 1.42 k/9 5.0 bb/9 1.7 1292.1 IP, 1424 H
Wells (pre-Cards) - 57-74 ERA 4.46 WHIP 1.49 k/9 6.6 bb/9 1.6 1028 IP, 1064 H

Kennedy is a steal at 3 yrs 10 Mil. Hell Belliard got 4 Mil last year. A little better than a lateral move, IMO, with speed. Career SBs Kennedy 123; Belliard 32. Career RBIs Kennedy 369 RBI's in 3436 AB's; Belliard 379 RBI's in 3812 AB's. Belliard was crap in the post season, while Kennedy is a lifetime .308 in the Post Season, being named the 2002 ALCS MVP.

Interestingly, Kennedy was drafted AND made his major league debut with the Cards in 1999. He was traded later that year with Kent Bottenfield for Jim Edmonds.

[T Park]

Belliard was crap in the post season

The Padres and Mets beg to differ.

[MajorMike]

Seriously... does anyone have a better infield, both Offensively AND Defensively, than Scott Rolen, David Eckstein, Adam Kennedy and Albert Pujols – with Aaron Miles and Scott Spiezio in reserve?
That's 6 of the last 7 Gold Gloves at 3rd, the WS MVP at SS, '02 ALCS MVP at 2nd, and the mvp and best player on the planet at 1st.

By the way, signing Eli to a Minor League contract was a huge steal. Tony will be looking to make Eli into the typical LaRussa-type utility guy. He has already made it known that he only wants to catch in emergencies, but he is only 33, has little wear, and is a great athlete. He hasn't done well recently, but he did hit .320 for the Braves in 2004. If Eli embraces the role and produces even a little, that contract is going to be bank. If not, meh, its a Minor League contract.

At this point, Walt is doing a great job at bargain shopping. I really believe he is going to try and deal Encarnacion and maybe someone in the pen. Juan would be the cheapest way to get a decent OF, because his contract is much cheaper than this year's OF market. Duncan will be a starting OF one way or the other (LF or RF). Luis Gonzales is on the back burner pending the ability to trade Juan.

There has been much speculation that we will deal Izzy, but I doubt it.

Cards expect to lose Suppan, are a little miffed he didn't talk to them 1st, and aren't even going to offer him. Marquis is gone for sure, but the Cards are likely to offer arbitration for him, which he will decline. What this, in effect, will do is ensure that the Cards will get compensation in the draft for losing him - sort of a backhanded deal, but perfectly legal. Miguel Batista, and Vincente Padilla are guys the next 2 pitchers the Cards are looking at.