Changer Sign

Cards sign Kip Wells, Adam Kennedy, Eli Marerro, and resign Gary Bennett. Good moves?

The Signing of Kennedy equals Ronnie Belliards way out of Baseball Country, STL. Kennedy and Eckstein have great chemistry, they'll work well as usual. Wells wont be a team changer, but hes a good #3 or #4 guy. Marerro (signed to a minor league contract) a fan fav in Baseball Country. All I remember Bennett for is getting punk'd out by the Greatest Baseball Player in the majors Albert Pujols when Bennett was a Padre.

It's hard to tell right now as the numbers, to my knowledge, have yet to be released.

No, eh, eh, and yes.

Kip Wells has pitched a total of 44.1 innings over the past two seasons. Cardinals fans better hope management has a contingency plan, and that he's not getting a big chunk of cash that could go toward paying the salary of another starting pitcher out there.

Adam Kennedy was asking 4 years and $20 million; no way to know yet if that's what the Cardinals gave him. Kennedy is overrated on defense and marginal offensively. But the alternatives just aren't appealing enough to offer protest. I would have recommended signing Ray Durham, even though he's asking for 2 years and is looking for more than Kennedy's $5 million per year. The pop he adds to a lineup is worth it. If I'm a Cards fan I'm happy the Marcus Giles trade talk came to naught, as his numbers have declined in each of the last three seasons. Ron Belliard is likely past his prime and getting fatter all the time. He's got more upside with the bat than Kennedy, but the possibility of his body and defense continuing to decline makes him a risk. He probably will get about $4 million a year from someone. In short, Kennedy's signing is okay, not great.

Marrero...I'm assuming they aren't going to pay him much. If that's the case, it's worth taking a flyer on him, as long as you aren't relying on him to produce. Put him in Memphis and give him the call if he's looking good and the need is there. Cardinals fans should hope management has plans to add a legit bat to a corner OF spot.

Bennett...he's a backup catcher, a veteran, had his moments with the bat. Assuming they aren't paying him more than an aging backup should make, its a nice move, though it won't make a lot of difference to the team's success.

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