Cards have arbitration coming up
By Derrick Goold
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/08/2008
Ankiel, the other pitcher-turned-slugger, headlines three Cardinals players who have been offered a contract for the 2008 season but can elect to have their salaries decided in arbitration. Catcher Yadier Molina could spin his arbitration eligibility into a discussion for a multiple-year deal. Pitcher Todd Wellemeyer will come to spring training preparing to be a starter, a role he had enough this past season to get a bump. It isn't difficult to compute comparable players for either of them.
Ankiel is the anomaly. He's eligible for arbitration because of service time accumulated as a pitcher. But he reaches arbitration as a hitter.
Players have from now till Jan. 15 to file for arbitration. The parties have until the date of the hearing to agree on a contract or else the arbitrator's decision is binding. Most parties come to an agreement well before a hearing. Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said this week he'll contact the agents of the three players to negotiate.
One likely topic is a multiple-year deal for Molina.
Wellemeyer's 3.11 ERA and 11 starts for the Cardinals weigh against the Cardinals claiming him off waivers.
Ankiel's career as a major-league hitter — all 53 days of it — lacks the length to show the consistency mentioned in the arbitration criteria. Arbitration tends to favor games played and appearances as well as performance. But the quality of Ankiel's contribution this past season could be used to outline his worth. In 47 games, Ankiel hit 11 home runs and drove in 39 runs. His home runs were the most by a Cardinal after he arrived Aug. 9, and only nine National Leaguers had more RBIs in that span.
STLtoday - Sports - Cardinals
Ankiel signs 1 year deal
Ankiel signs 1 year deal
Linear Mode
