In an effort to improve their rotation and bullpen the St. Louis Cardinals are shopping center fielder Rick Ankiel and the Yankees are said to be among the buyers.
With a limited budget the Cardinals need a starter and a closer, but only have the money for one big name free agent. They are interested in AJ Burnett and Oliver Perez among others, but fear that the market may be too high for them.
So it may be cheaper for them to go after a closer in what is a deep market. If they do that they’re going to try to acquire a young starter and it appears they might be interested in Ian Kennedy.
Ankiel will make about $3 million next season and will be a free agent next off-season. As a Scott Boras client he will likely test the market so he would pretty much be a one year rental for any team acquiring him.
Kennedy’s stock is at it’s highest since about this time last year. After a disappointing season he performed phenominally during the winter league in Puerto Rico.
In 34.2 innings this off-season he had a 2-2 record with a 1.56 ERA, a .164 batting average against, and 31 strike outs.
Ankiel has made quick strides as a hitter, but that is only relative because he came up as a pitcher. Last season he only hit .264 with a measley .337 OBP. His .506 slugging percentage is pretty good and his .843 OPS is promising for a hitter in the league for just two years.
Rob Abruzzese