The World Champion St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have agreed with free agent second baseman Adam Kennedy on a three-year contract through the 2009 season. Kennedy, 30, returns to the organization that selected him with its first round draft pick (20th player overall) in 1997.
Kennedy batted .273 with four home runs and a career-high 55 RBI for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim this past season. The left-handed hitting second baseman was solid in the field, making just two errors in his final 67 games and nine total for the year. Kennedy completed his seventh season with the Angels, and in addition to his late-season call-up by the Cardinals in 1999, has compiled a lifetime batting mark of .280 with 52 HR’s, 369 RBI and 123 stolen bases.
They have also consumated deals with catcher Gary Bennett and utility man Eli Marrero. Bennett received a one year contract with a club option for 2008. Marrero was signed to a minor-league deal and was extended an invite to spring camp.
Bennett, 34, played a key role in the Cardinals title run, serving as backup catcher to Yadier Molina. The veteran appeared in 60 games, 43 starts, and batted .223 with four home runs and 22 RBI. He carried the Cardinals to a three-game sweep of the Cubs in late August with back-to-back walk-off hits, including a game-winning grand slam on ESPN Sunday night baseball on August 27. He batted .688 in a five-game span including back-to-back three-hit games (8/25-26). Bennett’s signing likely means he will end a streak of five consecutive seasons playing for a different team. The signing of Wells at something of a cut-rate price means that St. Louis may yet add two more free-agent starters.
Bennett, 34, returns to St. Louis after putting up a .223/.274/.331 line in 2006. Marrero, 33, has played for Atlanta, Kansas City, Baltimore, Colorado and the New York Mets since he was sent to the Braves in a trade with J.D. Drew that brought in Jason Marquis, Adam Wainwright and Ray King.