Ryan Ludwick Rumors

Braves Rumors: Escobar, Soriano, Payroll

David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest on the Braves. Here are the details: They're taking calls from teams interested in Yunel Escobar. There's nothing to the suggestion that the Braves could send Escobar and prospects to Oakland for Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera, especially since Escobar's much cheaper than Holliday and hitting about as well. The Cardinals are interested in Escobar, but they wouldn't trade Ryan Ludwick. O'Brien hears that the Braves offered Rafael Soriano to the Cards for Joe Mather last winter but the Cards wouldn't make the move. Braves GM Frank Wren repeated that he...   Continue Reading

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Cardinals Avoid Arb With Ryan Ludwick

5:26pm: That was quick. ESPN.com's Jayson Stark has learned that the deal is worth $3.7MM and carries another $100K in incentives. 5:22pm: Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Cardinals have reached agreement with Ryan Ludwick on a one-year deal. The exact financial terms are not yet available, but Goold believes "that the two sides settled for above the midpoint of the two salaries entered into arbitration." Ludwick filed for $4.25MM and the Cardinals offered $2.8MM back when figures were due. The Cardinals have now settled with all of their arbitration-eligible players. The club hasn't required a...   Continue Reading

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Ludwick, Cardinals Close To Agreement

According to MLB.com's Matthew Leach, the Cardinals are close to an agreement with outfielder Ryan Ludwick on his '09 salary. Ludwick cancelled plans to fly to Arizona for his hearing tomorrow. Both Ludwick and Cards GM John Mozeliak say small details remain. Ludwick had requested $4.25MM, the Cardinals $2.8MM.   Continue Reading

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Cards, Ludwick Working To Avoid Arb

Ryan Ludwick is set to fly to Phoenix on Monday afternoon in preparation for his Tuesday arbitration hearing. But he is still hopeful, according to MLB.com's Matthew Leach, that a deal can be reached. The Cardinals settled on a last minute agreement with fellow outfielder Rick Ankiel on Thursday. Ludwick is hoping for a similar push, but his gap is fairly large. He requested $4.25MM and the Cards made a $2.8MM bid back when arbitration figures were due. "That's exactly why I came down," Ludwick said. "And that's why I say I'm optimistic. To see where they were and how...   Continue Reading

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Cardinals Hope To Avoid Arb With Ludwick

According to MLB.com's Matthew Leach, the Cardinals hold "some sliver of hope" that an arbitration hearing can be avoided with outfielder Ryan Ludwick. Ludwick asked for $4.25MM and the Cardinals countered with a $2.8MM bid back when figures were due. That gap is obviously going to be tough to overcome, but the Red Birds do have some time. Ludwick's hearing won't take place until Tuesday, February 17. The 30-year-old exploded last season, finising with a line of .299/.375/.591, including 37 home runs and 113 RBI.   Continue Reading

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Cardinals Far Apart With Ankiel, Ludwick

As reported by MLB.com's Matthew Leach, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said Wednesday that little progress has been made with arbitration-eligible outfielders Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. "There's not a whole lot to comment on," Mozeliak said. "Right now we're just preparing. I think if there is a settlement before we enter in, it would be a [last-minute] type of thing." Both players are pretty far apart in negotiations with the club. Ludwick asked for $4.25MM and was offered $2.8MM, while Ankiel asked for $3.3MM and the Cardinals countered with $2.35MM. The Cards haven't required an arbitration hearing since 1999, but...   Continue Reading

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Cardinals Outfielders Speak

A few Cardinals notes this evening coming out of the team's Winter Warmup. Before Matt Holliday was traded to the A's, Cards outfielder Skip Schumaker thought he'd wind up in Colorado as part of the rumored Holliday-Ryan Ludwick deal. Schumaker said, "I thought that was a done deal, and from everything I heard and from pretty good sources I thought I was definitely out of here." Ludwick and Rick Ankiel are two of the team's prominent arbitration cases. Ludwick said the Cards have not opened up extension talks. Ankiel, a Scott Boras client, is eligible for free agency after the...   Continue Reading

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Wellemeyer, Cardinals Close To Deal

Matthew Leach of MLB.com believes the St. Louis Cardinals and right-handed starting pitcher Todd Wellemeyer are close to a deal to avoid arbitration. This from Wellemeyer himself: "I know it's getting close, I'll tell you that much." Wellemeyer, 30, went 13-9 with a 3.71 ERA in 2008. Leach notes that deals might be close for Chris Duncan and Brad Thompson, too. General manager John Mozeliak said he would like to avoid arbitration with Duncan and Thompson, as well as Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. Mozeliak is hopeful that none of the five players will actually go to arbitration. Ankiel is...   Continue Reading

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Cardinals Rumors: Downs, Gonzalez, Boyer

12:41pm: Marc Topkin heard chatter that the Rays and Cardinals are talking. Perhaps Ankiel or Ludwick could interest Tampa Bay. Meanwhile Scott Lauber says the Cards may be interested in Madson as a potential closer. 8:36am: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals remain focused on short-term deals for starters. Possible names include Oliver Perez, Andy Pettitte, Brad Penny, and Randy Wolf. They'll meet with Wolf's agent by tomorrow afternoon. John Mozeliak now seems open to a two or three-year deal for a reliever. He could trade an outfielder like Ryan Ludwick for a top guy, but...   Continue Reading

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Braves Interested In Ankiel, Hart, Hermida

11:15pm: Melvin confirmed to Tom Haudricourt that the Braves inquired on Hart. However, Melvin has no plans to trade his right fielder. Also, Melvin rejected Dave O'Brien's suggestion that the Braves have been connected to Hardy. 9:10pm: Doesn't sound like the Cardinals would want one of the Braves' middle infielders for Ankiel. Instead, they want to get a starter back if they trade an outfielder. 6:41pm: Dave O'Brien says Ankiel makes sense for the Braves, because the Cards are more willing to deal him and the price would be more reasonable. The Braves also like Raul Ibanez, but not his...   Continue Reading

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