The Cardinals have agreed to sign utility player Ty Wigginton to a two-year deal in the $5MM range, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (Twitter links). Wigginton, an ACES client with 11 years of MLB experience, will provide the Cardinals with a versatile right-handed bat.
Wigginton will earn $2.5MM per season in 2013 and 2014, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (on Twitter).The agreement is pending a physical.
Wigginton spent the 2012 season with the Phillies, posting a .235/.314/.375 batting line with 11 home runs and 11 doubles in 360 plate appearances. The 35-year-old played first base, third base and left field for the Phillies, who acquired him from Colorado in a trade following the 2011 season. He had signed a two-year, $8MM contract with the Rockies covering the 2010-11 seasons. The Phillies declined a $4MM club option on Wigginton in October, preferring a $500K buyout.
Like Skip Schumaker, who was recently traded by St. Louis to Los Angeles, Wigginton has considerable experience in the infield and in the outfield. Unlike Schumaker, he's a right-handed hitter who has a history of success against left-handed pitching. Wigginton has a career .270/.354/.456 line against southpaws, including a .234/.360/.411 line against them this past season.
