<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The Cardinals made their first big moves since winning the World Series, agreeing Tuesday to a $10 million, three-year contract with second baseman Adam Kennedy and a $4 million, one-year deal with right-hander Kip Wells.The Cardinals also agreed to a $900,000, one-year contract with backup catcher Gary Bennett with a mutual option for 2008 and a minor league contract with Eli Marrero, once their starting catcher.Kennedy, selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 1997 amateur draft, was considered the Cardinals' second baseman of the future before he was traded to the Anaheim Angels in 2000, a deal that brought Jim Edmonds to St. Louis. Kennedy now replaces Ronnie Belliard, who was acquired from Cleveland last summer and became a free agent."Different time, different player," Kennedy said of his return to St. Louis. "I think it'll be a good situation for everybody."The 30-year-old Kennedy hit .273 with 55 RBIs and 16 stolen bases last season for the Angels. He has a career batting average of .280 with 52 homers and 123 stolen bases.He will be reunited with David Eckstein, the 2006 World Series MVP who played alongside Kennedy with the Angels."It should be a good partnership for a number of years," general manager Walt Jocketty said.Kennedy's contract calls for salaries of $2.5 million next year, $3.5 million in 2008 and $4 million in 2009. He made $3.38 million this year in the final season of a three-year contract.</div>
None of those are bad deals, especially given the market this year. None of which are exactly huge acquisitions either though. Kip Wells will likely replace Suppan who is going to be overpaid, Kennedy replaceing Belliard.
^^agreed completely. Kennedy is an upgrade over Belliard, and IMO, Wells will be an upgrade over Suppan. I think Wells will be real good with the Cards.
