Reports: Cardinals agree to deal with 2B Ellis
The St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a one-year deal with veteran free-agent second baseman Mark Ellis, according to multiple reports.
Terms of the deal were not released. Ellis made $5.25 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers this year.
Ellis had a batting line of .270/.323/.351 with 13 doubles, six home runs and 48 RBI for the Dodgers this season.
The 36-year-old has played 11 seasons in the majors, mostly with the Oakland A's. He is a career .265 hitter with 105 home runs, 538 RBIs and a .330 on-base percentage.
St. Louis will likely use Ellis as insurance for rookie Kolten Wong, whom the team plans to start at second base next year. Wong hit just .153 in 59 at-bats after being called up in August.
The move gives the Cardinals flexibility as second base since Ellis bats right-handed and Wong bats from the left side.
Matt Carpenter will move from second base to third base. He replaces David Freese, who was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in November.
