signigs from around the MLB

You can cross lefty southpaw starter Randy Wolf off J.P. Riccardi's wish list. The lefty has signed a one-dyear deal with the LA Dodgers. Wolf completely stymies the running game with his move to first. He's a battler who picks his spots with a great curveball and a solid changeup that devastate left handed batters. A great hitter for a pitcher. Wolf tends to tire in the second half and his health is a concern as he's coming off Tommy-John surgery. Hitters have picked apart his high fastball. He's prone to lapses in the late innings. Look for wolf to slide in as the #3 starter in the Dodgers rotation.

The St. Louis Cardinals locked up three players Wednesday including back-up catcher Gary Bennett. Bennett has a strong arm that is not always accurate. A steady offensive player, a contact hitter who does have some pop in his bat. An increasing walk ratio is a testament to his increasing discipline at the plate. As mentioned, Bennett has to do a better job at getting his throws on target. His lack of arm accuracy costs his club a number of outs.

Rightie starter Kip Wells also signed with the Cardinals. He could be anywhere from # 2 starter to #4 starter deoending on who else the Cardinals land. He challenges hitters with his slick low-90's heat and tight curveball, usually getting ahead early in the count. Has the mental toughness to bear down with runners aboard. His stamina is in question, rarely able to last beyond the 6th inning. As the season goes on, his command starts to disappear.

Finally, the Cardinals inked their starting second baseman signing Adam Kennedy to a multi-year deal. Kennedy is a pure hitter, using all parts of the field with power to the gaps for extra bases. He's becoming a much more sure-handed second baseman by the year. As good a contact hitter as he is, he has no patience at the plate, rarely walking and often whiffing. Too often, he comes up lame with runners in scoring position. Look for Kennedy to lead-off in the Dodgers line-up.