Cardinals avoid arbitration with Wellemeyer, Duncan

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals on Monday avoided arbitration with pitcher Todd Wellemeyer and outfielder Chris Duncan, agreeing to terms of one-year contracts.

Wellemeyer will make $4.05 million next season, while Duncan will earn $825,000, plus the ability to receive an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses.

The Cardinals have three players remaining who are eligible for arbitration -- outfielders Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel and pitcher Brad Thompson.

Wellemeyer, 30, went 13-9 with a 3.71 ERA last year in his first season as a full-time starter. He was National League pitcher of the month in May, going 4-0, and held batters to a .245 average.

Duncan, 27, batted .248 with six home runs and 27 RBIs in a 2008 season shortened by cervical disk replacement surgery in August. Duncan and the Cardinals have been encouraged by progress made since the operation.

Duncan and Albert Pujols are the only Cardinals to begin their careers with consecutive 20-homer seasons.

-- AP