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Ex-Card Kennedy Eager To Regroup With Rays

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Adam Kennedy is a career .276 hitter in 10 seasons and was the MVP of the 2002 American League Championship Series.

By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: March 2, 2009

Updated: 03/02/2009 11:36 pm

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JUPITER - After two deflating years in St. Louis, Adam Kennedy needed a manager who believed in him.

He found one in Rays skipper Joe Maddon, his bench coach part of the time he was the Angels' second baseman (2000-06) and helped them win the 2002 World Series.

The 33-year-old veteran was released by the Cardinals on Feb. 9 after they couldn't trade him. He signed a minor-league contract with the Rays, and Monday, against the Cardinals, he went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run in Tampa Bay's 8-5 Grapefruit League victory.

"Adam and I go way back with the Angels, obviously, and I have nothing but great things to say about him," Maddon said. "He was one of the best teammates, best clubhouse guys I've ever been around."

Kennedy signed with the Cardinals before the 2007 season and hit only .219 that year. He was their Opening Day second baseman last year and improved to .280, but he fell out of favor with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.

The Cardinals acquired Felipe Lopez in August, and Kennedy requested a trade.

"I just was never able to regroup in Tony's favor," Kennedy said Monday. "I just look at it as me not getting off to a good start in '07 and running with it."

Maddon doesn't have an opening at second base, with Akinori Iwamura entrenched at the spot and Willy Aybar and Ben Zobrist providing quality backup. But with Iwamura and Aybar away for the World Baseball Classic, he had innings available this spring.

Kennedy will start at third today against the Astros. The Rays have designs on making him a utility player and plan to give him some outfield work. And if there isn't a spot, Kennedy will accept a job in the minors.

"Hopefully, if I do it there, it will be on an everyday basis to get going," he said.

Kennedy is a career .276 hitter in 10 seasons and was the MVP of the 2002 American League Championship Series after batting .357 with three home runs. He is due to make $4 million in the final year of a three-year contract, but according to news accounts, the Cards are on the hook for most of that.

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994.

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