by the Iron_Throne

Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus reports in his Under the Knife segment for today (subscription required) that Rick Ankiel has passed through waivers and given his release by the Cardinals. He is expected to sign a minor league deal with the team and be sent to AA Springfield. So far, there has been no other corroboraton that I can find. Ankiel and his $400,000 major league contract passed through waivers for three buisness days without being claimed by the other 29 teams, and is now eligible to go to minor league camp.

If true, it's not excatly a significigant victory if Ankiel insists on taking his game to the hitter's side of the clubhouse. But this move shows the creativity that Jocketty is known for and still gives Rick the opportunity to wake up one day and realize that he's just not a major league caliber hitter and get his pitchers glove out of storage and still pitch for the team that has done so much for him. I'm betting that he'll have a poor year at Springfield and come back to spring training next year as a pitcher.

[Update] An e-mail from Will Carroll clarifies that instead of being placed on irrevocable waivers to pass him into the minor leagues under his existing contract, he was given his outright release yesterday. This allows him to sign with any team he wishes, though Carroll believes that he will resign with the Cardinals. This seems like an unusual move, and I still have found no other source that is reporting this, but if it did happen, this is a great example of Jocketty out foxing other GMs.

[Update] It's now being confirmed at rotoworld and ESPN.

the Iron_Throne