Cardinals re-sign Miles; non-tender RHP Sosa, OF Ankiel

Dec 13, 2006 - 6:17 AM ST. Louis (Ticker) -- The world champion St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday re-signed infielder Aaron Miles to a one-year contract.

The Cardinals also announced that they tendered 2007 contracts to outfielder So Taguchi and lefthander Randy Flores, who were arbitration eligible, but did not tender contracts to righthander Jorge Sosa and outfielder Rick Ankiel.

The 29-year-old Miles, who signed a $1 million contract, hit .265 with no homers and 30 RBI in 135 games with the Cardinals last season.

Taguchi batted .266 in 134 games while leading the team with 11 stolen bases. The 37-year-old enjoyed a terrific postseason run, blasting home runs in each of his first two at-bats, including a decisive shot in the ninth inning of Game Two of the National League Championship Series at New York.

Flores appeared in a career-high 65 games in 2006 and finished second on the club with 20 holds. The 31-year-old was unscored upon throughout the postseason, allowing no runs in seven appearances over 5 2/3 innings and was credited with the win in the decisive Game Seven of the NLCS versus New York.

Sosa was 0-1 with a 5.28 ERA in 19 appearances for the Cardinals following his July 31 trade from Atlanta.

Ankiel, the one-time top pitching prospect turned outfielder, missed the entire season due to a left knee injury suffered in spring training.

The Cardinals are still able to negotiate with both Sosa and Ankiel, but both players are now considered free agents and can negotiate with all other teams.