ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals signed free-agent second baseman Mark Ellis to a one-year, $5.25 million contract, giving them insurance for rookie Kolten Wong. In a conference call after the deal was announced Monday, the 36-year-old Ellis said he had some multiyear offers but chose the Cardinals because he wants to win a World Series. Ellis played for the Dodgers in the NL championship series last fall against St. Louis, which won the Series in 2011 and lost in six games to the Red Sox in 2013. "I am fully fine with one-year deals at this point in my career," Ellis said. "There were some good opportunities, very good teams and very good organizations. I felt like this was the perfect place for myself and my family." The contract calls for an additional $125,000 at 250 plate appearances and for every 25 plate appearances after that up to 475 plate appearances. "Nothing was promised," Ellis said. "Ive pretty much been an everyday player my whole career. Im going to prepare this off-season like Im going to play 162 games." Ellis is a lifetime .265 hitter for three teams. He hit .270 with six home runs and 48 RBIs for the Dodgers last season, and is considered a strong defensive second baseman. Hes had only spot duty at other infield positions during his career, but was open to that option, noting he played third base two years in college and was a shortstop growing up. "Im not so stubborn I have a huge ego that I have to be the second baseman," Ellis said. "I dont care. I want to do whatever it takes to win a World Series." Wong, a first-round pick in 2011, made his major league debut last year and is expected to get the starting shot at second base in 2014. Matt Carpenter moves to third base following the trade of David Freese to the Angels and Ellis provides a right-handed hitting option, plus hes open to a mentor role. Before learning of Carpenters position switch, Ellis hadnt thought the Cardinals would be a good fit. "Mark is a player we identified early-on as being an ideal fit for our team," general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. "His experience and steadiness, both in the field and at the plate, certainly enhances our overall roster makeup." Ellis has appeared in 22 post-season games and batted .240 in the NLCS last fall with a double, triple and stolen base. Ellis has hit 20 or more doubles nine of the past 10 years and is a career .276 hitter with a .348 on-base percentage against left-handed pitching. He was a ninth round pick of the Kansas City Royals in 1999. Wholesale Air Max 90 Womens . The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists detailed in a report how Russian and international journalists have been harassed and prevented from covering sensitive stories in Sochi such as the abuse of migrant workers and environmental issues. Air Max 90 Womens Clearance . Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stood tall with 41 saves between the pipes, but it was defenceman Ryan McDonagh who got the first star of the game as he had a goal and an assist and now has two goals and four assists for six points in two games. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outlet-air-max-90-womens-cheap.html . has left the San Jose Sharks to become the Boston Bruins director of player personnel. Air Max 90 Ultra Outlet .200. His solution to his hitting woes was business in the front and a party in the back."That would be a mullet," Norris says. Cheap Air Max 90 Womens China . Rajon Rondo had 18 of Bostons season-high 38 assists and the Celtics committed just seven turnovers in a 118-111 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.Madison, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - The Battle for Paul Bunyans Axe had a lot more riding on it this season. The result, however, remained the same. Melvin Gordon carried the ball 29 times for 151 yards with two total touchdowns as No. 14 Wisconsin defeated 22nd-ranked Minnesota 34-24 on Saturday afternoon to clinch the Big Ten West. The Badgers (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten), who erased a 14-point second quarter deficit by ripping off 24 straight points to win their 11th straight meeting against the Golden Gophers, will face Ohio State in the Big Ten title game next Saturday night. The Buckeyes will be without their standout quarterback J.T. Barrett, who left Saturdays game against Michigan on a cart after suffering a broken ankle on the first play of the fourth quarter. Once we were able to settle down, we produced a couple drives, Badgers coach Gary Andersen said. Offense executed very well. Wisconsin received a scare late in the fourth when Gordon grabbed his right ankle and limped off the field following a 6-yard run with about three minutes left. I think he should be just fine, Andersen said. Gordon posted a receiving score and his other on the ground for Wisconsin, which has won seven consecutive games. Gordon surpassed former Badger Ron Dayne for the Big Ten single-season rushing yards record in the first quarter. He now has 2,260 rushing yards on the year. Alex Erickson caught five passes for 160 yards, while Joel Stave completed 11- of-18 passes for 215 yards with two touchdowns in the triumph. Corey Clement, who came in with just 44 yards in his last three games, put up 89 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. David Cobb tallied 118 yards and a score on 25 totes for Minnesota (8-4, 5-3), which dropped three of its last five games to close the regular season. Well bounce back Minnesota coach Jerry Kill said. There arent any happy about the axe. Mitch Leidner was 5-of-18 for 95 yards and added 54 yards and two scores on the ground in defeat. The Gophers havent beaten Wisconsin since 2003. The Badgers took their first lead with Gordon on the sideline taking a breather at the 6:20 markk of the third.dddddddddddd Clement burst up the middle for a 28- yard score to cap a seven-play, 80-yard drive and make it 20-17. Gordon broke off a 24-yard run and Clement added a 31-yarder two plays later before Gordon plunged in from a yard out for a 27-17 cushion early in the fourth. On Minnesotas ensuing sequence, Leidner hit a wide open Maxx Williams over the middle on a hide route and he ran down the right sideline for a 53-yard gain. The reception set up Leidners 2-yard, zone-read keeper two snaps later to cut the gap to 27-24. Wisconsin put the game away on its next touch. Erickson scampered for 31 yards along the left sideline on a wide receiver screen and Stave fired a 17-yard TD strike to Robert Wheelwright on a skinny post for his first catch of the year. The reception made it 34-24 with 4:41 to play. The Badgers then forced a Golden Gophers three-and-out and ran 2:10 off the clock. Minnesota got the ball back with 1:17 remaining, but Leidners 4th- and-10 pass fell incomplete to seal the outcome. Earlier, the Gophers raced out to a 17-3 advantage. Minnesota punted after failing to pick up a first down on the opening possession of the game, but Jack Lynn forced a fumble on Kenzel Does return and Eric Murray recovered the ball at the 13. Leidner kept it off the left edge two plays later for the games first score. Rafael Gaglianone nailed a 24-yard field goal on Wisconsins first sequence, but Cobbs 40-yard TD run a few possessions later made it 14-3 late in the first. Ryan Santoso split the uprights from 37 yards out early in the second for Minnesotas 14-point cushion. Stave stepped up in the pocket and found Gordon in the front part of the end zone for a 4-yard score on a 3rd-and-goal and Gaglianone added a 38-yard field goal on the final play of the half to trim the deficit to 17-13 heading into the break. Game Notes Wisconsin outgained Minnesota 448-272 ... The Badgers were 5-of-12 on third down, while the Gophers finished 5-of-15 ... Minnesota was attempting to go 6-2 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1973. ' ' '