ST. Lamin Barrow . 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. Nate Irving ., who is out for the season after surgery on his broken left index finger. Almond has played four seasons in the NBA Development League, averaging 24. Louis Vasquez . -- Sporting Kansas City acquired midfielder Jimmy Medranda from Colombias Deportivo Pereira on Thursday for an undisclosed transfer fee and signed him to a multi-year contract.LONDON -- After all the talk of terror threats, corruption, overspending and anti-gay legislation, the head of the Sochi Olympics is determined to show the world the games will be a huge success. Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. "History will be made," he said of Russias first Winter Games. With Sochi facing threats of terrorist attacks from insurgents from the North Caucasus, Chernyshenko said the city is the "most secure venue at the moment on the planet" and promised that tight security measures will not detract from the atmosphere of the games. "I can assure you that Sochi will be among the most security-friendly games and all the procedures will be very gentle and smooth," he said in a conference call with reporters. Russia is deploying more than 50,000 police and soldiers to guard the Olympics. A Muslim militant group claimed responsibility for back-to-back suicide bombings that killed 34 people in Volgograd in late December and threatened attacks on the games. "You will see thousands of (security) people around but its important to understand that the Olympics is a global event and the security is also a global multi-national event and state authorities are doing (their) utmost to deliver Sochi as safest for everyone," Chernyshenko said. Referring to the Russian law banning gay "propaganda" among minors, he repeated assurances that Russia will not discriminate against anyone at the Olympics on the basis of sexual orientation. However, Chernyshenko appeared to contradict IOC President Thomas Bach, who said Monday that athletes -- prohibited by the Olympic Charter from political demonstrations or gestures on the medal stand and other venues -- would be free to express their personal political views at news conferences. "I dont think they are allowed by charter to express those views that (are) not related to the sport at the press conference room," Chernyshenko said, adding that organizers had set up a protest zone -- or "Speakers Corner" -- in the city. The uproar over the gay law, as wwell as criticism of Russias human rights record and Vladimir Putins policies, has led a number of Western political leaders to shun the Feb. Michael Schofield. 7 opening ceremony and the games. Chernyshenko, however, said the number of world leaders attending the ceremony would be "the highest in the history of the Winter Games." He declined to give the number. The Sochi organizing committee said later in an email that heads of state or government from 52 countries would be attending. Russia is spending a record $51 billion on the games, including the long-term infrastructure investment in roads, tunnels, railways and hotels to turn Sochi into a year-round resort. Critics allege that billions of dollars have disappeared in kickbacks and other corrupt deals. Chernyshenko dismissed suggestions that claims of misspending had tainted the games. "If you come and look around, this is the most state-of-the-art sports facilities in the world," he said. "Everything will be the cutting edge. This would not have been possible if these allegations of so-called corruption were true. The stadiums, the roads, the new hotel rooms -- this infrastructure speaks for itself." Ticket sales have also been an issue, with many foreign fans staying away, raising concerns over the prospect of empty seats. Chernyshenko said more than 70 per cent of the tickets have been sold, with 20 per cent set aside for fans to buy on site at box offices. "Its high demand, long queues," he said. "Im quite confident that the stands will be full." Chernyshenko, who comes from Sochi and has worked on the Olympic project for a decade, said he had no regrets despite all the criticism that has been levelled at the games. "Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and now Sochi has really become brilliant and a showcase of new Russia," he said, calling it "the role model, the blue print for the rest of the country to follow." Meantime, Chernyshenko said, Sochi has plenty of snow and the three Olympic Villages will open to the athletes on Thursday. "Were fully ready," he said. "Were in a great shape. Everything is in place. The only thing remaining is for the athletes to come and shine at the venues. Everything so far is perfect." ' ' '
