"The Cardinals announced on Tuesday morning that they have come to terms with outfielder Ryan Ludwick on a one-year contract for 2010. The deal avoids arbitration between the two sides.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but Ludwick, who hit .265 with 22 home runs and 97 RBIs last year, will earn more than $5 million in 2010 after making $3.7 million a season ago.

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Ryan," Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. "Ryan has proven to be a steady run-producer for our ballclub for the past two-plus seasons and we look forward to another strong season from him in 2010."

The deal leaves Skip Schumaker as the only arbitration-eligible player on the roster but both sides are close on an agreement as well.

Mozeliak said during a Q&A with fans on Saturday at the Winter Warm-Up that the club wouldn't focus on other moves or signings until they signed Ludwick and Schumaker and saw how much money they still had left to spend.

The 31-year-old Ludwick hit .323 in 58 at-bats with runners in scoring position and was second on the team to Albert Pujols with 27 two-out RBIs.

An All-Star in 2008, Ludwick had a team-high nine assists in the outfield and committed just one error. He was the NL Player of the Month in July when he hit .349 with six home runs and 28 RBIs."