Mark Ellis to be Cards' regular second baseman

With Kolten Wong's demotion to Triple-A Memphis, veteran Mark Ellis will be the Cardinals' regular second baseman for now, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. El

"That’s what he was signed for," general manager John Mozeliak said of Ellis, who will make $5.25 million this year. "To give us that production, so we’ll take advantage of it."

The 36-year-old Ellis battled a knee injury in the spring but now feels ready for regular duty. He went 2 for 5 in Monday's loss to Milwaukee, raising his average to .160.

"Coming over here, I knew what I was getting into," Ellis said. "It’s unfortunate for Kolten that it hasn’t worked out well so far, not that it’s going to kill his career, by any means."