Ludwick remains optimistic about avoiding today's hearing

JUPITER, Fla. -- Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick has purchased the ticket and will have his bags packed. He just hopes he needs neither.

Ludwick, who arrived at camp Sunday, is prepared to fly to Phoenix today for an arbitration hearing after hitting 37 home runs and driving home 113 runs in his first full season in the majors.

The Cardinals are offering $2.8 million and Ludwick is seeking $4.25 million. Ludwick, though, is hoping to avoid the process.

"Hopefully, we'll get something worked out," Ludwick said. "I'm optimistic."

That optimism stems from teammate Rick Ankiel's contract, which was reached hours before his scheduled arbitration last Thursday. Ankiel and the Cardinals agreed to a $2.825 million contract, midway between what the club offered and what Ankiel sought.

Ankiel flew from West Palm Beach, Fla., to Phoenix for a hearing that never happened.

"I'm fired up that I flew all the way out there for dinner," Ankiel said. "It was 30 grand worth of dinner."

Ludwick, who lives in Texas, wasn't sure if he should come to camp before Tuesday's reporting day because of his hearing. That changed after a conversation with Ankiel.

"To see where they were and how his whole deal went down, I think that's what leads to optimism on my side," he said.

It would be nice, he said, to get his deal done before he leaves today.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is pleased when any player avoids arbitration.

"It's an unnecessary evil and it's a distraction," La Russa said about salary arbitration. "This game is tough enough, and it's distracting enough, that any time you can avoid one distraction you're a little better off. Rick's a little better off and we're a little better off because of it."

Ludwick, 30, said he will not allow the outcome to affect his attitude.

"I'm still taking the same approach," he said. "As far as having an everyday position or having a big league spot on the roster, I don't think you can ever get comfortable with that. You have to continue to work hard."