Cardinals Pay Price for Ankiel

Rick Ankiel received the highest amount for a drafted player under the control of one team, agreeing Monday to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals for a $2.5-million bonus.

Ankiel, who had threatened to attend the University of Miami, topped the $2 million Pittsburgh gave Kris Benson last year after the pitcher was selected with the No. 1 pick.

Ankiel, a left-hander with a 95-mph fastball, struck out 162 with 22 walks in 74 innings as a senior last season for Port St. Lucie High in Florida. He was 11-1 with a 0.47 earned-run average.

Only four players have received higher bonuses, and all were 1996 draft picks declared free agents by the ruling executive council because of a technicality: No. 2 pick Travis Lee got a $10-million signing bonus from the Arizona Diamondbacks, No. 5 John Patterson got $6,075,000 from the Diamondbacks, No. 7 Matt White got $10.2 million from Tampa Bay and No. 12 Bobby Seay got $3 million from the Devil Rays.

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St. Louis outfielder Brian Jordan, ailing all season because of a bulging disk in his lower back, has decided to sit out the rest of the season.

Jordan said last week he wanted to wait until the team was out of the NL Central race, and the Cardinals are close to that now as they trail Houston by 10 games.

“I gave it another shot and it just didn’t work out,” said Jordan, who since coming off the disabled list Aug. 10 was five for 31 with one RBI. “It’s time for me to concentrate on my career and my future, and that’s to get back to 100%. I look forward to having a good year next year.”

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New York Met pitcher Jason Isringhausen, whose return to the major leagues has been stalled by health problems, will be recalled by New York to start Wednesday, replacing Pete Harnisch in the rotation.

Isringhausen broke his right wrist early this season when he punched a plastic trash can after a poor performance in the minors.

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Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn is recovering from surgery to remove an aortic aneurysm and he will miss this weekend’s Boston Braves reunion.

Spahn, 76, was operated on six weeks ago and has been recuperating at his home in Broken Arrow, Okla.

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The Cincinnati Reds put starting pitcher Kent Mercker (inflamed lower back) on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 17.