From Dave O'Brien at the AJC (being extra cautious to make sure everyone knows this is just a whisper):
Here’s a rumor you might be hearing soon. I repeat, might be hearing.
Kelly Johnson for Ryan Ludwick. Hey, you ask about whispers, I give you whispers. I’ll let you know if I hear it said above a whisper.
Interestante. Ludwick had one hell of a season last year -- 37 dingers and 113 RBIs while hitting .299 and protecting Albert Pujols in the lineup. So he's someone who could definitely protect Chipper Jones so long as Ludwick's 2007 numbers are a sign of things to come.
The Cardinals would have to somehow jettison second baseman Adam Kennedy, who is still signed for next year at $4 million. Ludwick is arbitration eligible this year, just like Kelly Johnson. If this is a true rumor then I'm definitely for it -- trade an average-fielding streaky-hitting second baseman for a power-hitting middle-of-the-order left fielder. He also hits right-handed, and as I've mentioned before I think it's important for any power bat we add to be right-handed to balance our lineup.
Now take a moment to drool: