Cardinals pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel wasn't overly bothered by trade rumors involving his name this past winter. "It was stimulating for me," Ankiel said. "It was kind of nice to know another team wants you. ... That time of the offseason, you're in no man's land, you're working out and then you hear all these exciting rumors, guys signing and you never know what is going to happen. That's not me saying I would ever want to leave the Cardinals, but it was stimulating, mentally stimulating. "That was all new to me."