Outfielder Ryan Ludwick and the St. Louis Cardinals have avoided arbitration for the second straight season, agreeing Tuesday to a $5.45 million, one-year contract. The 31-year-old Ludwick hit .265 with 22 homers and 97 RBIs last season for the NL Central champions. He agreed to a $3.7 million one-year deal last February after becoming an All-Star for the first time in 2008.