Cardinals sign Baerga to 1-year deal
Posted: Wednesday January 27, 1999 05:52 PM
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Baerga gets a $1 million salary, which will be increased to $1.25 million if he's on the opening day roster Jonathan Daniel/Allsport |
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Cardinals
filled their need for a second baseman, agreeing Wednesday to a $1.25
million, one-year contract with free agent Carlos Baerga.
Baerga, a switch hitter, was a three-time All-Star with Cleveland but his
production has dropped off sharply since he was traded to the New York Mets in 1996.
"Carlos is an experienced, quality infielder who gives us good offensive
potential at second base and versatility from both sides of the plate,"
Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said.
The Cardinals' second baseman for the past two seasons, Delino
DeShields, agreed in December to a $12.5 million, three-year contract
with Baltimore. St. Louis considered signing Pat Meares, let
go last month by Minnesota, and moving him from shortstop to second base.
Meares was seeking about $2 million.
Baerga, 30, had his best season in 1993, when he hit .321 with 21 homers
and 114 RBIs. He hit .314 the following season, dropped to .254 with
Cleveland in 1996, then hit 1.93, .281 and .266 in his three seasons with
the Mets.
Baerga, coming off a $21.4 million, six-year contract, has a .293 career
average with 121 homers and 676 RBIs. He gets a $1 million salary, which
will be increased to $1.25 million if he's on the opening day roster.
The signing continues the revamp of the Cardinals. First baseman Mark McGwire
and center fielder Ray Lankford
are the only remaining starters from last year's opening day lineup.
Since the end of last season, St. Louis has signed outfielders Eric Davis and Darren Bragg
and reliever Scott
Radinsky, and traded for reliever Ricky
Bottalico, starter Garrett
Stephenson and shortstop Edgar
Renteria.
Rookie J.D. Drew is expected to start in left field, replacing Ron Gant, who was
traded to Philadelphia in the Bottalico deal.
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