Cardinals Send Gant To Philly

The St. Louis Cardinals, looking to remake a team that has been disappointing for two seasons, signed free agents Eric Davis and Scott Radinsky Thursday and made a five-player trade with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Cardinals sent left fielder Ron Gant, reliever Jeff Brantley and minor-league right-hander Cliff Politte to the Phillies for reliever Ricky Bottalico and right-hander Garrett Stevenson. The Cardinals agreed to pay in excess of $5 million of the $11 million Gant is owed in the next two seasons.

Davis, who hit .327 with 28 homers and 89 RBIs for Baltimore last season, agreed to an $8 million, two-year contract and is expected to replace Gant in left field.

Radinsky, 6-6 with 13 saves and a 2.63 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers, agreed to a two-year contract with a team option for a third year.

Ron Gant will be taking his cuts with the Phillies next season. (AP)

General manager Walt Jocketty said the Cardinals are looking at other moves, either through trades or additional free agent signings The team seeks an additional starting pitcher and a middle infielder who would, ideally, bat leadoff.

The Cardinals bullpen struggled last season, but Jocketty said the addition of Bottalico and Radinsky, along with the emergence of closer Juan Aceveco, gives the team one of baseball's best bullpens entering the 1999 season.

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