Cardinals Sign Carlos Baerga

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 27, 1999 / 6:53 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

The St. Louis Cardinals finally filled their vacancy at second base Wednesday, signing veteran Carlos Baerga to a one-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed for the switch hitter, who made $4.8 million last season for the New York Mets.

The Cardinals have been searching for a second baseman since Delino DeShields left via free agency and signed with the Baltimore Orioles on Dec. 4. Pat Meares, who was not re-signed by the Minnesota Twins, also was considered by the Cardinals.

"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 finished last season with rookie Placido Polanco at second, often batting him ninth, behind the pitcher. Polanco batted .254 with a homer and 11 RBIs in 114 at-bats.

The 30-year-old Baerga hit .266 with seven homers and 53 RBI last season and became expendable when the Mets signed free agent third baseman Robin Ventura and moved Edgardo Alfonzo to second.

Baerga was a three-time All-Star for the Cleveland Indians and hit at least .312 every season from 1992-95, twice driving in over 100 runs. But he never was the same player after being acquired by the Mets on July 29, 1996, with Alvaro Espinoza for Jeff Kent and Jose Vizcaino.

The Puerto Rico native hit just .193 in 26 games for the Mets in 1996. He improved to .281 the next season before slipping 15 points in 1998. Baerga disputed claims that he gained weight after arriving in New York, but his range was considerably worse than it was in Cleveland.

Baerga is a career .293 hitter with 121 homers, 245 doubles and 676 RBI. Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres, Baerga was traded to Cleveland in December 1989 and made his major league debut the following season.

Baerga reached the postseason once in 1995 and hit .400 for the Indians in the American League Championship Series against Seattle. He is the only player to homer from both sides of the plate in the same inning.