Cards Sign Outfielder Bragg

The St. Louis Cardinals added depth to their outfield Tuesday, signing Darren Bragg to a one-year contract.

Bragg hit .279 last season for Boston, with eight homers and 57 RBI in 129 games. He became a free agent last month after the Red Sox failed to offer him a contract.

"Bragg fills our need for a versatile fourth outfielder," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He's an exciting player who can play all three outfield positions and his hustling style of play can be infectious."

Bragg will likely see plenty of playing time backing up rookie J.D. Drew in left, Ray Lankford in center and free-agent acquisition Eric Davis in right. Davis, 36, has a history of injuries.

The Cardinals also have Willie McGee, 40, as a backup outfielder, but he's being counted on more as a pinch hitter.

For his career, Bragg is a .261 hitter with 30 homers and 175 RBI in 469 games. He has hit more than 25 doubles in each of the past three seasons, including 29 in 1998.

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