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."

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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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