Cardinals sign 2B Grudzielanek

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals have signed free-agent second baseman Mark Grudzielanek to a one-year, $1 million deal, putting in place the final piece of a retooled middle infield for the NL champions.

Grudzielanek, who can earn up to $500,000 in performance bonuses under the deal that includes no options, will replace Tony Womack, who played one season batting leadoff for the Cardinals before signing as a free agent this month with the New York Yankees.

Grudzielanek's infield mate next season will be fellow Cardinals newcomer David Eckstein, the former Anaheim Angel who last month signed a three-year, $10.25 million contract.

Eckstein, who will replace Womack in the leadoff slot, succeeds Edgar Renteria, lured to Boston by a $40 million, four-year contract.

Grudzielanek, 34, batted .307 with six home runs and 23 RBI in 81 games for the Chicago Cubs last season, missing more than two months because of an inflamed Achilles tendon.

In 1,299 games over his 10-year major-league career, Grudzielanek has a .287 batting average with 66 home runs and 443 RBI. He led the NL in doubles (54) in 1999 with the Dodgers and had 38 two-base hits for the Cubs in 2003, when he batted .314.

''We've been trying to identify infielders to handle a variety of roles for us,'' Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said. ''Grudzielanek offers us versatility with both the bat and in the field. He's a proven veteran who should fit nicely into our everyday lineup.''

Grudzielanek has played for Montreal (1995-98), Los Angeles (1998-2002) and the Cubs (2003-04).