Baseball Guru
01-09-2002, 05:17 PM
By JIM SALTER
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Cardinals turned to Japan fill a vacancy in the outfield, agreeing Wednesday to a three-year contract with So Taguchi worth about $3 million.
Taguchi, 32, follows American League MVP Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and Tsuyoshi Shinjo of the San Francisco Giants and becomes the third Japanese non-pitcher in the major leagues.
A free agent, Taguchi turned down an offer from the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League. The deal with the Cardinals includes performance bonuses that could be worth about $3 million more.
Taguchi spent 10 seasons with the Orix BlueWave and was the team's top outfielder after Suzuki left for the Mariners last winter. He is considered one of the best-fielding outfielders in Japan, where he won five Golden Gloves.
He hit .280 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 134 games last season, and is a career .277 hitter with 67 homers and 404 RBIs.
The New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers also were said to be interested in Taguchi, who was a member of Japan's team at the 2000 Olympics.
The Cardinals are set with Jim Edmonds in center and J.D. Drew in right. Outfielder Ray Lankford was traded at midseason to San Diego for pitcher Woody Williams.
Taguchi is expected to compete for the starting job in left field along with Kerry Robinson, a rookie last season, utilityman Placido Polanco and backup catcher Eli Marrero.
Earlier in the offseason, the Cardinals signed closer Jason Isringhausen and first baseman Tino Martinez, who will replace the retired Mark McGwire at first.
Manager Tony La Russa said NL Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols will move to third, his original position. Pujols played first base, third base and some outfield last season.
ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Cardinals turned to Japan fill a vacancy in the outfield, agreeing Wednesday to a three-year contract with So Taguchi worth about $3 million.
Taguchi, 32, follows American League MVP Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and Tsuyoshi Shinjo of the San Francisco Giants and becomes the third Japanese non-pitcher in the major leagues.
A free agent, Taguchi turned down an offer from the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League. The deal with the Cardinals includes performance bonuses that could be worth about $3 million more.
Taguchi spent 10 seasons with the Orix BlueWave and was the team's top outfielder after Suzuki left for the Mariners last winter. He is considered one of the best-fielding outfielders in Japan, where he won five Golden Gloves.
He hit .280 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 134 games last season, and is a career .277 hitter with 67 homers and 404 RBIs.
The New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers also were said to be interested in Taguchi, who was a member of Japan's team at the 2000 Olympics.
The Cardinals are set with Jim Edmonds in center and J.D. Drew in right. Outfielder Ray Lankford was traded at midseason to San Diego for pitcher Woody Williams.
Taguchi is expected to compete for the starting job in left field along with Kerry Robinson, a rookie last season, utilityman Placido Polanco and backup catcher Eli Marrero.
Earlier in the offseason, the Cardinals signed closer Jason Isringhausen and first baseman Tino Martinez, who will replace the retired Mark McGwire at first.
Manager Tony La Russa said NL Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols will move to third, his original position. Pujols played first base, third base and some outfield last season.