amag
02-09-2002, 09:08 AM
2/8/2002 6:15 pm ET
Cardinals sign Martin, Perez
By Patrick Mulrenin
MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- Throughout the offseason, the biggest question for the Cardinals has concerned the opening in left field caused by the permanent move of NL Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols to third base.
Placido Polanco, Kerry Robinson and Eli Marrero were considered to be among the early candidates vying for the starting job. St. Louis signed Japanese League outfielder So Taguchi in January and added him to the mix.
On Friday, the Cardinals signed two veteran Major League outfielders who will make the left-field competition very interesting. Free agents Al Martin and Eduardo Perez agreed to minor league contracts with invitations to the Major League camp that begins on Feb. 16 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fl.
Last season, Martin played 100 games for the Seattle Mariners. He batted .240 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs. Martin, 34, is a nine-year veteran who has batted .278 with 129 home runs and 459 RBIs in 1,132 games.
The left-handed-hitting Martin made his Major League debut with Pittsburgh in 1992. Following seven season with the Pirates, Martin was traded to San Diego after the 1999 season. Midway through 2000, the Padres traded Martin to Seattle in exchange for former Cardinal John Mabry and pitcher Tom Davey.
Martin was named to his lone All-Star team in 1994 but did not play due to a sprained left wrist. His best season was in 1996 for Pittsburgh, when he batted .300 with 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 101 runs scored and 38 stolen bases. In 1999, Martin became the fifth Pirate in team history to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in a single season.
Martin is a career .296 pinch-hitter and owns a lifetime batting mark of .303 at Busch Stadium.
Perez, 32, returns to the Cardinals after spending 2001 in Japan playing for the Hashin Tigers. The son of Hall-of-Famer Tony Perez, Eduardo has played in the Majors for California (1993-95), Cincinnati (1996-98) and St. Louis (1999-2000).
With the Tigers last season, Perez, a right-handed hitter, batted .222 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 167 at-bats.
In 1997 with the Reds, Perez had a career-high 16 home runs and 52 RBIs.
The additions of Martin and Perez bring the Cardinals' non-roster invitee list to 20 players. Non-roster outfielders other than Martin and Perez include Tony Mota, Luis Saturria and Ernie Young.
Patrick Mulrenin covers the Cardinals for MLB.com. This story is not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Cardinals sign Martin, Perez
By Patrick Mulrenin
MLB.com
ST. LOUIS -- Throughout the offseason, the biggest question for the Cardinals has concerned the opening in left field caused by the permanent move of NL Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols to third base.
Placido Polanco, Kerry Robinson and Eli Marrero were considered to be among the early candidates vying for the starting job. St. Louis signed Japanese League outfielder So Taguchi in January and added him to the mix.
On Friday, the Cardinals signed two veteran Major League outfielders who will make the left-field competition very interesting. Free agents Al Martin and Eduardo Perez agreed to minor league contracts with invitations to the Major League camp that begins on Feb. 16 at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fl.
Last season, Martin played 100 games for the Seattle Mariners. He batted .240 with seven home runs and 42 RBIs. Martin, 34, is a nine-year veteran who has batted .278 with 129 home runs and 459 RBIs in 1,132 games.
The left-handed-hitting Martin made his Major League debut with Pittsburgh in 1992. Following seven season with the Pirates, Martin was traded to San Diego after the 1999 season. Midway through 2000, the Padres traded Martin to Seattle in exchange for former Cardinal John Mabry and pitcher Tom Davey.
Martin was named to his lone All-Star team in 1994 but did not play due to a sprained left wrist. His best season was in 1996 for Pittsburgh, when he batted .300 with 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, 101 runs scored and 38 stolen bases. In 1999, Martin became the fifth Pirate in team history to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in a single season.
Martin is a career .296 pinch-hitter and owns a lifetime batting mark of .303 at Busch Stadium.
Perez, 32, returns to the Cardinals after spending 2001 in Japan playing for the Hashin Tigers. The son of Hall-of-Famer Tony Perez, Eduardo has played in the Majors for California (1993-95), Cincinnati (1996-98) and St. Louis (1999-2000).
With the Tigers last season, Perez, a right-handed hitter, batted .222 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 167 at-bats.
In 1997 with the Reds, Perez had a career-high 16 home runs and 52 RBIs.
The additions of Martin and Perez bring the Cardinals' non-roster invitee list to 20 players. Non-roster outfielders other than Martin and Perez include Tony Mota, Luis Saturria and Ernie Young.
Patrick Mulrenin covers the Cardinals for MLB.com. This story is not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.