Cards Ink Eckstein

[Chisox73]

The St.Louis Cardinals signed SS David Eckstein to a 3-year deal tonight.The financial terms have yet to be disclosed.

Eckstein,29,hit .276 for Anaheim last season,hitting 6 homers,driving in 35 runs,and scored 92 times.He led all ML shortstops with a .988 fielding percentage while committing only 6 errors.

[yagsy]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20041223&content_id=925673&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp

12/23/2004 9:00 PM ET
Cardinals sign Eckstein
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2004/12/23/EU8zroNr.jpg
David Eckstein batted .276 with a .339 on-base percentage and .332 slugging percentage for Anaheim in 2004. (Chris Carlson/AP)



It's like Final Jeopardy: one question and one answer remain.
The makeup of the 2005 Cardinals became even clearer on Thursday when St. Louis signed free-agent shortstop David Eckstein to a three-year contract worth a reported $10.25 million. The only major remaining hole for the '05 Redbirds is second base.

St. Louis expects Eckstein to bat leadoff in one of the league's most potent lineups, after he served that role for four years with the Anaheim Angels.

"We are extremely pleased to add David to the St. Louis Cardinals," general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement issued by the club on Thursday. "He addresses two of our needs -- that of a shortstop and leadoff hitter. David also has a style of hard-nosed play that we feel will fit in well in St. Louis."

Eckstein takes the place of Edgar Renteria, who signed a four-year pact with the Red Sox. In turn, Boston's shortstop, Orlando Cabrera, went to Anaheim, which briefly left Eckstein out of work.

The Angels non-tendered Eckstein on Monday as a result of the Cabrera acquisition, and as soon as Eckstein was available, the Cardinals moved on him. St. Louis identified the University of Florida product as a priority as soon as he became available.

"We were very aggressive early on him," said Cardinals assistant general manager John Mozeliak.

Eckstein batted .276 with a .339 on-base percentage and .332 slugging percentage for Anaheim in 2004, scoring 92 runs for the AL West champion Angels. His career line is .278/.347/.353, and he has stolen 82 bases in 109 attempts over four seasons. Eckstein's best year came for the 2002 world champion Angels, when he hit .293/.363/.388 with 107 runs scored.

St. Louis had been without a leadoff hitter since the departure of Tony Womack to the Yankees.

"He's hit in that spot before and he's done a good job at it," Mozeliak said. "We envision him being someone we can put at the top of our lineup."

Eckstein is considered a sure-handed defender, if not a spectacular one. He led Major League shortstops with a .988 fielding percentage in 2004, but ranked 19th in double plays and last in range factor.


Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[yagsy]

That is a big contract for a guy who doesn't hit .300 Then again with that lineup behind him, who knows what he's capable. Actually the more I think about it, Xman will prolly hit well in the Fastball league. NL Pitchers are going to be real annoyed pitching to him. He'll be fun to watch.

Cards fans will fall in love with him.

[Timberwolf]

Great pickup by Jocketty.

He will definitely supplant Renteria.

I just wished he played for the Twins. Twins need a SS and I felt Eckstein would be a good fit. He provides veteran leadership that knows how to win.

[Idnas71]

I heard David being interviewed on a St. Louis sports talk radio program a couple days ago. He seems genuinely nice and very happy to be a Cardinal. Said he will play whatever position Tony asks him to... said he actually played more second base in college. (Response to question about him possibly playing second instead of SS).

I think he'll be a great guy for the media to go to in the postgame locker room interviews. Matheny and Woody Williams used to fill that role.

[yagsy]

So Idnas, if Eck plays 2b and I know the Cards need to fill that hole, who will they get for SS? Card fans are gonna love this guy, a true team player. Have you ever watched one of his atbats? Frustrates the hell out of pitchers! And 15 pitches later... :D Tony is gonna LOVE this guy too!

[Idnas71]

I don't really understand why the media are talking about Eckstein playing second. I'm trying hard not to worry about the Cardinals infield situation this year (Catcher included) but it's easier said than done.

[Thedatch]

thank god he's outa the AL!!! this guy was such a pest, all the time...(certainly not a bad thing for the team who has him). seemed like everytime he came up he would get on either by walking, or hitting a little blah down the line...

hes great