Cardinals Sign Vina, 3 Years

Second baseman Fernando Vina agreed to a three-year contract extension Wednesday as the St. Louis Cardinals locked up another key player to a long-term deal.

"Fernando has proven to be everything that we thought we were getting," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He's a heady ballplayer who likes to compete and will do whatever it takes to win."

Earlier this year, the Cardinals signed shortstop Edgar Renteria and third baseman Fernando Tatis to contract extensions. All of the deals run through 2003. Vina's has a club option for 2004.

Vina had been in the final year of a two-year deal is making $2.3 million this season.

"It's nice to have it over with and now I can just play the game," Vina said. "Even though I was playing the game hard regardless, it gives me a little more relaxing feeling to just go out and do my thing."

The Cardinals acquired Vina, 31, last December in a four-player trade with the Brewers, sending right-hander Juan Acevedo and two minor leaguers to be named to Milwaukee.

Vina was an All-Star in 1998. He came cheap because he played only 37 games last year because of injuries, batting .266 with one homer and 16 RBIs.

This year, he's been the catalyst for the Cardinals' major-league leading offense, batting .346 with a team-high 37 hits and .426 on-base percentage. He also has not made an error.

As part of the deal, Vina will make an annual contribution to the team's charity, Cardinals Care.

The Cardinals also plan to sign right-handed reliever Darren Holmes, released last week by Arizona, to augment the bullpen. Holmes passed a pair of auditions Monday and Tuesday and Jocketty indicated the team would make the signing official later in the week.

"I didn't walk anybody and I hit my spots and my stuff was there," Holmes said after throwing 33 pitches Tuesday. "I knew I'd be ready. I couldn't have thrown a whole lot better unless I struck out everybody."

Holmes, 34, will be used as a setup man and could occasionally close. He was 4-3 with a 3.70 ERA in 44 games last year with the Diamondbacks and has 57 career saves.

"He threw great," Jocketty said.

Holmes spent five years with Colorado, and had a career-best 25 saves in 1993. The Cardinals have to pay him only a prorated share of the $200,000 minimum, about $166,000, and Arizona will have to make up the difference in his $1.85 million salary this year plus a $200,000 buyout for his option year.

The Diamondbacks designated Holmes for assignment Apri21 to make room for closer Matt Mantei, who was activated from the disabled list. Holmes declined an assignment to Triple-A Tucson, and cleared waivers Sunday.

He allowed three runs on five hits in 2 1-3 innings this season with the Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals were Holmes' first choice for a new team, his sixth in the majors.

"I've always liked this place," he said. "It's a baseball town and it's got great fans. When all this came down, I told my agent the first place I want you to look at is St. Louis."

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