December 9, 2004
Kent signs two-year deal with LA
Considered as an option for the Cardinals - no more
By Ray Mileur
Dodger general manager Paul DePodesta signed free agent second baseman Jeff Kent to a two-year deal worth an estimated $17 million on Thursday.
The news sent shock waves throughout Cardinal Nation for the many of fans who had hoped the Cardinals would bring in a player the caliber of Jeff Kent to replace Tony Womack who signed with the NY Yankees on Tuesday.
Kent hit .289 with 27 homers and 109 RBIs in 2004 with the Houston Astros and many Cardinal fans were looking to Kent to help the Cardinals get back to the World Series next season.
Kent, a veteran of 13 Major League campaigns, has averaged 28 home runs and 111 RBIs over the past eight seasons. The four-time All-Star (including in 2004) was the 2000 NL MVP and played in the World Series with the San Francisco Giants in 2002. He is 16th on the active list with 1,207 RBIs and 22nd on the active home run list with 302.
Who's left out there to play second for the Cardinals?
Looking for a job at 2nd there is, Roberto Alomar, Miguel Cairo, Mark Grudzielanek, and Japanese import Tadahito Iguchi. Others who have the right to decline arbitration include Placido Polanco and Pokey Reese. The return of Polanco could be possible, but he won't come cheap, he made $3.9 million last season and is looking for a raise to the $5 - $6 million dollar range. That could keep him out of St. Louis.
