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Vina Hopes For Long Stay With Cards
Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch
December 22, 1999
New Cardinals second baseman Fernando Vina can be a free agent after the 2000 season, but one day after joining the Cardinals in a trade with Milwaukee, Vina said he wanted to stay a lot longer.
"I want to take care of that (contract) situation as soon as possible," Vina said by telephone Tuesday from his home in Sacramento, Calif. "I want to play for the Cardinals for as long as I can.
"I'd like to be there for a long time. I have no idea of going anywhere else. It's one of the best teams in baseball to play for. I don't think there's any baseball player in the country who wants to play anywhere else."
Vina, obtained Monday for righthander Juan Acevedo and two minor leaguers to be named, will join an infield that already features Mark McGwire at first base, Edgar Renteria at shortstop and Fernando Tatis at third.
"You look around the infield, and there's four All-Stars in the infield. There's going to be a lot of runs scored," Vina said.
"In Milwaukee, I never had that kind of potential lineup. You kind of sit back in the winter and think about it, and it's scary."
Vina, who will turn 31 on April 16, appeared in only 37 games this season because of leg injuries. But he said, "I've been really rehabbing. I'm in the best shape I've ever been in. I'm not worried about it."
Vina first suffered a deep bruise on his left quadriceps muscle when he collided with Milwaukee right fielder Jeromy Burnitz chasing a pop fly on May 9. In his rush to get healthy, he suffered patella tendinitis in his o ther knee.
But, now, Vina said, "I feel great. I've worked on my legs, and I think they're where they need to be."
A healthy Vina played 159 of 162 games in 1998, as he made the National League All-Star team and hit .311. He said he had learned more about being a good leadoff hitter in that time, although his career high for walks still is just 54, in 1998.
His high for steals is a modest 22 in that same season - he was caught 16 times - and Vina said that part of his game needs some work.
"I'll be better from being healthy and learning from Lou Brock" in spring training, Vina said.
"With the Brewers, you had to make so many things happen that you had to force some things sometimes. With (the Cardinals) lineup, you have to pick your spots and take off when the time is right.
Vina will make $2 million next season, which is just about what reliever Ricky Bottalico made this season. Bottalico, who blew eight of 28 saves in his first year with the club after being acquired from Philadelphia, was not offered a contract by the Cardinals and became a free agent.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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