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Vina Signs Three-Year Deal With Cards:
New Second Baseman Made A Quick Decision To Try To Stay In St. Louis
Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch
May 4, 2000
The Cardinals infield is intact for next season and perhaps beyond.
The club announced Wednesday that it had signed second baseman Fernando Vina to a three-year contract plus an option year. Vina said the deal was for $15 million, including a $1 million signing bonus and a $1 million buyout.
Yearly salaries are believed to be $4 million, $4 million and $5 million with a $4.5 million option for 2004. Except for the signing bonus, the contract will begin next year.
Earlier this spring, third baseman Fernando Tatis, now injured, and shortstop Edgar Renteria both signed four-year deals. First baseman Mark McGwire has one year left on his $40 million, four-year contract.
Part of Vina's new deal is that he will be contributing money to Cardinals Care, and general manager Walt Jocketty said he hopes Vina will establish residence here.
"Fernando Vina exemplifies what Cardinals baseball is all about, and we are pleased that he will be a member of this organization on a long-term basis," Jocketty said.
Before Wednesday, Vina was hitting .346 and had a .426 on-base percentage as the Cardinals' leadoff hitter. He has been flawless in the field for the first 26 games. Vina, originally signed by the New York Mets, has played with Seattle, the Mets again and the Brewers before joining the Cards. He had a .282 career average through 1999.
The Cardinals acquired Vina, 31, from Milwaukee in December for righthander Juan Acevedo and two draft choices from last year's June selections, which the Cardinals are prohibited from trading until June of this year.
Vina said that almost from the first day he arrived in the Cardinals' camp he knew he wanted to stay. "Just being around the players and the coaches and Walt, just the way they treat you, it's just a real first-class place. I was very comfortable. It's somewhere that I knew I needed to be. I didn't want to go someplace else.
"I'm happy. I'm as happy as could be," Vina said. "I'm happy that I'll be a part of this for a long time ahead."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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