Cardinals find relief help in a trade with Rangers

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals, seeking to strengthen a struggling bullpen, acquired right-handed reliever Esteban Yan and an undisclosed amount of cash from the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.

The Rangers received minor league outfielder Rick Asadoorian.

The Cardinals also recalled outfielder So Taguchi from Triple-A Memphis to replace injured leadoff man and second baseman Fernando Vina, who will be sidelined six-to-12 weeks with a severely torn hamstring. Right-handed reliever Gabe Molina was optioned to Memphis and left-hander Les Walrond was removed from the 40-man roster.

The Cardinals were second in the NL Central, 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs, despite a bullpen that has blown 13 saves in 24 chances entering Tuesday night's game against Houston.

Yan, 27, is 0-1 with a 6.94 ERA in 15 games. He struck out 25 batters and walked seven in 23 innings.

"Soon in my mind, I'm coming to the bullpen to help and try to make everything better," Yan said. "I'm very excited to be here. I've got a new home."

Yan began his career in Baltimore in 1996. He pitched in Tampa Bay from 1998 through 2002. In 288 career games, all but 23 in relief, he is 26-32 with a 5.35 ERA.

Yan signed a one-year deal with Texas in December after the Devil Rays didn't offer a contract. He was 7-8 with a 4.30 ERA and 19 saves last season and the Cardinals envision him as a setup-type pitcher.

"He's a guy that we've followed for a couple of years because we like his arm," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "We like his arm; it's a power arm and he's got experience closing."

The Cardinals believe Yan struggled in Texas because he wasn't used enough.

"He's used to pitching a lot and he wasn't used a lot," Jocketty said. "That may be part of it, and Texas is a hard park to pitch in."

Asadoorian, 22, hit .265 at Class-A Peoria last season. He is hitting .192 with one homer and 10 RBIs in 44 games at Class-A Palm Beach in 2003. He will be assigned to Clinton of the Midwest League.

Asadoorian was Boston's first-round pick in the June 1999 amateur draft.

Taguchi, in the second year of a three-year, $3 million contract after coming over from Japan, was batting .254 with no homers and 10 RBIs at Memphis. It is the first call-up this year for Taguchi, who lost out on the final roster spot to outfielder Kerry Robinson just before the season opener. Robinson was optioned to Memphis on Friday.

The Cardinals believe Taguchi's so-so numbers in Memphis were partly a result of his disappointment at not making the team. Taguchi, who said he was surprised to be promoted, was starting in left field and batting eighth against Astros left-hander Jeriome Robertson on Tuesday night.

"That's the second surprise, but I'm ready to go," Taguchi said.

Manager Tony La Russa said it was "just a coincidence" that Taguchi was immediately thrown into the lineup with left-handed hitters J.D. Drew and Tino Martinez both sitting.

"He's got a real good feel for the game, so that's not a problem," La Russa said. "Last year in September you could tell he's had experience in Japan in front of a lot of people. He wasn't spooked by the major league scene."