Cards, Descalso avoid arbitration

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals and infielder Daniel Descalso avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $1.29 million, one-year deal, between the $1.65 million he had requested and the $930,000 St. Louis offered.

St. Louis settled with all three arbitration-eligible players, agreeing earlier this month with outfielders Peter Bourjos and Jon Jay.

Descalso, 27, set career bests with five home runs, 42 RBIs, 25 doubles and 43 runs last season, when he appeared in 123 games and made $511,000.

The non-guaranteed pact includes a $10,000 performance bonus for 250 plate appearances.