Cards trade Martinez to Devil Rays

The Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa native Tino Martinez was traded from the Cardinals to the Devil Rays on Friday for a minor league pitching prospect.

St. Louis gets pitcher Evan Rust and a player to be named.

Martinez is owed $7.5 million next season under the $21 million, three-year deal he agreed to with the Cardinals in December 2001, and his contract contains an $8 million option for 2005 with a $1 million buyout.

St. Louis will pay $7 million of the remaining $8.5 million Martinez is guaranteed, a baseball official said on the condition of anonymity.

The 36-year-old Martinez, a former University of Tampa star and a 14-year major league veteran, has slumped badly in recent years. In 138 games last season, the first baseman hit .273 with 15 homers and 69 RBIs. He had 71 strikeouts and 53 walks

Martinez, a career .273 hitter, played six seasons with the Seattle Mariners and six seasons with the Yankees, winning four World Series titles in New York.

Martinez, his wife Maria, and their three children, ages 7 to 11, live in Tampa, where Martinez helped lead Tampa Catholic High School to the Florida state title in 1982. At the University of Tampa, Martinez was a three-time Division II All-American.

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said the trade could lead to a position shift.

"Does this deal mean that Albert Pujols will be moved to first base? That's a possibility," La Russa said. "One of the things we are trying to do is improve our table-setters at the top of the lineup. Because first base is a position primarily reserved for run producers, we feel that we have a better chance of finding a leadoff hitter to play the outfield rather than first base."

Rust, 25, was 1-3 with a 2.65 ERA with 11 saves in 30 relief appearances at Double-Orlando and 2-2 with a 3.25 ERA and one save in 26 relief outings for Triple-A Durham.