St. Louis selects Indians outfielder in Rule 5 draft

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday selected outfielder Brian Barton with the 10th pick in the Rule 5 draft during baseball's winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn.

Barton, 25, was a member of the Cleveland Indians organization. He is a career .317 hitter, with a .417 on-base percentage, in 354 minor-league games since being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

He hit .314 in 106 games at Double-A Akron and .264 in 25 games at Triple-A Buffalo last season. He is expected to compete for playing time in the outfield for the Cardinals, who this week waived So Taguchi.

"Barton is a player that has always hit and he can play all three outfield positions," said Jeff Luhnow, vice president of amateur scouting and player development for the Cardinals.

In the Rule 5 draft, 18 players were selected off Triple-A rosters at a cost of $50,000 each. Players chosen in the draft must stay on the active major league roster with their new club all season or be offered back to their old team for $25,000.

-- AP