St. Louis sends Hart to minors

Bo Hart, who batted .277 for the Cardinals last year and filled a hole at second base, was among the team's final roster cuts Sunday.

Hart, who became expendable with the acquisition of Tony Womack on March 21 along with the emergence of infielder Hector Luna, was optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Womack beat out both Hart and Marlon Anderson for the second base job, and will bat leadoff in Monday's opener against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cardinals kept Luna, 24, whom they selected in the Rule 5 draft. They would have had to offer him back to the Cleveland Indians for $25,000 before sending him to the minor leagues.

St. Louis also assigned outfielder Emil Brown, right-hander Alan Benes and left-hander Doug Creek to Memphis. Benes was hampered in spring training by a pulled side muscle, and Creek is progressing following reconstructive elbow surgery last June.

-- AP