Cardinals agree to terms with Skip Schumaker

ST. LOUIS, Mo., February 8, 2010 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that second baseman Skip Schumaker has agreed to terms on a two-year contract, keeping the infielder in a Cardinals uniform through 2011 and avoiding salary arbitration. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Schumaker, who just turned 30 (Feb. 3), successfully established himself as the Cardinals’ second baseman last season despite having previously played his entire professional career in the outfield. In so doing, he became the first Cardinal since Red Schoendienst (1945-46) to move from OF to 2B from one year to the next.

“Heading into spring training last year our club had uncertainties at both leadoff hitter and the second base position,” said Cardinals’ Vice President/General Manager John Mozeliak. “Skip answered both those questions. The transformation he made as an outfielder moving to second was truly remarkable and a testament to his dedication and athleticism. He is the kind of hard-working player that the Cardinals and our fans appreciate and we are thrilled to have with us for the next two years.”

Schumaker started 124 games at second base last season while also playing games in each of the outfield positions (four starts, 56 games played). The lefthander hit over .300 for the third-straight season as his .306 batting average was ranked seventh among National League leadoff batters. The 5-10, 195 pounder also ranked seventh in the N.L. against righthanded pitchers, batting .322, and he led the team with 15 games in which he had three or more hits.

Skip has a career .301 batting average in over 400 Major League games and 1300 at-bats. He has spent the last two seasons entirely at the Major League level, resulting in a .302 batting average that ranks in the top-25 among Major Leaguers during that time.