Three Redbirds fly nest, two for NL opponents

~ Utility players Nunez and Mabry left as free agents, while pitcher Cal Eldred retired.

PHILADELPHIA -- Free agent infielder Abraham Nunez and the Philadelphia Phillies agreed Tuesday to a $3.35 million, two-year contract.

The 29-year-old Nunez started 77 games at third base for St. Louis last season, becoming the regular when Scott Rolen was sidelined for the year with a shoulder injury. Nunez hit .285 with five home runs and 44 RBIs in 139 games. He also started at second base and shortstop.

"Nunez gives us some versatility in that he can play three infield positions and is a switch-hitter," Phillies general manager Pat Gillick said.

The contract includes a club option for 2008 and performance bonuses.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Nunez likely will platoon at third with David Bell, who hit just .199 against right-handers last season. Nunez hit .277 against right-handers last year.

For his career, Nunez has hit .248 with 16 homers and 161 RBIs in eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and one with the Cardinals.

On Monday, Cardinals free agent John Mabry signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. The 35-year-old Mabry, an infielder/outfielder, batted .240 with the Cardinals in 2005.

Eldred retires

Cal Eldred, who came back from serious injury and illness in the last three seasons to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals, has decided to retire.

The 38-year-old right-hander was 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in 31 games last season. He was sidelined for two months with a heart infection this year and missed the 2002 season and all but two games of 2001 after an elbow injury.

Eldred's agent, Ron Shapiro, said Tuesday that Eldred intends to file the necessary retirement papers with the players' association.

"He's just at a point where he's thrilled to have had all of the opportunities he's had and he feels it's time to focus on his family," Shapiro said. "I just think it's a matter of timing. Some people stay longer in this game than they should, and Cal's not going to do that."

Eldred has a 86-74 career record with a 4.42 ERA, including a 16-win season in 1993 with the Milwaukee Brewers. He moved to the bullpen after joining the Cardinals in 2003, appearing in a career-high 62 games in 2003 and 52 games in 2004.

Eldred was hospitalized for three days in April with myopericarditis and was in a weakened state for several weeks.

Right-hander Dennis Tankersley and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed Tuesday to a minor league contract.

The 26-year-old pitched for the Kansas City Royals' Triple-A Omaha farm team last season and went 9-8 with a 4.24 ERA in 23 starts and nine relief appearances. He has appeared in 27 major league games, all with the San Diego Padres.

Tankersley was selected the Padres' minor league pitcher of the year in 2001 after going 10-4 with a 1.98 ERA in 25 games. He went 7-4 with a 3.15 ERA for Portland in 2004, third-best in the Pacific Coast League.

-- From wire reports