Cardinals ink Hermanson

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to terms with pitcher Dustin Hermanson on a one-year contract.

That brings him back back after a season with the Boston Red Sox.

Financial terms for the veteran righthander were not disclosed. The deal is subject to the 30-year-old Hermanson passing a physical later this week.

He was 14-13 in 2001 with the Cardinals, who traded him to Boston two months after the season for three minor leaguers. Last year, a groin injury limited him to 12 games, just one start, and he was 1-1 with a 7.77 ERA.

Hermanson had been one of baseball's more durable pitchers, logging at least 187 innings each year from 1997-2000.

"It's a deal that I'm sure several months ago they didn't think they were going to take," said General Manager GM Walt Jocketty. "I think he is at a point as a lot of guys are at this point where we're just a few weeks away from spring training and they're willing to lower their sights a little bit just to get an opportunity to get into camp. He's a guy that could go both ways. He could be a starter or a reliever, but I think we'd initially bring him in for a starting position."

The signing got a thumbs up from Manager Tony LaRussa.

"We really liked him two years ago because he was always one of the guys that was always ready to pitch," said La Russa. "I know we're not just getting him happy to be back in St. Louis, but really hungry to be good again."

Hermanson, who broke into the majors with San Diego in 1995, also won 14 games for Montreal in 1998. He owns a 62-62 record in 215 major league appearances.