Cardinals keep Kerry Robinson

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to terms with reserve outfielder Kerry Robinson, who hit .250 last season.

Robinson, 30, had one home run and 16 RBI in a career-high 208 at-bats. He is a lifetime .263 hitter with 46 RBI and 24 stolen bases.

The Cardinals also announced that outfielder Orlando Palmeiro declined the club's arbitration offer and righthander Gene Stechschulte was not tendered a contract for 2004.

Palmeiro, 34, hit .271 in 141 games last season, his first in the National League. A member of the Anaheim Angels from 1995-2002, Palmeiro can continue to negotiate with the team until Jan. 8.

Stechschulte, 30, who now becomes a free agent, missed all of 2003 after undergoing surgery in March to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder. He is 8-7 with six saves and a 4.58 ERA in 116 games - all with St. Louis.