SAN DIEGO, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- The St. Louis Cardinals late Friday traded veteran center-fielder Jim Edmonds to the San Diego Padres for 24-year old third baseman David Freese.
The 37-year-old Edmonds, an eight-time Gold Glove winner, hinted at a deal earlier this month when he agreed to eliminate his no-trade clause if he was dealt to a team in Southern California.
The four-time all-star has a lifetime batting average of .287 with 362 home runs and 1,121 RBI.
Last season, his eighth in St. Louis, he batted .252 with 12 homers and 53 RBI in 117 games.
Edmonds, a superb defensive center-fielder, likely will succeed Mike Cameron, who decided to move on after contract talks reached an impasse.
MLB.com reported Freese, 25, wasn't one of the Padres' top 10 prospects and likely did not factor into their short-term plans.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the deal is pending approval from the commissioner's office because the money transfer is at least $1 million.
