Cardinals Trade Herr for Brunansky

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals traded second baseman Tommy Herr to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Tom Brunansky Friday night in a swap between last season’s pennant winners.

Herr, 32, batted .263 last season with 2 home runs and 83 runs batted in. Brunansky, 27, batted .259 with 32 homers and 85 RBIs. He will earn $1.1 million this season.

“Sure, I’m shocked,” said Herr, in his ninth season with the Cardinals. “I knew this was a pivotal year for me. It’s a decision the organization felt it had to make.

“From what I remember of Minnesota last year in the World Series, they were a bunch of fun-loving guys who know how to win. When this sinks in, I’m sure I’ll realize it’s a good opportunity. I mean this is a team that wants me.”

The Cardinals have called up second baseman Luis Alicea, 22, from Louisville and optioned outfielder Rod Booker to the triple-A farm club.

“Two factors really influenced the trade,” St. Louis General Manager Dal Maxvill said. “One, we haven’t been getting much run production, and (two), we think we have a fine young man who is ready to be an everyday player here in Alicea.”

Herr has 13 hits in 50 at-bats this season, a .260 batting average, with 1 home run and 3 RBIs. Brunansky, one of the power hitters who helped the Twins win the World Series last season, has 9 hits in 49 at-bats this season, a .184 average, with 1 homer and 6 RBIs.