Freese, Cardinals agree to one-year deal

The St. Louis Cardinals and third baseman David Freese agreed to a one-year contract worth more than $3.075 million, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Friday.

The two sides avoided arbitration in coming to terms on the deal. The 2011 World Series MVP had asked for $3.75 million and the team offered $2.4 million. The gap was among the widest, percentage-wise, of arbitration-eligible players this winter. His asking price was the most for a first-year eligible position player.

Freese played more than 100 games for the first time in his career. He batted .293 with 20 home runs and 79 RBI.

All of the team's arbitration-eligible players are signed.