Mabry signs with Cardinals minor league

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- John Mabry agreed to a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday in hopes of landing his third tour of duty with the National League club.

Terms were not disclosed for the outfielder-first baseman, who was invited to spring training.

Mabry, 33, began his professional career with the Cardinals and played for St. Louis from 1994 through 1998 and again briefly in 2001. He appeared in 64 games for Seattle last season and hit .212 with three homers and 16 RBI.

Mabry is a career .269 hitter with 69 homers and 344 RBI in 988 games. His best season was 1996, when he hit .297 with 13 homers and 74 RBI.

The Cardinals also signed lefthander Doug Creek to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Creek, who was drafted by St. Louis in 1991 and appeared in six games for St. Louis in 1995, posted a 3.29 ERA in 21 games for Toronto in 2003 before his season ended in May due to an elbow injury.

Creek, who turns 35 next month, is 7-14 with a 5.19 ERA in 259 games.

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