Rockies Trade Walker to Cardinals

Outfielder Larry Walker was traded from the Colorado Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night for minor league pitcher Jason Burch and two players to be named.

The addition of Walker, a three-time NL batting champion, gives the Cardinals a power-packed lineup that also includes Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds. They have the best record in the major leagues.

The only time Walker has played in the postseason was in 1995 with the Rockies, who were eliminated in the first round.

“This is a great opportunity for him to go to a great baseball city and have a chance to win a world championship,” Colorado General Manager Dan O’Dowd said. “We tried very hard to put him in a city where he can accomplish his dream of winning a world championship.”

The 1997 NL MVP, a seven-time Gold Glove winner, cleared waivers and agreed not to block the deal with his no-trade clause. Colorado is paying St. Louis $7.5 million as part of the trade.

Walker, 37, said no to a trade to the Texas Rangers just before the July 31 deadline for deals without waivers.

Walker’s salary, age and history of injuries surely led to him passing through waivers. He didn’t play this season until June 22 because of a groin strain, then hit three homers three days later in Cleveland. He has been on the disabled list eight times in his 16-year career.

He is in the fifth season of a $76-million, six-year contract that pays him $12.5 million each in 2004 and 2005. The deal has a 2006 team option at $15 million with a $1-million buyout.

Burch, 21, was 5-5 with a 3.61 earned-run average and 21 saves at Class-A Peoria.

*

The Philadelphia Phillies put pitcher Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list because of acute tendinitis in his pitching elbow.

Philadelphia also recalled reliever Geoff Geary from triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.