Padres to get Edmonds from Cardinals

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12/15/2007 Reported By: Senaxis News Services Source: Ap

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Hours after talks broke off with Mike Cameron, the San Diego Padres agreed in principle Friday to acquire center fielder Jim Edmonds and cash from the St. Louis Cardinals for a minor leaguer.

The deal was waiting approval from the commissioner's office because it will involve around $1 million going from the Cardinals to the Padres, according to a source with knowledge of the deal, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been finalized.

The Cardinals will get minor league third baseman David Freese.

Edmonds, 37, will return to Southern California, where he grew up and was drafted by the Angels in 1988. He played for the Angels from late in the 1993 season until being traded to St. Louis just before the 2000 season.

Edmonds was slowed by injuries last season but the eight-time Gold Glove winner recently pronounced himself fit.

The trade comes after the Padres were spurned by three outfielders in less than a week.

Cameron's agent broke off negotiations for a deal to bring back the center fielder on Friday. Left fielder Milton Bradley on Sunday accepted a one-year deal from the Texas Rangers worth approximately $5 million. The Padres had offered $4 million to bring back Bradley.

Plus, the Padres lost out in the bidding for Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, who signed with the Chicago Cubs.

Padres right fielder Brian Giles is coming off microfracture surgery on his right knee. The Padres have expressed interest in signing free agent Geoff Jenkins.

Edmonds' Cardinals beat the Padres in the opening round of the playoffs in both 2005 and 2006.

After the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series, the four-time All-Star had operations on his right shoulder and left toe. He batted just .222 in April.

"I wasn't even close to healthy," he said last month.

Edmonds wound up batting .252 with 12 homers and 53 RBIs -- his lowest totals since 1999 with the Angels. But heading into the final season of a $19 million, two-year contract, he expects much better production from himself next season.

"Everything is gone now and I'm feeling really good," he said. "I'm feeling the best I've felt in five or six years. I'm already working out and already running and doing some things that I need to do."

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AP Sports Writer R.B. Fallstrom in St. Louis contributed to this report.