St. Louis ? When the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants courted him three years ago, catcher Joe Girardi instead chose the Chicago Cubs, largely citing family reasons and a desire to return home to Illinois.

Girardi was a free agent again last week and St. Louis again came calling, making another pitch for the 14-year veteran. Only this time around, the Cardinals landed their man with a little recruiting help from Cardinals first baseman Tino Martinez, a former teammate.

“Tino told me St. Louis would be a great place to play,” Girardi said.

No stranger to Cardinal tradition as a Peoria, Ill., native, the 38-year-old Girardi hopes to become part of it next season, having agreed to a one-year, roughly $750,000 deal announced Tuesday.

“It would be a great place to finish my career,” said Girardi, who spent seven years with the Cubs and four with Martinez and the New York Yankees, holding a roster spot on the Bronx Bombers’ title-winning teams of 1996, 1998 and 1999.

Girardi, a member of the NL’s 2000 All-Star team, became expendable last month when the Cubs acquired All-Star Damian Miller from Arizona for two minor leaguers. The Cubs declined to offer arbitration to Girardi, who said he left on great terms.

“I don’t think you can be mad at a club for wanting to go in a different direction,” said Girardi, who during the past two seasons was the Cubs’ co-captain. “I’ve had this happen to me more than once.”

Girardi hit .226 in 90 games with the Cubs last season.

Girardi expects to play behind Mike Matheny. The Cardinals declined to offer arbitration to catcher Mike DiFelice.

The Cardinals also said that outfielder-catcher Eli Marrero has agreed to a two-year, $4.5 million contract. Right-hander Garrett Stephenson signed a one-year deal worth $800,000, taking a $100,000 pay cut.

Marrero, 29, had career bests last season with 18 home runs, 66 RBIs and a .262 average.

Stephenson, sidelined most of the past two seasons with injuries, went 2-5 with a 5.40 ERA in 12 appearances in 2002. Stephenson, 30, won a career-best 16 games in 2000.

• Expos — Montreal formally announced that the club will play 22 homes games in Puerto Rico next season.
• Rockies — Colorado traded outfielder Victor Hall to Houston in return for right-handed pitcher Nelson Cruz. The Rockies acquired Hall from Arizona in the Rule V draft.
• Cubs — Chicago continued to add depth to its bench, going into the free-agent market to give Troy O’Leary a $750,000, one-year deal. The left-handed-hitting outfielder has batted .277 with 122 home runs and 563 RBIs in 10 years in the majors. He’s .270 as a pinch-hitter.
• Red Sox — Jeremy Giambi agreed to a one-year contract with Boston. The Red Sox obtained Giambi for minor-league pitcher Josh Hancock. Giambi, 28, earned $1,065,000 last season.

He hit .274 with eight homers and 17 RBIs for Oakland before he was traded to the Phillies on May 22 for John Mabry. He hit .244 with 12 homers and 28 RBIs for Philadelphia, and became expendable when the Phillies signed free agent Jim Thome.

Giambi can play outfield, designated hitter and first base.

• Mariners — Seattle agreed to a minor league contract with free-agent left-hander Norm Charlton.