Cardinals hand Freese one-year deal after breakout year

(Reuters) - The St. Louis Cardinals avoided salary arbitration with former World Series MVP David Freese by rewarding the third baseman with a one-year contract for the 2013 season after a breakout campaign last year.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team but some media reports have said St. Louis countered Freese’s $3.75 million request with a $2.4 million offer.

After several injury-plagued seasons, Freese set career highs last year in games played (144), home runs (20) and runs batted in (79) to earn his first All-Star nod.

In the 2011, Freese earned Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors in both the World Series and National League Championship Series after a setting playoff records with 21 RBIs and 50 total bases.