The Cardinals most effective bench player in 2005 will not be back in 2006. Infielder Abraham Nunez has signed a two-year agreement with the Phillies. Nunez became the regular third baseman for St. Louis after Scott Rolen went on the injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Nunez hit appeared in 139 games last season, hitting .285, with five home runs and 44 RBI’s
Nunez, who broke into the major leagues in 1997, came to the Cardinals as a free agent last year, after spending his entire career in Pittsburgh. He became the second Cardinal bench player in as many days to sign with another club. On Monday, John Mabry agreed in principle to a one-year offer from the Cubs.