The St Louis Cardinals and pitcher ...

The St Louis Cardinals and pitcher Jason Marquis agreed Tuesday forward a one-year, $5.15 million contract for 2006 avoiding arbitration for the right-hander.

Marquis, 13-14 with a 413 ERA in 2005 will achieve a $2.1 million raise beneath terms of the deal.

He was the Silver Slugger Award winner this year as the best-hitting pitcher in baseball, batting 310 (27-for-81) with the same home run and 10 RBIs last season.

He is 42-36 with a 415 ERA in five-plus years in the majors.

Marquis, 27 pitched a career-high 207 innings and matched his career high with 32 starts, throwing three total games and a shutout. He walked 69 and struck abroad 100, allowing 206 hits and 29 hearth runs.

He ended the year with a flourish, going 4-1 with a 220 ERA in his last six starts. He