Skip Schumaker and the St. Louis Cardinals have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a $4.7 million, two-year contract on Monday.

The former outfielder-turned-second baseman is set to make $2 million this season and $2.7 million in 2011 in addition to possible performance bonuses which could bring the grand total to $5 million over two seasons.

Schumaker hit .303 with four home runs and 35 RBIs over 153 games last year while making the transition from the outfield to second base. This means the annual game of musical chairs at that position is over (at least until 2012) which is a breath of fresh air considering the Cards haven’t been able to hold down a pivot guy for longer than a season since Fernando Vina stuck around from 2000-02.

In fact, Skip was the first guy to play more than 100 games at second since Mark Grudzielanek did so back in 2005.

Schumaker asked for $2.75 million for 2010 while the Cards offered $1.4 million. Since he made just $430,000 last year, I’m sure he’s not complaining too much.

Besides, they’ve already blown their payroll load on Matt Holliday with hopefully a little left over for Albert Pujols’ future jackpot.

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