The St. Louis Cardinals finalized a two-year, $14-million free agent deal with shortstop Rafael Furcal, a trade deadline pickup who helped them in their run to the World Series title. The deal was completed Wednesday, after the 34-year old Furcal passed a physcial. He gets salaries of $6-million next year, and $7-million in 2013, along with a $1-million signing bonus.

Furcal batted .255 with St. Louis, solidifying the defense along with the leadoff slot. He turned 36 double plays, the most among NL shortstops, in the final two months. The Cardinals moved to retain Furcal, after slugger Albert Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels, freeing-up payroll. They had been considering giving prospect Tyler Greene a shot at regular duty.