Baseball Notes: Rentería Receives Two-Year Deal From the Giants

Edgar Rentería is back in the National League, where he thinks he belongs.

Rentería became the second free agent to join the San Francisco Giants in two days, receiving a two-year, $18.5 million contract yesterday to replace 11-time Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel.

A five-time NL all-star, Rentería has spent 11 of his 13 major league seasons in the National League. He won a World Series ring with the 1997 Florida Marlins and a pennant in 2004 with St. Louis, but struggled during a pair of one-season stints in the AL, with Boston in 2005 and Detroit this year.

"I played good in the National League. I feel real comfortable," Rentería said on a conference call. "Maybe I know more of the game in the National League. It's my type of league. I like to play the game."

Rentería gets a $2 million signing bonus, $7 million next year and $9 million in 2010. The Giants have a $10.5 million option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout.

The Giants signed right-handed reliever Bobby Howry to a one-year contract Wednesday.

· CARDINALS: St. Louis addressed one of its major offseason concerns, acquiring shortstop Khalil Greene from the Padres.

The trade sent minor league pitchers Mark Worrell and a prospect to be named to San Diego.

The 29-year-old Greene hit just .213 with 10 home runs last year, and struck out 100 times in 105 games. But in 2007, he had 27 homers, 44 doubles and 97 RBI.

· RED SOX: Boston has landed another Japanese pitcher, completing its contract with right-hander Junichi Tazawa.