NEW ORLEANS -- Needing run production and a right fielder,

the Atlanta Braves were willing to part with pitching and take a

chance on J.D. Drew.

The Braves acquired the oft-injured outfielder from the St.

Louis Cardinals along with Eli Marrero on Saturday for former

first-round draft picks Jason Marquis and Adam Wainright, and

reliever Ray King.

"Adam is our No. 1 pitching prospect and that was tough to do,

but under the circumstances we had no choice," Braves general

manager John Schuerholz said.

Drew replaces Gary Sheffield, who became a free agent and for

weeks has been close to agreement with the New York Yankees.

St. Louis took Drew with the fifth pick of the 1998 amateur

draft, but he has been plagued by injuries, never playing more than

135 games in a season. He made five trips to the DL in the last

four seasons for a total of 121 days.

Drew, 28, hit .289 last season with 15 homers and 42 RBI in

just 100 games. Atlanta's doctors spoke with the St. Louis doctors

before the deal.

"He's been a guy that has been touted with all kinds of talent

through the years," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

"Unfortunately, he's had all kinds of injuries."

"Our biggest concern is that he could have his breakout year,"

Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said. "It's something we

agonized about."

Drew is eligible for free agency after next season and is

represented by Scott Boras, whose clients almost always test the

market. But he is a Georgia native, and is likely to increase his

marketability in Atlanta.

"The fact that he's a south Georgian and still lives in Georgia

adds to the equation," Schuerholz said.

Atlanta lost Sheffield and Javy Lopez, who both filed for free

agency. Marrero, who can play outfield and catcher, batted .224

with two homers and 20 RBI in just 107 at-bats last season,

missing 101 games because of a torn ligament in his right ankle.

"He's capable of stealing 30 bases," Cox said. "I think he'll

see a lot of playing time. He's not just a throw-in, we want him."

Marquis, a 25-year-old right-hander, was Atlanta's top pick in

the 1996 amateur draft and Wainwright was the Braves' first choice

in 2000. He was 0-0 with a 5.53 ERA in two starts and 19 relief

appearances last season.

Wainwright, a 22-year-old righty, was 10-8 with a 3.37 ERA in 27

starts for Double-A Greenville last season and probably will start

next season at Triple-A.

King, a 29-year-old left-hander, was 3-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 80

relief appearances last season.

"We felt that without pitching, we weren't going to have a

chance to improve in the standings next year," Cardinals manager

Tony La Russa said.

Several teams had spoken with the Cardinals about Drew,

including the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"There were a couple deals we could have done," Jocketty said.

"We just felt this was the best overall for us."

Time Warner Inc., the Braves owner, ordered the team to cut its

payroll, which was $95 million last season. Drew is eligible for

salary arbitration and while Schuerholz is open to a multiyear

deal, he isn't counting on it.