ST. LOUIS — Left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski and the St. Louis Cardinals came to terms on a one-year contract Friday that avoided an arbitration hearing.

Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. Rzepczynski was seeking $1.3 million; the Cardinals had countered with an offer of $900,000.

Rzepczynski, nicknamed "Scrabble," was 1-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 70 games last season, with 19 holds. He had a 2.08 ERA after the All-Star break and closed the season with eight consecutive scoreless appearances.

The 27-year-old was acquired in the 2011 trade that sent center fielder Colby Rasmus to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Cardinals have one remaining arbitration-eligible player in third baseman David Freese. Both sides, however, are optimistic a deal will be reached without need of a hearing.