Matt Holliday wanted to join his new team quickly, so he hopped on a train with his wife and two sons and got to the ballpark in plenty of time.

Holliday was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals from the Oakland Athletics yesterday for a package of prospects. The three-time All-Star outfielder gives the Cardinals a big bat for their pennant drive and provides protection in the lineup for slugger Albert Pujols.

Holliday was in New York for Oakland's series against the Yankees when he learned about the deal. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, he chose public transportation over a car ride down congested I-95.

"Getting from New York to Philly on a Friday afternoon can be tough," Holliday said. "I'm extremely excited to be back in the National League, to be back in a pennant race. This is a great team, a great organization."

Holliday made it to Citizens Bank Park early enough for manager Tony La Russa to pencil him into the lineup in left field and bat him cleanup behind Pujols for last night's game against the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies.

Holliday finished 4 for 5 in an 8-1 win over the Phillies.

His presence will make opponents think twice about pitching around Pujols, who has been intentionally walked 34 times.

"You look at the lineup card and it's exciting," said outfielder Ryan Ludwick, who moves down to the No. 5 spot from cleanup. "You take a hitter like him and it's instant offense."

The NL Central-leading Cardinals had a 1 1/2-game lead over the Chicago Cubs and Houston entering yesterday's games. They already added utilityman Mark DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians late last month and then shortstop Julio Lugo in a Wednesday swap with the Boston Red Sox.

The A's receive power-hitting third baseman Brett Wallace, a top offensive player in the St. Louis farm system. Outfielder Shane Peterson and right-hander Clayton Mortensen also will come to the Oakland organization.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Wallace, a left-handed hitter born in the Bay Area, was batting .293 with six homers, 19 RBIs and 11 doubles in 62 games for Memphis after starting the year in Double-A.

Holliday could be an expensive short-term rental for St. Louis because he can become a free agent after the season. He's earning $13.5 million in the final year of a contract he signed after helping lead the Colorado Rockies to the World Series in 2007.

Holliday, 29, struggled in his only season with the A's, batting .286 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs.

RANGERS

PITCHER PADILLA HAS SWINE FLU

Texas pitcher Vicente Padilla tested positive for swine flu, though his symptoms are subsiding and he's expected to make his next start.

Padilla was scratched from his start Wednesday against Boston due to flu-like symptoms, and lab reports yesterday indicated he had H1N1 influenza A. He is thought to be the first athlete in U.S. major pro sports to be diagnosed with swine flu.

"He was as surprised as anyone when we told him this was the case," Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said. "From everything we've been told, this is certainly a different strain of the normal flu and by nature might be deemed more serious, but you really wouldn't treat it any differently."

ELSEWHERE

Minor Leagues: The San Diego Padres' Triple-A affiliate in Portland postponed a trip to Utah because of a flu outbreak that has affected seven players. The Pacific Coast League says the Beavers asked to postpone yesterday's game at Salt Lake because of the Influenza-A virus that has sickened several members of the club. The PCL says none of the players has required hospitalization and the Beavers hoped to be able to travel in time for tonight's scheduled game at Utah.

Red Sox: Boston has designated utilityman Mark Kotsay for assignment to make room on the roster for newly acquired Adam LaRoche. The Red Sox acquired LaRoche from Pittsburgh in a trade Wednesday.