The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Twitter Monday morning that they have traded pitchers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins to the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden.
St. Louis Cardinals trade RHP Shelby Miller & RHP Tyrell Jenkins to the Braves for OF Jason Heyward & RHP Jordan Walden.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) November 17, 2014
At just 25 years old, Heyward will serve as the Cardinals’ everyday right fielder and possibly leadoff hitter in 2015. His 2014 season was a slight disappointment offensively, as Heyward hit just .271 with 11 home runs and 26 doubles, however he firmly established himself as one of baseball’s best outfielders and earned his second Gold Glove in right field. Despite the less than stellar offensive results, Heyward was still worth 5.1 wins above replacement in the 2014 season, showing the extreme value he has both in the outfield and on the basepaths (20 stolen bases in 2014). Heyward will be a free agent after the 2015 season.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Cardinals Beat Writer Derrick Goold has some words of reaction from new Cardinals outfielder Jayson Heyward in his article on the trade: “As far as being traded? No, not (a surprise) at this point. For me, if it happened, if it did have to happen, I’m honored that it’s with the St. Louis Cardinals.”
Walden, who just turned 27 on Sunday, saved 32 games for the Angels in 2011 and will provide the Cardinals with another hard-throwing reliever out of the bullpen. With a career 3.10 ERA throughout four full years in the majors and 62 strikeouts over 50 innings during the 2014 season, Walden will serve as a likely option to replace Pat Neshek as a key late inning reliever in front of closer Trevor Rosenthal. The Cardinals will have two more years of control on Walden.
Goold also has some words from GM John Mozeliak on the trade and what it provides the team in his article: “The acquisition of Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden really answers two things that we needed. One is an impact everyday player and the other one is a reliever who can pitch late in the game.”
In the trade, the Atlanta Braves are receiving 24-year-old starting pitcher Shelby Miller, who has a career 3.33 ERA for the Cardinals over the past few years. The former first round draft pick had a very up and down sophomore season, showing both flashes of brilliance and extreme control issues. The Braves are obviously hoping that this past season was just a down year for Miller, and will be counting on better success in 2015.
Miller took to Twitter to thank Cardinals fans for his time in St. Louis and expressed his excitement in joining the Braves.
Thank you to the Cardinals and their Fans for some great seasons and memories. Best of luck to the guys and the organization!
— Shelby C Miller (@ShelbyMiller19) November 17, 2014
Also very excited to be apart of the @Braves. Ready to meet my new teammates and have a successful 2015! #chop
— Shelby C Miller (@ShelbyMiller19) November 17, 2014
The loss of Jason Heyward in the Braves outfield will open up room for power-hitting catcher Evan Gattis to move to a corner outfield spot and allow prospect Christian Bethancourt to serve as the team’s starting catcher.
Read more on this blockbuster trade from STLToday.com, Cardinals.com and USA Today.
Chris Brown, St. Louis Baseball Today
Feature image used under Creative Commons from Charles Atkeison. No changes made. Creative Commons License.
