In a surprise move, the Atlanta Braves traded outfielder Jason Heyward and pitcher Jordan Walden to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitchers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins.
The 25-year-old Heyward was a first-round pick in 2007 and has won two Gold Glove awards. In 2014, he hit .271 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI with 20 steals.
One of the more highly touted players in recent memory, Heyward has had a tough time living up to the lofty expectations. In five seasons, Heyward has a .262 batting average with 84 home runs in 681 games. He made the All-Star team in his rookie season. He will become a free agent next offseason.
Right field became an area of need for the Cardinals after the death of Oscar Taverasin October.
In exchange, the Braves landed a talented young arm in Miller. The righty finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2013, posting a 15-9 record with a 3.06 ERA in 31 starts. The 24-year-old struggled early in 2014, but had a 2.92 ERA after the All-Star break and finished the season 10-9 with a 3.74 ERA for the NL Central champions. In the postseason, he gave up six earned runs in 9 1/3 innings. Miller is a year away from arbitration, meaning Atlanta will control him for four seasons.
Walden, 27, has been one of the most consistent relievers in baseball since his debut in 2010 and adds even more depth to the Cardinals’ bullpen. He was an All-Star in 2011 during his time with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, saving 32 games that year. He was traded to the Braves after the 2012 season. In his career, Walden has a 3.10 ERA in 231 games.
Jenkins was considered one of the Cardinals’ top prospects. The 21-year-old right-hander spent 2014 in Class A and has a 4.23 ERA across five minor league seasons.
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