Heyward/Walden to Cardinals; Shelby Miller/Tyrell Jenkins to Braves

[brewmann04]

Cards I think improved but we'll see down the road

[StearnsFTW]

Good deal for st louis. Neither player they gave up will be missed.

[homer]

Heyward has had one good half of a season in his career. Of course the change of scenery and the fact that he's now a Cardinal means he'll probably win the triple crown next year but I like this deal for ATL on paper.

[Fear The Chorizo]

I think the Cards have started going down the road of thinning out their strength of young pitching talent pretty quickly. Going into the 2014 season, the trio of Joe Kelly, Michael Wacha, and Shelby Miller were all viewed as quality young arms that would anchor a deep and talented pitching staff for years to come at team-friendly costs. Kelly's gone from the Lackey deal, Wacha had a disappointing 2014 due to an injury that has to be alarming for the organization moving forward, and while Miller hasn't fulfilled his potential at the big league level you can't argue the stuff isn't there.

 

No way this trade happens if Taveras, who the Cards planned to have play corner OF for them for the next decade or so, didn't kill himself and his gf in that drunken car wreck. The Cards still have a deep farm system, but overall their organization has gotten older, less talented, more expensive, and more injury prone since last season's trade deadline.

[brewcrewdue80]

Lynn imo trumped Kelly's and Miller's value. They have Wacha/Wainwright with Carlos Martinez+Marco Gonzales...and not to forget reading they are in the running for Lester. A AAA starter in Tim Cooney who reads like Gonzales. Yes not #2 upsides like Miller but more than likely Inning eating #3s/4s as Miller had been performing to.

StL. has chunks of money tied in to basically 4/5 players over the next 4/5seasons. They still have many young team controlled prospects advancing and imo room to easily fill 2 more roster spots at 25mil total in FA money per year. They nabbed Heyward+Walden certainly a better combo of pros for Miller+prospect. I really feel the focus is being put too much on Heyward for Miller and ignoring just how great 2years of Walden is going to be for StL. Walden takes on the 8th or even 9th inning role and moves Martinez from it to the Starting rotation without concern of losing something with that 8th inning RP. Walden career numbers: 211ip 169hits 13HRs 254Ks 3.10ERA and a Fip of 2.8. 27years old 5years his Fip has ranged from 2.30-3.02. This isnt your typical year to year results RP. He's been money since the beginning.

Again reminder that Carlos Martinez pitched in 2012 to a 2.9ERA in 14starts at AA and a 2.51ERA in 13 AAA starts in 2013.

They aren't going to miss Shelby Miller vs. Heyward's fielding+batter potential+QO offer draft pick compensation forthcoming. (Jenkins replacement)

StL is a better team with this deal and they haven't lost anything in making it.