Cardinals land Heyward, in blockbuster move

After the death of future star Oscar Taveras, the Cardinals were in search of a new need for their 2015 team. A starting right-fielder, which last season combined the Cardinals at that position hit .237.  They found one on Monday when they traded starting pitcher Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins to the Atlanta Braves for right-fielder Jason Heyward and relief pitcher Jordan Walden. Heyward is the best right-fielder not named Giancarlo Stanton.

The Braves brought him up when he was 20-years-old, back in 2010. That season he ended up an All-Star in his first MLB season, and hit 18 home runs with 72 rbi's. After 2010, he pretty much has battled injuries. In 2012, he re-found his power though and hit 28 home runs with 82 rbi's. Last season, he seemed to show some flashes of being healthy again playing in 149 games (his most since 2012, when he play 158). His power may not have been there much last season, but he did show signs of speed stealing twenty bases, and hitting again .271. He hit only 11 home runs, which was a career low. He ended up getting 155 hits, his second most in his career.

Heyward right now is 25-years-old and will be a free agent after the 2015 season. Is Heyward starting to re-find his power slowly? I think time will tell, the Braves weren't going to be able to re-sign him. He's won two Gold Glove awards 2012, and 2014. He still is capable of power, and is still young. With Heyward in place the Cardinals should have one of the best defensive outfields again in the MLB.

His career stats in five seasons are: 681 games played, .262 batting average, 367 runs, 644 hits, 84 home runs, 292 rbi's, and 63 stolen bases.

What does Walden add? He looks like he will replace current free agent Pat Neshek. Walden has two more years of team control, and is 27-years-old. He's a former closer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, back in 2011, when he saved 32 games. He was an All-Star that season. He's been known to be a shutdown guy in late innings. Last season, he had an era of 2.88, with 3 saves and 20 holds.

His career stats in five seasons are: 231 games, 12 wins, 13 losses, 211.2 innings pitched, 38 saves, 254 strikeouts, 3.10 era, and a whip of 1.23.

To me it looks like a good move for both teams. The Braves needed pitching, and the Cardinals needed a starting right-fielder. Will there be a winner in this trade? To me time will tell, if Heyward isn't kept then the Braves are clear winners. I think the Cardinals wouldn't trade for Heyward if they didn't think that they could re-sign him beyond 2015.  And in Walden the Cardinals have someone who can close, if closer Trevor Rosenthal needs a day off.