Jaime Garcia Dealt To Braves

When the St. Louis Cardinals picked up starting pitcher Jaime Garcia's $12 million option for 2017, there were rumors that he was going to be traded. On Thursday evening, those became realistic when the Cardinals traded Jaime Garcia to the Atlanta Braves for prospects RHP Chris Ellis, RHP John Gant, and 2B Luke Dykstra.

Garcia spent eight seasons with the Cardinals. In lots of ways, Garcia could have maybe been better, but he was hurt a lot. Garcia can be really good, when he's healthy. His best season came in 2011, when he went 13-7, with an era of 3.56, and 194.2 innings. In 2016, Garcia went 10-13, with an era of 4.67, with 171.2 innings.

Over his career, Garcia's record is: 62-45, 3.57 era, 158 games, 147 starts, 4 complete games, 4 shutouts, 723 strikeouts, 261 walks, 896 innings, and a whip of 1.28.

What do the Cardinals get in Ellis, Gants, and Dykstra? It seems like depth for now. Chris Ellis was rated as the Braves 17th best prospect, and John Gant was 21st. Luke Dykstra is a player who hits for average, but doesn't have much power. Dykstra seems to be a future utility player. He's the son of former MLB player Lenny Dykstra.

John Gant was in the MLB last season, and went 1-4, with an era of 4.86, and 50 innings. Gant made 7 starts for the Braves.

Chris Ellis has yet to see the MLB, but he showed some flashes when he was in Mississippi for the Braves Double-A team. Ellis struggled when he reached Triple-A.