On Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals worked on improving their roster a bit more for the 2018 season. They traded outfielder Randal Grichuk to the Toronto Blue Jays for reliever Dominic Leone and starting pitcher Conner Greene.Leone, 26, came up with the Seattle Mariners in 2014. He was a bright spot for the Mariners bullpen that season, 8-2, with an era of 2.17, 70 strikeouts, 25 walks, and 66.1 innings pitched in 57 games. The eight wins led all of MLB rookie relievers. His strikeouts were 2nd to New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances (135). His era ranked 3rd for rookie relievers.
He started 2015 season with the Mariners, but was later traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks. For whatever reason, Leone wasn't good in 2015. He had an era of 8.40, with 9 stirkeouts, and 9 walks.
In 2016, he did a little better with the Diamondbacks; but had an era of 6.33. He had 23 strikeouts, and 12 walks. The Diamondbacks designated Leone for assignment after the season.
The Blue Jays claimed Leone off of waivers in November 2016. He started the 2017 season in the minors, but later was on the Blue Jays roster for good. Leone ended up having his best season since 2014. Leone went 3-0, with an era of 2.56, 65 games, 1 save, 81 stirkeouts, 23 walks, 70.1 innings, and a whip of 1.05. His era ranked 12th among AL relievers, and 9th for innings. He was able to strand 42 of 54 inherited base runners, 78 percent. Where did that rank for AL relievers? Fourth best.
He was able to hold lefties to a 183 batting average, and righthanders to a .211 batting average.
Leone has played four seasons in the MLB, his career stats are: 11 wins, 8 losses, 3.48 era, 160 games, 1 save, 183 strikesouts, 69 walks, 178.2 innings, and a whip of 1.32.
Greene, 22, was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 7th round of the 2013 MLB draft. Last season he ranked as the Blue Jays 5th best prospect. Coming into 2018, he ranked as their 11th best prospect. Greene has five minor league seasons in his career. His career stats are: 31 wins, 31 losses, 4.04 era, 103 games, 91 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 377 strikeouts, 226 walks, and 501.1 innings pitched. Greene's best season was in 2016, when he went 10-9 with an era of 3.51, 99 strikeouts, and 146.1 innings pitched.
Grichuk, 26, fell out of favor after the Cardinals got Marcell Ozuna as the teams new leftfielder. Grichuk would have been the Cardinals fourth outfielder if they had kept him. He reached the MLB in 2014, and his first full season was in 2015. He seemed to show some promise hitting .276, with 17 home runs, and 47 rbi's. Strikeouts tend to hurt Grichuk a lot, but he can hit if he figures himself out on the Blue Jays.
Grichuk has played four seasons in the MLB, his career stats are: 404 games played, 179 runs, 321 hits, 83 doubles, 14 triples, 66 home runs, 182 rbi's, 15 stolen bases, 81 walks, and a .249 batting average.
This trade seems to be good for both teams. The Blue Jays needed another bat, and Grichuk can start. The Cardinals get bullpen help in which they needed badly. On paper it seems like the Cardinals could have a better bullpen than last season, but right now they are missing a closer.
