Sunday, July 30, 2023

St. Louis Cardinals Trade Jordan Montgomery to Texas Rangers

 


















The St. Louis Cardinals have traded starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery, right-handed reliever Chris Stratton, and international bonus pool money to the Texas Rangers for left-handed reliever John King, starting pitcher Tekoah Roby, and infielder Thomas Saggese. Montgomery, 30, is currently 6-9 with a 3.42 ERA, 21 games, 21 starts, 121 innings, 108 strikeouts, and 35 walks in 2023. Montgomery also had 12 quality starts; last season he had a career high 14 quality starts. 

Montgomery had his best season in 2022, combined between the New York Yankees and Cardinals. That season, Montgomery was 9-6 with a 3.48 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 178.1 innings, 158 strikeouts, and 36 walks. The wins, games, starts, complete game, shutout, and innings were all career highs for Montgomery. In 2021, Montgomery had a career high 162 strikeouts. 

Overall, Montgomery is currently in his 7th MLB season. Montgomery is 34-32 with a 3.77 ERA, 130 games, 129 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 687.1 innings, 647 strikeouts, 194 walks, and a whip of 1.22. 

Stratton, 32, is currently 1-1 with a 4.36 ERA, 4 holds, 42 games, 1 save, 53.2 innings, 59 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 2023. 

Statton had his best season in 2018, with the San Francisco Giants. That season, Stratton was 10-10 with a 5.09 ERA, 28 games, 26 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 145 innings, 112 strikeouts, and 54 walks. The wins, starts, complete game, shutout, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Stratton. In 2021, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stratton had career highs in both games (68) and in saves (8). Stratton had a career high in holds (8) in 2022. 

Overall, Stratton is currently in his 8th MLB season. Stratton is 36-24 with a 4.50 ERA, 280 games, 42 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 25 holds, 12 saves, 516 innings, 482 strikeouts, 208 walks, and a whip of 1.43. 

King, 28, is currently 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA, 15 games, 2 holds, 18.2 innings, 10 strikeouts, and 4 walks in 2023. In Triple-A Round Rock, King is currently 2-2 with a 3.32 ERA, 12 games, 3 starts, 1 save, 21.2 innings, 13 strikeouts, and 6 walks. 

King had his best season in 2021. That season, King was 7-5 with a 3.52 ERA, 27 games, 46 innings, 40 strikeouts, and 12 walks. The ERA was a career best for King. The wins and strikeouts were both career highs for King. In 2022, King had career highs in games (39), holds (8), and in innings (51.1). 

Overall, King is currently in his 4th MLB season. King is 10-10 with a 4.27 ERA, 87 games, 14 holds, 126.1 innings, 89 strikeouts, 34 walks, and a whip of 1.39. 

Roby, 21, is currently 2-3 with a 5.05 ERA, 10 games, 10 starts, 46.1 innings, 50 strikeouts, and 12 walks in Double-A Frisco in 2023. 

Roby had his best season in 2022, in High-A Hickory. That season, Roby was 3-11 with a 4.64 ERA, 22 games, 21 starts, 104.2 innings, 126 strikeouts, and 35 walks. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Roby. 

Overall, Roby is currently in his 3rd minor league season. Roby is 7-16 with a 4.47 ERA, 38 games, 37 starts, 173 innings, 211 strikeouts, and 54 walks. 

Roby ranked as the Rangers 11th best prospect. 

Saggese, 21, is currently hitting .314 with 67 runs, 115 hits, 22 doubles, 3 triples, 15 home runs, 78 RBI's, 8 stolen bases, and 34 walks in Double-A Frisco in 2023. The batting average, runs, and RBI's are all career highs for Saggese. 

In 2021, Saggese had a career high 32 walks. Saggese had career highs in hits (125), doubles (25), triples (4), home runs (15), and in stolen bases (12) combined between High-A Hickory and Double-A Frisco in 2022. 

Overall, Saggese is currently in his 3rd minor league season. Saggese has played 268 games with 172 runs, 302 hits, 61 doubles, 10 triples, 40 home runs, 185 RBI's, 31 stolen bases, 106 walks, and a .299 batting average. 

Saggese ranked as the Rangers 14th best prospect. 

The Cardinals got a pretty good trade for Montgomery. Roby now ranks as the Cardinals 4th best prospect, and Saggese ranks as their 8th best prospect. 

It's better to get something in return for Montgomery, rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency. There's always a chance too, that Montgomery could return to the Cardinals as a free agent. The Cardinals on paper though look better for the future. 

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