Stephen Piscotty Traded To Athletics

The St. Louis Cardinals may not be finished wheeling a dealing just yet. Late Wednesday night they agreed to trade outfielder Stephen Piscotty to the Oakland Athletics. That trade became official Thursday morning. In return for Piscotty, the Athletics give the Cardinals two prospects. Those two prospects are second baseman Max Schrock, and shortstop Yairo Munoz.

Piscotty, 26, gives the Athletics a good building piece in their rebuild mode. He came up for the Cardinals in 2015 and did well, hitting 305, with 29, runs, 71 hits, 15 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 39 rbi's, 2 stolen bases, and 20 walks in 63 games. In 2016, he was able to improve numbers in his first full season. He hit .273, with 22 home runs, and 85 rbi's. The 2017 season, seems like it was a lost year for Piscotty. He had injuries, and his mom got diagnosed with ALS. Both of those seemed to affect his season. Piscotty is still a good player, he just needs a change of scenery.

Piscotty has played three seasons in the MLB. Over those three season's his career numbers are: 323 games played, 155 runs, 310 hits, 66 doubles, 8 triples, 38 home runs, 163 rbi's, 12 stolen bases, 123 walks, and a .268 batting average.

Who is Max Schrock? Who is Yairo Munoz?

Schrock, 23, was the Athletics 17th best prospect. He was drafted in the 13th round of the 2015 MLB draft by the Washington Nationals. He was later traded to the Athletics. What's best that teams like about Schrock? It's that has the potential to hit. His power isn't fully there yet, but he has done well and plays defense. Last season, he Double-A he hit .321, with 55 runs, 134 hits, 19 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs, 46 rbi's, and 4 stolen bases. Overall in three seasons, he's played 281 games, with 165 runs, 364 hits, 61 doubles, 7 triples, 18 home runs, 131 rbi's, 28 stolen bases, 78 walks, and a .324 batting average.

Munoz, 22, was signed by the Athletics as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2012. He was the Athletics 13th best prospect. Munoz is mainly a shortstop, but he can also play third base, and second base. His power makes him intriguing. Last season, with combined stats in both Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .300, with 65 runs, 134 hits, 26 doubles, 4 triples, 13 home runs, 68 rbi's, 22 stolen bases, and 21 walks. Overall in six seasons, he's played 473 games, with 228 runs, 474 hits, 95 doubles, 16 triples, 41 home runs, 228 rbi's, 58 stolen bases, 101 walks, and a .267 batting average.

If there were to be a winner in this trade it could be the Cardinals. That's because of both of the prospects names and are pretty good prospects. It's also a good trade for both teams. Why is it good for both?

Piscotty needed to be closer to home because his mom has ALS. The Athletics like that Piscotty is under team control for awhile, after the Cardinals gave him a contract extension back in April. Without that contract extension the Athletics may not have been interested in Piscotty. Hopefully the trade helps Piscotty bounce back in 2018.

Marcell Ozuna Traded To Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals went into the 2018 offseason needing a bat or two for their lineup. On Wednesday afternoon, they were able to accomplish one of those needs. The Cardinals traded for Miami Marlins All-Star outfielder Marcell Ozuna. In return the Marlins to get starting pitching prospect Sandy Alcantara, pitcher Zac Gallen, pitcher Daniel Castano, and outfielder Magneuris Sierra in return for Ozuna. Ozuna, 27, was maybe the best player available for the Cardinals besides
Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton, of course was traded to the New York Yankees.

The Marlins got a nice return for Ozuna. Sierra was the Cardinals 6th best prospect, and Alcantara was the 9th best prospect. Both spent time the Cardinals in 2017, and should be able to help the Marlins in their future. Gallen, 21, was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2016 draft. In his first full season in the minors, he spent time in Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Combined in all three levels he went 10-8 with an era of 2.93 in 26 starts, and 147.2 innings. He had 121 strikeouts, and 35 walks. He ranked as the Cardinals 13th best prospect.

Castano, 22, was also drafted in the 2016 draft. He spent the season in Single-A, going 9-3, with an era of 2.57 in 14 starts, and 91 innings. He had 81 strikeouts, and 13 walks.

As for Ozuna, who do the Cardinals get in him? They get a player who can hit, and play defense. He's able to strike fear in an opposing pitcher. That's a type of player the Cardinals needed for their lineup. He looks like he's going to get better, still being young. He's always had the potential to be a good player, and 2017 might have been the start of putting it all together. 

Ozuna, played in career high 159 games. He hit .312, 93 runs scored, 191 hits, 30 doubles, 37 home runs, 124 rbi's, and 64 walks. He went to his second All-Star game in back to back seasons. Besides that, he won his first Gold Glove award and captured his first Sliver Slugger award.

Ozuna has played five seasons in the MLB all with the Miami Marlins. His career stats are: 653 games played, 2,469 at bats, 318 runs, 683 hits, 123 doubles, 17 triples, 96 home runs, 361 rbi's, 11 stolen bases, 191 walks, and a .277 career batting average. His nickname is The Big Bear.

Fans should be excited about the Cardinals landing Ozuna. Another bat to go along with Ozuna would be a nice addition for the Cardinals to add before the offseason ends. Right now the Cardinals seem like they are wanting to compete with the Chicago Cubs. Hopefully it stays that way.

Cardinals Sign Luke Gregerson

With the baseball winter meetings starting, that's usually when teams get active in free agency and trades. The St. Louis Cardinals need to try to improve their bullpen this offseason. On Sunday, the Cardinals made a move to start improving their bullpen signing free agent reliever Luke Gregerson to a two-year contract, worth $11 million. The contract includes a vesting option for 2020, which is worth $6 million or a $1 million buyout. If fans wonder who Luke Gregerson is, he's a familiar name to Cardinals fans.

He was drafted by the Cardinals in 2006 in the 8th round of the MLB draft. Gergerson, never appeared in the MLB as a Cardinal. They traded him along with RHP Mark Worrell to the San Diego Padres for shortstop Khalil Greene. That trade didn't workout too well for the Cardinals. Greene didn't do as well as hoped. Greene battled anxiety and had to retire from playing baseball. 

Gregerson, then developed into a solid setup man for the San Diego Padres, with an era of 3.24 in 2009. He stayed with the Padres until December 2013, when he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for left fielder Seth Smith. He spent one season with the Athletics, having his best season going 5-5 with an era of 2.12. He left as a free agent after the 2014 season, signing with the Houston Astros.

In 2015, Gregerson became the Astros closer. He saved 31 games, and had an era of 3.10. He lost his closers job the next season, and went back into a setup role. In 2017, he helped the Astros win their first World Series in franchise history. He didn't do well in the regular season, with an era of 4.57 but he was lights out in the playoffs.

Gregerson, 33, has 9 years in the MLB. Over those years his career record is: 35 wins, 36 losses, 3.02 era, 623 games,  66 saves, 607 strikeouts, 170 walks. 599 innings, and a whip of 1.08.

It's a good solid free agent signing for the Cardinals. Gregerson should be a setup man for the Cardinals. Even with a bad regular season last year, he's still considered one of the most reliable setup men in the MLB.

Cardinals Sign Miles Mikolas

On Tuesday morning, the St. Louis Cardinals signed 29-year-old starting pitcher Miles Mikolas to a two-year contract, worth $15.5 million. Who is Mikolas? Fans might be wondering. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2009, in round seven of the MLB draft. In 2012, the Padres called him straight-up from Double-A. He only spent two seasons with the Padres, before being designated for assignment in November 2013. The Pittsburgh Pirates picked up Mikolas in a trade and then traded him to the Texas Rangers.

In 2014, he started 10 games for the Texas Rangers. He went 2-5 with 38 strikeouts, 18 walks, 57.1 innings, and an era of 6.44. He ended up being released by the Rangers in November 2014.

After being released by the Rangers, he found his way to Japan. The Yomiuri Giants signed him to a one-year contract, worth $700,000. He started 21 games, going 13-3 with 107 strikeouts, 23 walks, 145 innings, and an era of 1.92. He did well enough for the Giants to keep him beyond 2015. He made 14 starts in 2016, and went 4-2 with an era of 2.45. Last season in 2017, he made a career high 27 starts. He went 14-8, 187 strikeouts, 23 walks, 188 innings, and an era of 2.25.

Mikolas has three seasons in the MLB, his career stats are: 4 wins - 6 losses, 5.32 era, 37 games, 10 starts, 62 strikeouts, 34 walks, 91.1 innings, and a whip of 1.42.

In his career in Japan, his career stats are: 31 wins - 13 losses, 2.18 era, 62 starts, 378 strikeouts, 69 walks, and 424.2 innings.

It seems like pitchers who don't do that well in the MLB tend to go to Japan and figure out how to pitch. Will Mikolas become one of those? A few pitchers who went to Japan and became better were Colby Lewis, Ryan Voglesong, and Tony Barnette. Mikolas is an interesting pickup to the Cardinals. There had been a few other teams interested in Mikolas. He also knows Cardinals pitching coach Mike Maddux from their days with the Texas Rangers.

Will Mikolas start? It seems like the could be the Cardinals fifth starter. Other teams could try to bring in pitchers from Japan like Mikolas, just to get pitching.

Mikolas has an interesting nickname, which is "Lizard King".

Cardinals Acquire Juan Nicasio

On Wednesday afternoon, the St. Louis Cardinals acquired right handed reliever  Juan Nicasio from the Philadelphia Phillies for infield prospect Eliezer Alvarez. Nicasio, 31, started the 2017 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He became their setup man for their closer. In 65 games for the Pirates, he had an era of 2.85 with 2 saves in 60 innings. He struck-out 60 batters, and walked 18.

Last Thursday, the Phillies picked him up off of waivers from the Pirates. He pitched in two games for the Phillies, getting 1 win, and striking out 1 batter. He comes to the Cardinals with a record of 3-5, with 2 saves, 61 strikeouts, 18 walks, 61.1 innings, and an era of 2.79.

Nicasio is in his 7th season in the MLB. His career record is: 35 wins, 37 losses, 4.60 era,
260 games, 82 starts, 3 saves, 558 strikeouts, 230 walks, 618.2 innings, and a whip of 1.41. Other than the Pirates, and Phillies, he's playing for the Colorado Rockies, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Nicasio won't be eligible for the Cardinals playoff roster, if they make the playoffs. That's because he was picked up by them after August 31. He'll be a free agent at the end of the season. He could be back if he does well, and he should be able to help the Cardinals bullpen.

Alvarez, 22, started the season as the Cardinals 10th best prospect, currently he ranks 19th. He signed with the Cardinals as an international free agent in July 2011. Alvarez, struggled the first two seasons, but then developed into a better player. In his minor league career, he's a .285 hitter, with 330 hits, 82 doubles, 18 triples, 17 home runs, 155 rbi's, and 73 stolen bases.

The Phillies got a pretty good prospect in return for Nicasio. Are the Pirates upset at themselves for letting Nicasio go for nothing? He had been one of their best pitchers out of the bullpen, and he even served as their setup man for their closer. The Cardinals needed bullpen help to try to make a push for the playoffs. A move is better late than never even if it's late.

Colton Parayko Avoids Arbitration

The St. Louis Blues and defenseman Colton Parayko, looked like both sides were going to go to arbitration. The Blues and Parayko had been said to be far apart from agreeing to a long-term contract. That all changed on Thursday morning, with Parayko signing a five-year contract extension worth $27.5 million. That's a sweet contract for both sides. If Parayko can stay healthy, and devolping into the player he can be then it's great for both sides. Parayko could end up out perform his contact.

Parayko, 24, was drafted by the Blues in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft (86th overall). He ended up on the Blues roster in 2015-2016. In his first full NHL season, he played in 79 games, scoring 9 goals, with 24 assists. He ended up having 33 points, and finished as a plus 28. In his second season, last year he showed more promise than he did in his rookie year. He played in 81 games, scoring 4, with 31 assists, and 35 points. For the season he was a plus 7.

His game currently makes him seem like he's developed into a late bloomer. Lot's of teams passed him up in the 2012 NHL draft. For the 2012 draft, he was the the 28th defenseman picked. Why didn't other teams pick him earlier?

Parayko is known for his offensive talent at best. He's showed he's a cornerstone piece for the Blues future. The Blues had been holding off on signing other free agents, so they could get Parayko taken care of first. That was a smart move by Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. Armstrong is in a contract year, but he's had one of his best offseason's in along time. Is a lot of it from Martin Brodeur maybe waiting in the wings, or is it that both seem to work well together? Maybe it's both.

It looks like the Blues are done as far as the offseason, even though they still have a little cap space if they feel they need to keep a player like Scottie Upshall.

Blues Busy On First Day Of NHL Draft

The St. Louis Blues had a busy first day at the NHL draft on Friday night in Chicago. They drafted Robert Thomas a center in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) for the London Knights with their 1st round pick (20th overall). The Blues had another pick in the first round, at no.27. They ended up trading that pick to the Philadelphia Flyers, along with center Jori Lehtera for center Brayden Schenn. As part of the trade, the Flyers also get a conditional draft choice in 2018.

After doing that, the Blues swung another trade. This time with the Pittsburgh Penguins. They traded fan favorite Ryan Reaves and their 51st pick in the 2nd round to the Penguins for their 31st pick in the 1st round and center Oskar Sundqvist. The Blues used that pick on forward Klim Kostin.

Thomas, 17, was ranked no.22 by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau. That ranking is for North American skaters. He compares his game to forward Anze Kopitar (Los Angeles Kings) and forward Mike Fisher (Nashville Predators). Last season, he played in 66 games. He scored 16 goals, and had 50 assists. Those were good for 66 points.

Klim Kostin seems to be the most interesting player. Kostin, 18, has been compared to Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin. He would have been a top 10 pick, if he didn't have a shoulder injury. He's known for his speed, puck handling, and likes going hard to the front of the net. Kostin is 6'3, and weighs 207.

Sundqvist, 23, was a Penguins top prospect. He was drafted in the 3rd round back in 2012. People seem to like his size, and physical style. He is able to play all three forward positions.

What do the Blues get in Brayden Schenn? He's a player who the Blues need. He will go to the front of the net. While, he doesn't do much on 5 on 5; he makes up for that on the power play. Last season, he scored 25 goals (17 on the power play). The last two seasons, Schenn has scored a total of 51 goals (28 of them on the power play). He isn't scared to fight as well. He'll start out as a center, but he can also play all three forward positions.

While, fans will miss Ryan Reaves the Blues upgraded their team a lot. It was worth it. Doug Armstrong made off with highway robbery. The Penguins needed someone to protect Sidney Crosby.  Jori Lehtera was a player the Blues wanted to get rid of. He really hasn't done anything since his first NHL season. Last season, Lehtera was hurt. Was that a reason why did bad? It could be, but no one really knows.