St. Louis Cardinals Acquire Jordan Montgomery for Harrison Bader

 

 

 

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded CF Harrison Bader, and a player to be named later or cash considerations to the New York Yankees for starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery, 29, is currently 3-3 with a 3.69 ERA, 21 games, 21 starts, 114.2 innings, 97 strikeouts, and 23 walks in 2022. 

Montgomery had career highs in games (30), starts (30), innings (157.1), and in strikeouts (162) in 2021. In 2017, Montgomery had a career high 9 wins. 

Overall, Montgomery is currently in his 6th season in the MLB. Montgomery is 22-20 with a 3.94 ERA, 98 games, 97 starts, 502.2 innings, 478 strikeouts, 146 walks, and a whip of 1.23. 

Bader, 28, is currently hitting .256 with 35 runs, 63 hits, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 21 RBI's. 15 stolen bases, and 13 walks in 2022. The stolen bases are a career high for Bader.

Bader had his best season in 2021. Bader won a Gold Glove Award for the first time in his career and hit .267 with 45 runs, 98 hits, 21 doubles, 1 triple, 16 home runs, 50 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, and 27 walks. The batting average, doubles, home runs, and RBI's were all career highs for Bader. 

In 2018, Bader had career highs in both runs (61) and in hits (100). Bader had a career high 46 walks in 2019.

Overall, Bader is currently in his 6th season in the MLB. Bader has played 523 games with 226 runs, 376 hits, 72 doubles, 11 triples, 52 home runs, 168 RBI's, 55 stolen bases, 135 walks, and a .246 batting average. 

The trade should help both teams. The Cardinals needed another starting pitcher and Montgomery is pretty good. The Yankees also needed an outfielder. Bader even grew up a Yankees fan too. Bader is reunited with former Cardinals teammate Matt Carpenter. Montgomery is reunited the Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos. Both Montgomery and Gallegos were teammates for two seasons (2017, and 2018) with the Yankees.  

The Cardinals will probably move Dakota Hudson or Andre Pallante to the bullpen.

St. Lous Cardinals Acquire Jose Quintana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded RP Johan Ovideo, and 3B Malcom Nunez to the Pittsburgh Pirates for starting pitcher Jose Quintana, and RP Chris Stratton.  Quintana, 33, is currently 3-5 with a 3.50 ERA, 20 games, 20 starts, 103 innings, 89 strikeouts, and 31 walks in 2022. 

Quintana had his best season in 2016, with the Chicago White Sox. That season, Quintana made the All-Star team for the first time in his career. Quintana was 13-12 with a 3.20 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 208 innings, 181 strikeouts, and 50 walks. The wins and innings were both career highs for Quintana. In 2017, Quintana had a career high 207 strikeouts.

Overall, Quintana is currently in his 11th season in the MLB. Quintana is 86-85 with a 3.81 ERA, 303 games, 277 starts, 2 complete games, 2 shutouts, 6 holds, 1,661 innings, 1,484 strikeouts, 488 walks, and a whip of 1.28. 

Stratton, 31, is currently 5-4 with a 5.09 ERA, 40 games, 1 start, 8 holds, 2 saves, 40.2 innings, 37 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 2022. The holds are a career high for Stratton.

Stratton had career highs in wins (10), starts (26), innings (145), and in strikeouts (112) in 2018, with the San Francisco Giants. In 2021, Stratton had a career high 8 saves. 

Overall, Stratton is currently in his 7th season in the MLB. Stratton is 30-23 with a 4.61 ERA, 218 games, 45 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 20 holds, 11 saves, 400 strikeouts, 179 walks, and a whip of 1.46.

Ovideo, 24, is currently 2-1 with a 3.20 ERA, 14 games, 1 start, 25.1 innings, 26 strikeouts, and 7 walks in 2022. The wins are a career high for Ovideo.

In 2021, Ovideo had career highs in starts (13), innings (62.1), and in strikeouts (51).

Overall, Ovideo is currently in his 3rd season in the MLB. Ovideo is 2-9 with a 4.65 ERA, 33 games, 19 starts, 112.1 innings, 93 strikeouts, 54 walks, and a whip of 1.47. 

Nunez, 21, is currently hitting .255 with 51 runs, 76 hits, 11 doubles, 17 home runs, 66 RBI's, 4 stolen bases, and 48 walks in Double-A Springfield in 2022. Nunez ranked as the Cardinals 10th best prospect. 

Overall, Nunez is currently in his 4th minor league season. Nunez has played 276 games with 160 runs, 281 hits, 54 doubles, 4 triples, 41 home runs, 182 RBI's, 17 stolen bases, 124 walks, and a .280 batting average.

Quintana might not be a top starter like a once was, but he can be a reliable starter and give the Cardinals a chance to win. The Cardinals also don't really give up lots of the farm system. Which is a good thing. Quintana is also reunited with 1B/DH Albert Pujols. Quintana and Pujols were both teammates in 2021, with the Los Angeles Angels. Stratton is also a former teammate of Pujols but with the Angels in 2019.

St. Louis Blues Sign Noel Acciari

 

The St. Louis Blues have signed center Noel Acciari to a one-year contract, worth $1.25 million. Acciari, 30, played 20 games with 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, and a plus 2 with the Florida Panthers in 2021-2022. 

In 2018-2019, with the Boston Bruins, Acciari had career highs in both games (72) and in assists (8).

Acciari had is best season in 2019-2020, with the Panthers. That season, Acciari played 66 games with 20 goals, 7 assists, 27 points, and a plus 2. The goals and points were both career highs for Acciari.

Overall, Acciari has played 7 seasons in the NHL. Acciari has played 307 games with 45 goals, 32 assists, 77 points, and a -6. In the playoffs, Acciari has played 54 games with 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points, and a -5. 

Acciari is a good offensive center, who doesn't tend to take penalties. Acciari is reunited with defenseman Torey Krug. Both Acciari and Krug were teammates with the Bruins. 

St. Louis Blues Sign Thomas Greiss

 

The St. Louis Blues have signed goalie Thomas Greiss to a one-year contract worth, $1.25 million with bonuses. Greiss, 36, played 31 games, with 28 starts and had a record of 10-15-1, a .891 save percentage, and a 3.66 goals-against average with the Detroit Red Wings in 2021-2022.

Greiss had his best season in 2016-2017, with the New York Islanders. That season, Greiss played 51 games, with 49 starts and had a record of 26-18-5 with 3 shutouts, a .913 save percentage, and a 2.69 goals-against average. The games, starts, and wins were all career highs for Greiss. 

In 2018-2019, Greiss had a career best .927 save percentage and won the Williams M. Jennings Trophy. Greiss also had a career high 5 shutouts that season. 

Overall, Greiss has played 13 seasons in the NHL. Greiss has played 347 games, with 305 starts and has a record of 155-120-37 with 15 shutouts, a .912 save percentage, and a 2.72 goals-against average. In the playoffs, Greiss has played 17 games, with 14 starts and has a record of 7-8 with 1 shutout, a .922 save percentage, and a 2.43 goals-against average.

Greiss is a solid backup goalie, and is capable of starting if needed. He should be able to help the Blues and help push Jordan Binnington into being better. Greiss is also reunited with defenseman Nick Leddy. Both Greiss and Leddy were teammates with the Islanders and Red Wings, 

St. Louis Blues Sign Robert Thomas to Contract Extension

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed center Robert Thomas an a eight-year contract extension, worth $65 million. Thomas, 23, played 72 games with 20 goals, 57 assists, 77 points, and a plus 17. The games, goals, assists, points, and plus mark were all career highs for Thomas. 

Thomas helped the Blues win their 1st Stanley Cup in 2018-2019. 

Overall, Thomas has played 4 seasons in the NHL. Thomas has played 241 games with 42 goals, 122 assists, 164 points, and a plus 25. In the playoffs, Thomas has played 45 games with 4 goals, 14 assists, 18 points, and a -9.

The Blues did a great job to lockup Thomas long-term, he should only get better in the future. 

St. Louis Blues Re-Sign Nick Leddy

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed defenseman Nick Leddy to a four-year contract extension, worth $16 million. Leddy, 31, played 75 games with 3 goals, 21 assists, 24 points, and a -30 combined between the Detroit Red Wings and Blues in 2021-2022.

Leddy had his best season in 2016-2017, with the New York Islanders. That season, Leddy played 81games with 11 goals, 35 assists, 46 points, and a -3. The games and assists both tied career highs from 2015-2016. The goals and points were both career highs for Leddy. 

In 2012-2013, Leddy helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup.

Overall, Leddy has played 12 seasons in the NHL. Leddy has played 851 games with 68 goals, 292 assists, 360 points, and a -60. In the playoffs, Leddy has played 130 games with 8 goals, 30 assists, 38 points, and plus 2.

The Blues did a good job to keep Leddy around. Leddy ended up helping the Blues nicely after they acquired him in a trade from the Red Wings on March 21, 2022. 

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Harrison Bader to Contract Extension

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed center fielder Harrison Bader to a two-year contract extension, worth $10.4 million. The contract covers Bader's find two years of arbitration. Bader, 27, hit .267 with 45 runs, 98 hits, 21 doubles, 1 triple, 16 home runs, 50 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, and 27 walks in 2021. The batting average, doubles, home runs, and RBI's were all career highs for Bader. Bader also had a career high in OPS (On-Base + Slugging Percentages) with .785. Bader ended up winning his 1st Gold Glove Award. 

Bader had career highs in runs (61), hits (100), and stolen bases (15) in 2018. In 2019, Bader had career highs in both triples (3) and in walks (46).

Overall, Bader has played 5 seasons in the MLB. Bader has played 451 games with 191 runs, 313 hits, 65 doubles, 8 triples, 47 home runs, 147 RBI's, 40 stolen bases, 122 walks, and a .244 batting average. 

If Bader can stay improving on offense, the contract should end up being good for both sides. Bader has already proven he's great at defense. 

Hopefully Cardinals' left fielder Tyler O'Neill is next in line for a contract extension.