St. Louis Cardinals Trade Jordan Hicks to Toronto Blue Jays

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded closer Jordan Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays for starting pitcher Sem Robberse, and starting pitcher Adam Kloffenstein. Hicks, 26, is currently 1-6 with a 3.67 ERA, 40 games, 8 saves, 41.2 innings, 59 strikeouts, and 24 walks in 2023. Since being moved the closers' role, Hicks is 8/9 in save opportunities. 

Hicks had his best season in 2018. That season, Hicks was 3-4 with a 3.59 ERA, 73 games, 24 holds, 6 saves, 77.2 innings, 70 strikeouts, and 45 walks. The wins, games, holds, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Hicks. In 2019, Hicks had a career high 14 saves. Hicks also had a career best 3.14 ERA in 2019. 

Overall, Hicks is currently in his 5th MLB season. Hicks is 9-18 with a 3.98 ERA, 187 games, 44 holds, 28 saves, 219.1 innings, 233 strikeouts, 125 walks, and a whip of 1.32. 

Hicks is reunited with former Cardinals' teammate Genesis Cabrera. 

Robberse, 21, is currently 3-5 with a 4.06 ERA, 18 games, 18 starts, 88.2 innings, 86 strikeouts, and 33 walks in Double-A New Hampshire in 2023. Robberse, who is from the Netherlands, was recently in the 2023 Futures Games. In the Futures Game, Robberse pitched 0.1 innings, with 1 strikeout and allowed 2 runs. His fastball reached 95 miles per hour. Robberse was the first ever Netherlands-born player to appear in the Future Games (they bring 50-top prospects from across the minor leagues). Robberse ranked as the Blue Jays 7th best prospect. 

Robberse had his best season in 2022, combined between High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire. That season, Robberse was 4-7 with a 3.23 ERA, 22 games, 22 starts, 111.1 innings, 97 strikeouts, and 34 walks. The ERA was a career best for Robberse. The games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Robberse.

Overall, Robberse is currently in his 4th minor league season. Robberse is 14-19 with a 3.73 ERA, 66 games, 62 starts, 299 innings, 282 strikeouts, and 105 walks. 

Kloffenstein, 22, is currently 5-5 with a 3.24 ERA, 17 games, 17 starts, 1 complete game, 89 innings, 105 strikeouts, and 34 walks in Double-A New Hampshire in 2023. 

In 2021, Kloffenstein had a career high 7 wins. Kloffenstein had career highs in games (25), starts (24), innings (112), and in strikeouts (118) in 2022 combined between High-A Vancouver and Double-A New Hampshire. 

Overall, Kloffenstein is currently in his 5th minor league season. Kloffenstein is 18-23 with a 4.57 ERA, 80 games, 79 strikeouts, 1 complete game, 368.2 innings, 398 strikeouts, and 175 walks. 

Both Robberse and Kloffenstein will report to Triple-A Memphis. Robberse ranks as the Cardinals 6th best prospect and Kloffenstein ranks as their 23rd best prospect. 

The Cardinals got a good trade for Hicks, who could become a free agent at the end of the season. If Hicks wants to return as a free agent, he can. It's better to get something for your free agents rather than risk losing them for nothing. In some cases, you could make an argument that the Cardinals should have received more for Hicks, with Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano being injured. 

It will also be interesting to see how Hicks does with Pete Walker as his pitching coach. Walker is considered to be one of the best pitching coaches in the MLB. 

St. Louis Blues Re-Sign Alexey Toropchenko

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed right wing Alexy Toropchenko to a two-year contract extension, worth $2.5 million. Toropchenko, 24, played 69 games with 10 goals, 9 assists, 19 points, and a plus 6 in 2022-2023. Toropchenko also had 46 blocked shots and 122 hits. The games, goals, assists, points, plus mark, blocked shots, and hits were all career high for Toropchenko. 

Overall, Toropchenko has played 2 seasons in the NHL. Toropchenko has played 97 games with 12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points, and a -3. In the playoffs, Toropchenko has played 12 games with 2 assists, 2 points, and a plus 2.
 

The Blues did a good job getting Toropchenko re-signed. He's proven to be a good 4th line player for the Blues. 

It's Sunny in St. Louis; Sundqvist Returns to Blues

 

The St. Louis Blues have signed free agent center Oskar Sundqvist to a one-year contract, worth $755,000. Sundqvist, 29, played 67 games with 10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points, and a -4 combined between the Detroit Red Wings and Minnestoa Wild. The assists for Sundqvist were a career high. 

Sundqvist returns to the Blues; the team that he had his best success with from (2017-2022). Sundqvist had his best season in 2018-2019. That season, Sundqvist played 74 games with 14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points, and a -1. The games, goals, and points were all career highs for Sundqvist. Sundqvist also had career highs in both hits (101) and in blocked shots (31). Sundqvist helped the Blues win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and his 2nd of his career. Sundqvist won his first Stanley Cup in 2015-2016, with the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Overall, as a member of the Blues, Sundqvist played 242 games with 35 goals, 48 assists, 83 points, and a -3. 

Overall, Sundqvist has played 8 seasons in the NHL. Sundqvist has played 355 games with 50 goals, 73 assists, 123 points, and a -10. In the playoffs, Sundqvist has played 37 games with 5 goals, 5 assists, 11 points, and a plus 3. 

Sundqvist should be a great addition for the Blues roster. He's a great 4th line player, who at times can see the 3rd line. He also brings lots of energy to the team and is good on the penalty kill. As to the 4th line, it will be Sammy Blais, Sundqvist, and Alexey Toropchenko. It's a win-win for both the Blues and Sundqvist. 

Will the Blues make any other moves this offseason? Do you think they look better so far with Keven Hayes and Sundqvist? I think they do look better. I think they'll trade a defenseman to try to improve their cap situation at some points. 

St. Louis Blues Acquire Kevin Hayes

 

The St. Louis Blues have traded a 6-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Kevin Hayes. The Flyers will pay 50 percent of Hayes' contract for the next 3 seasons. Hayes, 31, played 81 games with 18 goals, 36 assists, 54 points, and a -22 in 2022-2023. The games were a career high for Hayes. The assists tied a career high from 2018-2019 for Hayes. Hayes also was an All-Star for the 1st time in his career. 

Hayes had a career high 25 goals in 2017-2018, with the New York Rangers. In 2018-2019, combined between the Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, Hayes had a career high 55 points. 

Overall, Hayes has played 9 seasons in the NHL. Hayes has played 634 games with 155 goals, 231 assists, 386 points, and a -22. In the playoffs, Hayes has played 56 games with 8 goals, 18 assists, 26 points, and a plus 5. 

Hayes should be a good addition for the Blues roster. It will be interesting to see what else Blues general manager Doug Armstrong does to improve the Blues and get them back on track this offseason. 

St. Louis Cardinals Re-Sign Miles Mikolas to Two-year Contract Extension

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed starting pitcher Miles Mikolas to a two-year contract extension, worth $40 million. Mikolas, 34, was 12-13 with a 3.29 ERA, 33 games, 32 starts, 1 complete game, 202.1 innings, 153 strikeouts, and 39 walks. The games, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Mikolas. Mikolas also had 22 quality starts, which were another career high. 

Mikolas had his best season in 2018. That season, Mikolas was 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 200.2 innings, 146 strikeouts, and 29 walks. The wins, starts, complete game, and shutout were all career highs for Mikolas. The ERA was a career best for Mikolas. 

Mikolas has been an All-Star 2 times: (2018, and 2019). 

The Cardinals have also announced that Mikolas will be the Opening Day starting pitcher on March 30, 2023, against the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Overall, Mikolas has played 7 seasons in the MLB. Mikolas is 45-40 with a 3.70 ERA, 143 games, 115 starts, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 1 hold, 723 innings, 536 strikeouts, 145 walks, and a whip of 1.15.

On paper it's a great win for both sides. Mikolas has wanted to stay with the Cardinals beyond 2023 and has proven he's a reliable starting pitcher. Charlie Morton and Chris Bassitt both have signed similar contracts to Mikolas. There's a good chance that Mikolas would have made more money in free agency. 

The Cardinals now have two starting pitchers signed beyond 2023, Mikolas and Steven Matz (both expire after 2025). 

St. Louis Cardinals 2023 Season Preview

 

Offseason additions: SP Adam Wainwright (re-signed), C Willson Contreras, C Tres Barrera, RHP Wilking Rodriguez, RHP Guillermo Zuniga, LHP Anthony Misiewicz, LHP Andrew Suarez, infielder, Jose Fermin, infielder Taylor Motter, infielder, Juniel Querecuto, and OF Oscar Mercado.

Offseason subtractions: 1B Albert Pujols (retired), C Yadier Molina (retired), SP Jose Quintana, OF Corey Dickerson, and OF Ben DeLuzio. 

Point team prediction: 88-91 wins (NL Central Champions, lose in NLCS). Oliver Marmol will be heading into his second season as the Cardinals manager. Marmol had a good season in his first year as the Cardinals manager, leading them to 93-69 record and winning the NL Central for their first time since 2019. The Cardinals didn't fair too well in the Wild Card round, being swept in 2 games by the Philadelphia Phillies. Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols both retired after the season. The Cardinals will look different without Molina behind the plate for the first time since 2004. To replace Molina, the Cardinals signed Willson Contreras from the Chicago Cubs. 

Lineup: 

RF: Lars Nootbaar

LF: Jordan Walker

1B: Paul Goldschmidt 

3B: Nolan Arenado

C: Willson Contreras 

CF: Tyler O'Neill

DH: Juan Yepez/Nolan Gorman (depending on the pitcher)

2B: Brendan Donovan 

SS: Tommy Edman

Bench: 

Tres Barrera (he seems to have impressed the Marmol)

Taylor Motter (until Maysn Winn is ready, I think Paul DeJong will be traded or cut loose if he doesn't start hitting).

Dylan Carlson

Starting rotation:

Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Jordan Montgomery, Adam Wainwright

Bullpen:

Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos, Jordan Hicks, Wilking Rodriguez, Genesis Cabrera, Drew VerHagen, Jake Woodford, and Andre Pallante. 

Fantasy Stud: Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado 

Prospects to watch: Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn

St. Louis Blues Acquire Jakub Vrana

The St. Louis Blues have traded minor-league forward Dylan McLaughlin, and a 7th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Detroit Red Wings for left wing Jakub Vrana. The Red Wings will pay 50% of Vrana's salary. 

Vrana, 27, currently has played 5 games with 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, and a plus 1 in 2022-2023. Vrana missed a lot of this season due to being in the players assistance program. 

Vrana had his best season in 2019-2020, with the Washington Capitals. That season, Vrana played 69 games with 25 goals, 27 assists, 52 points, and a plus 3. The goals, assists, and points were all career highs for Vrana. In 2017-2018, Vrana helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup. 

Overall, Vrana is currently in his 7th NHL season. Vrana has played 326 games with 98 goals, 91 assists, 189 points, and a plus 30. In the playoffs, Vrana has played 38 games with 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, and a -3. 

Vrana gets a good change of scenery with the Blues to get his career back on track, after falling out of favor with the Red Wings. Vrana can be a good player if healthy. The trade should be great for both sides.