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Jason Heyward Traded To St. Louis Cardinals In Four Player Deal

By Ed Carroll

Sep 15, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (22) reacts after he flies out in the ninth inning of their game against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. The Nationals won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (22) reacts after he flies out in the ninth inning of their game against the Washington Nationals at Turner Field. The Nationals won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Braves shook up their lineup in a big way, trading outfielder Jason Heyward and right-hander Jordan Walden in exchange for starting pitcher Shelby Miller and right-hander Tyrell Jenkins.

The first major trade of the MLB offseason has hit, and it’s a doozy: the Atlanta Braves have traded outfielder Jason Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins. Jordan Walden will also go to the Cardinals in the deal, but Heyward is the clear headliner in this trade.

Heyward is in the final year of his contract before he hits free agency, Ken Rosenthal’s tweet probably sums up the line of thinking for the Braves, who had been unable to extend Heyward’s contract:

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Heyward gives the Cardinals a year to sort out their outfield, and were in need of a right fielder even before Oscar Taveras’s death, and Walden is a good reliever who can help the Cardinals bullpen immediately. The Cardinals are taking a short-term approach here, but if any team has starting pitching depth to spare, it’s St. Louis. And if you’re going to make a short-term trade, getting a stud like Heyward is the way to go; he hit 11 home runs, stole 20 bases, and was worth 5.1 Wins Above Replacement, per Fangraphs, and provides excellent outfield defense. Even if he ends up leaving St. Louis in free agency after the 2015 season, Heyward is an upgrade for the Cardinals for next season that’s worth the cost.

Miller has had mixed results in his brief Major League career, but he just turned 24 years old, and appeared to get back on the right track at the end of last season. If the Braves can keep him healthy and effective, four years of Miller could be a great return for a season of Heyward, but that’s obviously not a sure bet to happen.

Jenkins was drafted out of high school by St. Louis in 2010, and injuries have slowed his career. He needed to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason or he would have been exposed to the Rule 5 draft, so the Cardinals avoid having to make a spot for him. He could certainly flame out, but could also end up being a potential member of their rotation in a couple years.

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