photo: Chasen Shreve (Nick Turchiaro/USA TODAY Sports)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced a deal with the New York Yankees this (Saturday) evening, acquiring left-handed reliever Chasen Shreve and right-handed reliever Giovanny Gallegos from New York in exchange for Memphis (AAA) first baseman Luke Voit and International Cap space.
Shreve, 28, has appeared in 39 games for the Bronx Bombers this season, going 2-2 with a 4.14 ERA while striking out 46 in his 37.0 innings pitched. The 6-4, 195-pound Las Vegas native has appeared in 194 career games with Atlanta (2014) and the Yankees (2015-18), going 14-6 with a 3.68 ERA.
Gallegos, 26, has appeared in 20 career games (four in 2018) with Yankees. He was 2-1 with a 3.90 ERA for Scranton Wilkes-Barre (AAA) this season in 17 games, striking out 41 batters in 27.2 innings pitched. The 6-2, 210-pound Gallegos is from Obregon, Mexico. Gallegos will be assigned to Memphis’ roster.
Brian Walton’s take
It is hard to see the downside of this trade for the Cardinals, though many probably expected Jose Martinez to be traded instead of Voit.
However, the latter was blocked behind Matt Carpenter and Martinez and as a first base-only player, he is a better fit in the American League. Even at Memphis, the Cardinals have Rangel Ravelo, a very good hitter as well, backed up by primary third baseman Patrick Wisdom.
Further, the Cardinals have excess international cap money they cannot use, so why not convert some of it into useful players? In fact, this is St. Louis’ second trade away of cap money this July 2nd period. The first batch went to the Phillies for left-handed pitcher Elniery Garcia on July 5th.
As far as the Yankees’ motivation, multiple sources have written about the team’s 40-man roster crunch. By making this trade, the Bombers net down one 40-man spot (as well as adding a reported $1 million in international cap money to be used to pursue a top free agent, all of whom the Cards are prohibited from signing.)
Shreve is expected to be added to St. Louis’ roster, though who will be sent down to Memphis remains an open question. He has two arbitration years remaining prior to free agency and has exhausted all of his minor league options.
In other words, he is a comparable replacement to Tyler Lyons in multiple ways. Of course, the Cardinals are hoping Shreve is more effective than Lyons, who was designated for assignment on Friday.
Gallegos was ranked 26th among the Yankees’ top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, so could hold some promise. After having been added to the New York’s 40-man roster in November 2016, he will have one option year remaining after this season.
Giovanny Gallegos was the Yankees No. 25 ranked prospect in 2016, per BA. He will join the @memphisredbirds from the #STLCards press release. He throws his heater in 93-95 mph range coupled with a curveball that flashes plus and below-average changeup.
— Derek Shore (@D_Shore23) July 29, 2018
Both were on the Yankees’ 40-man roster so St. Louis needs to do the same with them. In the process, the Cards use one of two spots that were opened up by Friday’s mass roster changes. The Cardinals’ 40-man now sits at 39.
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