Cards strike gold, get D-backs’ Goldschmidt
The Cardinals acquired slugging first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in a blockbuster trade with the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
Eager to push for the playoffs after a three-year absence, St. Louis sent pitcher Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly, minorleague infielder Andy Young and a 2019 draft pick to Arizona.
A six-time All-Star and threetime Gold Glove winner at 31, Goldschmidt was among the top players available in the trade market. He hit .290 with 33 home runs and 83 RBI last season.
In 43 career games against the Cubs, Goldschmidt hit .353 with 14 home runs and had a .471 on-base percentage along with a 1.170 OPS, the best against any National League opponent.
“We’ve been busy this offseason working to upgrade our lineup, and today we are excited to announce the acquisition of one of the game’s premier players,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said in a statement.
Goldschmidt has a $14.5 million salary next year, receives a $1 million assignment bonus for the trade and will be eligible for free agency after next season. The Cardinals have a history of acquiring top hitters and then signing them to long-term deals, including Mark McGwire and Matt Holliday.
St. Louis went 88-74 and believed it needed a boost in the middle of a lineup that includes Matt Carpenter, Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina to compete with the likes of the Cubs and Brewers in the NL Central. The Cardinals’ postseason drought is their longest since 1997-99.
Arizona went 82-80 in the NL West and finished behind the Dodgers and Rockies, who both made the playoffs.
The Diamondbacks, obviously in rebuilding mode, parted ways with a homegrown player who became the face of the franchise but is nearing the end of an extremely team-friendly contract.
Weaver, a 25-year-old righthander, was 7-11 with a 4.95 ERA last season. He was long rated among the top Cardinals prospects.
The 24-year-old Kelly has played for the Cardinals in parts of the last three seasons, batting .154. He’s been highly regarded for his defensive ability.
Young, 24, hit a combined .289 in Class AA and Class A.
The draft choice that Arizona got will come after the second round, likely a pick somewhere in the high 70s or low 80s.