Cards trade Piscotty to A’s for prospects

Outfielder will be near family home with ailing mother.

Stephen Piscotty was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Oakland Athletics for two infield prospects, allowing the outfielder to be near his family’s home in Pleasanton, California, following his mother’s diagnosis with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Gretchen Piscotty was diagnosed in May with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that attacks nerve cells. Her son left the Cardinals for five days after the diagnosis and returned May 31.

“You are never making a player trade simply for geographic or sentimental reasons,” John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations for the Cardinals, said in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on the winter meetings’ last day. “There were certainly some opportunities to move him elsewhere. When you are looking at how to break a tie, clearly that did play into it.”

St. Louis got Yairo Munoz and Max Schrock in the deal announced Thursday.

Piscotty, 26, hit .235 with nine homers and 39 RBIs in 107 games last season, spending stretches on the disabled list. Piscotty agreed in May to a $33.5 million, six-year contract.

Cubs: Side-arming reliever Steve Cishek reportedly agreed to a two-year deal. Cishek had a 2.01 ERA and a 3-2 record in 49 relief appearances this year for Seattle and Tampa Bay, which acquired him on July 28. He would join a rebuilt Cubs bullpen that includes right-hander Brandon Morrow, who finalized a $21 million, two-year contract Tuesday.

Cardinals: Reliever Luke Gregerson finalized an $11 million, two-year contract. Gregerson will have salaries of $5 million in each of the next two seasons, and St. Louis has a $5 million option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout. The option year would become guaranteed at $6 million if Gregerson pitches in 60 games in 2019 or 130 games in 201819 combined. He can earn an additional $1 million annually in bonuses. Gregerson was 2-3 with a 4.57 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 61 innings this year for Houston.

Astros: Right-hander Joe Smith agreed to a $15 million, two-year deal. He was 3-0 with one save and 71 strikeouts over 54 innings in 59 relief appearances this year for Toronto and Cleveland.

Twins: Reliever Fernando Rodney reportedly agreed to a $4.5 million, one-year contract. Rodney turns 41 on March 18 and will be in his 16th major league season. The right-hander had 39 saves in 45 chances this year for Arizona.

Angels: A need was filled at second base as Ian Kinsler was acquired from Detroit for two minor leaguers: 18-yearold right-hander Wilkel Hernandez and outfielder Troy Montgomery. Kinsler hit .236 with 22 home runs in 2017.

Rays: Relief pitcher Jonny Venters was invited to spring training as he tries to come back from his third Tommy John surgery. The 32-yearold lefty hasn’t pitched in the majors since a 2012 playoff game for Atlanta.

Marlins: The deal sending left fielder Marcell Ozuna to St. Louis was completed, with Miami picking up four prospects.

Stephen Piscotty’s mother has Lou Gehrig’s disease.