/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57969255/667432932.jpg.0.jpg)
The St. Louis Cardinals couldn’t get the power bat they wanted from the Marlins (Giancarlo Stanton), but as a consolation prize, they agreed to a Marcell Ozuna trade on Wednesday. The four-player package of prospects headed south is centered around outfielder Magneuris Sierra and right-handed pitcher Sandy Alcantara. MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez adds that the deal is only awaiting physicals (SiriusXM’s Craig Mish was first to report an agreement).
The Miami Herald’s Clark Spencer delivered the full details:
Cardinals acquire
OF Marcell Ozuna
Marlins acquire
OF Magneuris Sierra
RHP Sandy Alcantara
RHP Zac Gallen
LHP Daniel Castano
Ozuna is coming off a career year. He batted .312/.376/.546 with 37 HR (142 wRC+) last season. Gold Glove-caliber defense in left field contributed to his 4.8 fWAR.
Although not under a hefty long-term contract, the two-time NL All-Star is due close to $11 million in arbitration, based on MLB Trade Rumors projections. He’ll remain arbitration-eligible in 2019 as well and earn another raise based on 2018 production. New ownership had no interest in paying that rate for seasons where the Marlins don’t expect to be in playoff contention.
Sierra, 21, and Alcantara, 22, were ranked sixth and ninth, respectively, in a top-heavy St. Louis farm system, per MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings. Quick analysis on the latter from the Fish On The Farm blog:
#Marlins reportedly getting @sandyalcantar15 in Ozuna deal. Tall and lanky, 94-96 mph heat (can reach 100), power curve, mix in change. A year away from the Show.
— Fish On The Farm (@marlinsminors) December 13, 2017
Sierra has a pretty special tool, too:
Don't want to get you overly excited about Magneuris Sierra, but...
— Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) December 13, 2017
These are the fastest sprinters measured by @statcast in 2017. That's Sierra, two rows above Dee Gordon. pic.twitter.com/CMvOG8wyMi
Overall, this haul impressed in terms of both quality and quantity of talent. The total value easily exceeds what they received from the Yankees in the Stanton blockbuster last week.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9865085/DQ85Hd5U8AAyBPz.jpg)
What does this mean for Christian Yelich? There are conflicting reports.
He has already expressed displeasure with the club’s “new direction” (in a creative way), and the Marlins may accommodate him, from what Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports hears:
Sources: Now that Marcell Ozuna has been dealt to St. Louis, Christian Yelich is in play. Marlins are telling teams they’ll trade him, though price will be even higher than Ozuna, with Yelich under control for up to five years at $58.25 million.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 13, 2017
Other insiders—including Heyman and SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo—later learned that the initial plan is to hold onto him as the interim face of the franchise.