The St. Louis Cardinals trade Shortstop Aledmys Diaz to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The St. Louis Cardinals traded Aledmys Diaz to the Toronto Blue Jays late yesterday, in a move that was bound to happen eventually.
How can a 2016 National League All-Star end up in the St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate just one season later, then traded like some cast-off?
It’s amazing how quickly things can change.
Blue Jays announce acquisition of INF Aledmys Diaz from the Cardinals. OF JB Woodman goes to St. Louis.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 2, 2017
After an unproductive start to 2017, followed by nagging injuries throughout the season, which included a thumb injury during his stay with the Memphis Redbirds, Diaz ended up finding a permanent home in Tennesee. In the Minor Leagues.
If not Aledmys Diaz, then whom?
Insert Paul DeJong, stage right. The Illinois State University product made the most out of his opportunity, “stealing” the job from Diaz in the process. His power bat and clutch hitting kept him in the lineup, with his defense impressing fans in the Arch City as well.
DeJong is a natural catcher — where he thrived in college within the Missouri Valley Conference –then found himself bouncing around the infield in the Minors and Majors, until finding his new home at the “6” spot in 2017.
That’s not to say that Paul DeJong was flawless at the Shortstop position, but he was very fluid and consistent in an unfamiliar position.
His hitting is what kept him up with the “big” Cardinals, where he finished second in the 2017 Rookie of the Year voting, behind only Cody Bellinger.
We only received a dose of Paul DeJong, who just played in 108 contests with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017.
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His stat line was most impressive — .285/.325/.532, boasting a 122 wRC+, 25 HR, 26 doubles, 55 runs and 65 RBI.
Only 23 years old at the end of the 2017 campaign, the St. Louis Cardinals need to lockup this rising MLB star.
What’s next for Aledmys Diaz?
Diaz will get a fresh start in Toronto, who are looking to get younger after a deteriorating and aging roster went up in flames, hindering their 2017 postseason aspirations.
The Toronto Blue Jays are hoping to receive the 2016 version of Diaz — .300/.369/.510, 17 home runs, 65 RBI, and 71 runs scored, in just 111 games played.
Next: Cardinals: 2017 Season Review and Offseason Preview
The St. Louis Cardinals are embracing the future and letting the past die, with Paul DeJong now the man at Shortstop for their future.
Meanwhile, Aledmys Diaz will have a brand new beginning with a rebuilding Toronto Blue Jays squad.
His time in St. Louis was shortlived, but one filled with good memories. Well, mostly.