FanPost

Did the Cardinals Trade LHP Garcia Too Soon?

We as fans aren't working the phones with rival GMs so we can only backseat drive during this and every other hot stove season. However, that's one of the many things I enjoy about baseball. I read about the trade on ESPN.com first and got more details from MLB.com. The prospects the Cards got back, according to "sources" are Chris Ellis (RHP), John Gant (RHP), and Luke Dykstra.(INF- 2B) All three players are on the Braves 30 top prospect list on MLB.com.

What's interesting is that there are 4 outfielders on that list and the Cards got none of them. The only one worth talking about is Cristian Pache, in my opinion because he's the only one who projects as a CF. In his report he is a possible 5 tool CF who is maybe 4 years away, which isn't bad considering he's only 17. maybe Pache was no go, we'll never know but why would the Cards trade from a pitching surplus to get more pitching that isn't even left-handed? By the way the Braves have 7 left handed pitchers on that list.

So....other than the obvious salary dump reasons, why make this trade this early? The Yankees, Rangers, Mariners are looking for starting pitching have more interesting positional prospects. The Tigers' Derek Hill would have been a target as well. Based on my very very limited knowledge, this trade in a vacuum seems both too early and too weird in return. What are you guys thoughts?