Prospects in the Cardinals/White Sox/Blue Jays Trade
The St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays had a big three-way transaction Wednesday, resulting in 11 players switching hands. The Cardinals acquired pitchers Edwin Jackson, Octavio Dotel, and Mark Rzepczynski, plus outfielder Corey Patterson. The Blue Jays ended up with outfielder Colby Rasmus, pitchers P.J. Walters, Trever Miller, and Brian Tallet, and third baseman Mark Teahen. The White Sox ended up with pitchers Zach Stewart and Jason Frasor. The only rookies involved are Stewart and Walters, so here is some background on them.
Zach Stewart, RHP: Stewart was drafted by the Reds in the third round in 2008, then traded to the Blue Jays in 2009. He has a 4.86 ERA with a 10/5 K/BB in 17 innings for the Jays this year, allowing 26 hits, but has spent most of the year in Double-A where he had a 4.20 ERA with a 74/27 K/BB in 94 innings for New Hampshire, 106 hits. He uses a 90 MPH sinker, a slider, an improved change, and an occasional curve. You can find a full report on him here. I make him as a Grade B/B- type right now, with his stock having slipped some over the last year. He could make a good inning-eater with a decent defense behind him, or he could dominate more readily if used in the pen.
P.J. Walters, RHP: Walters was drafted by the Cardinals in the 11th round in 2006, from the University of South Alabama. He's spent the last three years bouncing between Triple-A and the majors, but he still has just 49 major league innings to his credit, one under the limit to count as a prospect in my book. He's got a 6.77 ERA with a 39/20 K/BB in those innings, with 53 hits allowed. He's been more effective in Triple-A, with a 4.27 and 87/42 K/BB in 103 innings for Memphis this year. Walters has marginal stuff, including an upper-80s fastball, a decent changeup, and an adequate slider. He fits in the back-end of a bullpen but can start if you need him to. Grade C.
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