Two of the premier franchises in Major League Baseball made a swap just prior to Tuesday night’s trade deadline, with the St. Louis Cardinals sending outfielder Harrison Bader to the New York Yankees for pitcher Jordan Montgomery. New York will also get a player to be named or cash considerations from St. Louis.
The trade sends two premiere pieces from playoff contending teams to opposite leagues, as Montgomery had shined out of the Yankees rotation, with a 3.77 ERA over the past two seasons, making 51 starts and amassing 272 innings.
Bader may have to wait to make his Yankees debut, as the speedy center fielder started August on the Cardinals injured list with a plantar fasciitis. He in hitting .256 with five homers and now will get a chance to play for his boyhood team, as the 28-year old grew up in Bronxville, New York as a Yankee fan.
The trade of Bader to add a pitcher continued a move toward adding help on the mound for the Cardinals, following the acquisition of left-hander Jose Quintana from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. Montgomery was deemed expendable by the Yankees brass after New York acquired starting pitcher Frankie Montas from the Oakland Athletics on Monday.
