Jaime Garcia has been traded to the Braves. Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
After eight seasons in St. Louis, Jaime Garcia is headed to Atlanta.
The Braves acquired the 30-year-old left-handed pitcher Thursday in exchange for right-hander John Gant and two minor-leaguers.
St. Louis also received right-handed pitcher Chris Ellis and infielder Luke Dykstra, son of former major-leaguer Lenny Dykstra.
“We had targeted (Garcia) for a number of years and feel he will be an impactful part of a revamped rotation,” Braves general manager John Coppolella said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It was tough to trade away three kids we really liked, but we want to win and we want to create competition for our young pitchers.
“I spoke with Jaime and he’s feeling great and really excited about this opportunity.”
Garcia posted double-digit wins last season for the fourth time in his career, finishing 10-13, but he recorded a 4.67 ERA, the highest mark since his first partial major league season in 2008.
He struck out 150 and walked 57 in 171 2/3 innings in 2016. All three totals were the second highest of his career for a single season.
Garcia’s time in St. Louis was marked by numerous injuries and surgeries that led to large chunks of time on the disabled list. The Cardinals picked up Garcia’s $12 million option for 2017, so the veteran will be a free agent after next season.
Gant, 24, made 20 appearances (seven starts) for the Braves this year, going 1-4 with a 4.86 ERA. He pitched in 12 games (10 starts) for Triple-A Gwinnett, finishing 3-3 with a 4.18 ERA.
“I like what’s there and believe there’s some upside,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about Gant.
Ellis, 24, went a combined 12-9 with a 4.49 ERA in 28 starts last season between Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi. He was a third-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in 2014, then was acquired by Atlanta in the deal that sent shortstop Andrelton Simmons to Anaheim.
“As his command improves, so will he,” Mozeliak said of Ellis to the Post-Dispatch.
Dykstra, 21, was a seventh-round draft pick in 2014. He hit .304 with a .332 on-base percentage, a .363 slugging percentage, no homers and 41 RBIs in 81 games for low Class A Rome last season.
“He likes to swing (the bat) and put it in play, and he’s a good athlete,” Mozeliak told the Post-Dispatch about Dykstra.
