A. Reyes dealt for Cleveland minor leaguer
NEW YORK — By dealing the righthander who just a few years ago was the organization’s top prospect, the Cardinals finally found the change of scenery that Anthony Reyes has been looking for.
The Cardinals traded Reyes from their Triple-A rotation to Cleveland for a minor-league reliever on Saturday. In the deal, the Cardinals received reliever Luis Perdomo, a 24-year-old righthander, and cash.
“Obviously, we were getting to a point where we had to make a decision with Anthony and what his future with us is,” general manager John Mozeliak said after finalizing the deal. “We were looking to add some depth to the minor-league system (in the bullpen) and wanted to do something that would have some implication for next year. We wanted to add depth.”
Reyes, 26, peaked as a Cardinal by winning Game 1 of the 2006 World Series, but never really found traction as a major-league starter. A 15th-round pick out of Southern Cal in 2003, Reyes was a determined fireballer, an approach that served him well at Triple-A but didn’t translate to the major leagues despite his attempts. The Cardinals worked with him on expanding his array of pitches and getting him to embrace a two-seam fastball, though he did so with vary degrees — and velocities — of success.
Reyes went 10-24 in the majors, including a 2-14 turn through the rotation last year.
The righthander began this season in the Cardinals’ bullpen, experiencing some success as a middle reliever. He got his first win of the season and the first save of his career in consecutive appearances in April. The Cardinals returned him to Triple-A in May to rejoin the rotation there and either enhance outside interest in him or pitch his way back to the majors.
In the meantime, the Cardinals elected to have three rookies make spot starts at the major-league level rather than recall Reyes.
The indications were Reyes was a change-of-scenery candidate.
“We were looking at a lot of different things (with Reyes), and as it got closer to (the nonwaiver trade deadline) July 31st, we didn’t think the market was going to shift all that much after it,” Mozeliak said. “We could have gotten into the offseason and looked at what was available, but to maximize his value we thought it was better to do something sooner rather than later.”
Perdomo was 5-1 with a 1.66 ERA in 40 appearances this season, split between the Class A and Class AA levels. Overall, he’s struck out 60 and walked 24 in 54 1/3 innings. He was a Carolina League All-Star as a closer for the Indians’ High-A affiliate. Perdomo was most recently with Cleveland’s Double-A affiliate, where he was 2-0 with a 3.52. Signed in 2003 as an undrafted free agent, Perdomo spent three years at the Cleveland’s academy in the Dominican Republic before making his minor-league debut in 2006.
He throws a fastball in the 90-mph to 94-mph range and has an effective slider. He projects as a setup reliever.
Perdomo has been assigned to Double-A Springfield.
Here are a couple Web sites to check out his statistics and vitals:
More on the trade, the possibility of Chris Carpenter starting next week in Atlanta and other news later tonight on StlToday.com or in Sunday’s Post-Dispatch.
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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
Well I think , obviously, the Indians got the better end of this deal. The Indians are not going to contend in ‘08, and maybe Reyes will have a shot with the big club, and an oppurtunity to show Cleveland what at one point in his career made him a top prospect. I just don’t think that Reyes’s and Dave Duncan’s styles were made for each other. And I can kind of understand that. Reyes had a great fastball that he wanted to strike guys out with, and Papa Dunc wanted him to use his off spedd stuff more and he wanted A-Rey to induce more ground balls. Its tough not to think what we could have gotten or Reyes when he was still a minor leaguer. But thats just how the game goes.
Well, Albert is really struggling at the plate right now. I know that both Ank and Luddy are having great years, but I think more than anything for Albert to get some pitches to drive there needs to be a “big name bat”. Everything Albert is getting to hit is “low and away”. There are only a couple of options availble. The two names that first comes to mind are Matt Holliday and Barry Bonds. The Pirates have shown that they are willing to trade, but I don’t think that they would trade Jason Bay within the division. I’m skeptical about Holliday because his home/road stats are drastically different, and well….Barry Bonds is Barry Bonds.
A rather insignificant move when looking at this year, but is definitely a good sign for the future of St. Louis relief pitching. Reyes wasn’t going anywhere in the Cardinals system, so it’s good to see him get another chance somewhere else.
Good luck to Anthony Reyes. He badly needed a fresh start in a different organization. It’s too bad things didn’t work out for him here, but there are different ways to get batters out. I hope he and Cleveland figure things out for him.
That game one in ‘06 was huge. Easy to look back on that World Series as dominant, since Cards won 4-1, but if game one goes differently, and then Kenny Rogers shuts down the Cards in game two, it’s a very different Series.
if the cards are really looking for a big bat, and have a whole lot of money, it looks like manny ramierez might become available. the upside is as obvious as the downside. is albert ready to babysit?
It’s too bad that the Cardinals couldn’t have also gotten the rights to Brian Barton fully transferred over as part of this trade. That way, when he is finished with his rehab, he could have remained at Triple A, instead of having to be brought back with the big club as a Rule 5 draftee.
No significance for 2008 with this deal. I’m not so sure that Cleveland got the “better deal”– Perdomo appears to be a strikeout late inning type pitcher– but he is 24 and just recently promoted to AA. Extreme needs remain for 2008: Power bat, Starter, Lefty for the pen. A lot to expect from the “wallet trust”– which will probably do nothing. TLR got screwed.
At some point the Card fans should figure out that management does not want to spend money to win. Sore armed pitchers, worn out bull pen, etc.. Also we should take a look at the uncreative way the Cards play ball, sit back and wait for the long ball.
What ever happen to bunting, stolen bases, sacrificing a runner over, hit and run? Also, why do the Cards bring up stating pitchers from the minor leagues and make them a reliever and use relievers as a starting pitcher?
What is wrong with this picture? Perhaps TLR time has come also, maybe this team needs some fresh blood as a manager and leader. Low average players start games, while Miles sits on the bench? Think about some of the line up combinations we’ve had? I think Molinia may be their best trade bait.
The bullpen situation is desperate. So this guy might just get a chance to show what he can do. As for Reyes, he exhausted his chances with the Cards. So it was time to move him.
I agree with John V, not getting Barton’s rights as well is pretty dumb. I frankly think this trade is awful. The bullpen needs help NOW, if you’re going to add depth, get someone we can plug in right not, or don’t do the deal at all. Reyes in the pen is as useful to us as the guy we got. If you’re 24 and just now in AA, and not up with a club that has been terrible this year, you’re probably not very good. IMO Mozeliak just blew all the lucky credibility he had gotten from getting Glaus.
Its good the Cardinals got something for Reyes, and he did have a major impact in the World Series in 2006. Minor league depth is important, especially in the new Mozeliak era. Of all of the other comments I absolutely cannot believe someone would suggest Molina is trade-bait. That person is simply not a Cardinals fan or at least doesn’t pay attention to the club. Molina is one of the core players along with Pujols, Wainwright, and Carpenter (which they only a year ago signed to a 5 year deal). The Cardinals are not going to trade Molina he is too good. It is unfortunate that Reyes couldn’t be part of a bigger deal to acquire a solid reliever because we don’t have that. Also, anybody else wonder why the Cardinals never stick with a 2nd baseman long-term?
we didn’t get n know to help cardinals
Great. How’s this supposed to help right now?
Considering that Reyes was going nowhere in St. Louis, this trade can’t hurt. The trade that IS hurting is the one that Mo isn’t making. Sure, it’s important to protect prospects, but considering that we have so many, we can spare SOME. Look at what the cubs and the Brewers have done. Now look at what we have done. It’s as though Mo is unconcerned about winning this year. Tony has been brilliant in getting the most out of less-than-stellar pitching and nearly zero offense (with the notable exception of Miles) from the middle infield. Tony, the players and the loyal fans should be rewarded with something beyond a AA pitcher!
I am happy with this deal, and people need to remember that Reyes struggled in the majors even when they allowed him to pitch more to his style as opposed to sticking with Duncan’s strategy. He never showed an ability to consistently put away batters and consistently ran his pitch counts up early in the game. I for one am happy that the Cardinals are taking a patient approach and trying to rebuild the farm system instead of giving up prospects for a bullpen arm. If the offer was there for an impact bat or a front line pitcher, I am convinced that ownership and Mozeliak would make the deal.
Ok I surely hope this isnt the biggest move me make before the trade deadline. This will not even help us this year. We need help in a big way and I’m not positive that Carpenter or Wainwright can right this sinking ship. If the front-office is commited to winning right now they need to make a move right now and not twiddle their thumbs while all the decent talent goes to the wayside. AJ Burnett is available from the Blue Jays that would be a HUGE pick up. What about Brian Fuentes from the Rockies also rumored to be trade bait that would be the left hander reliever we are looking for. Come on Mozeliak pull the damn trigger do something…..We want a winner not a wait an see what happens. Then its like opps guess theres next year!
I am disappointed in this deal. Not that I don’t think Perdomo “Could” be a solid setup or closer type pitcher but at 24 and just reaching AA it is way too early to know. I really thought the Cards would try to use Reyes as one of the chips in a bigger deal. If you can package Reyes and another Minor League arm and then maybe some lesser prospects for a significant bullpen guy or a bat that could be a big impact this year (and possibly longer depending on the contract situation of whom we received and their willingness to sign an extension with the Cards) then we should have done it. I don’t want to deplete our farm system again but if you can win as many games so far with the group we have had to play with (especially with all the injuries) then why would you not want to make the one or 2 deals that could impact us for this year? But who knows…maybe no other teams were interested in Reyes in a deal…that could have been it…but I would be surprised at that considering the lack of quality, reasonably priced SP’s that have been available the last few years. If Tier 3 and 4 SP’s are getting $7-10 Million a year in this day and age why would you not want to grab a guy like Reyes for a bargain? Even if we only get Wainwright or Carp health for the remainder of the year (both would be a HUGE plus but lets be conservative in our thinking) then one solid move for a bat or a bullpen guy will be a big boast and could push us over the edge. I just hope this is not the only move we make as it will say a whole lot about what the Front Office really thinks about this years team. Enough ranting for now…I have to go out and drink now!
“I think Molinia may be their best trade bait.”
That’s insane! Two things. A. If you do that, you’re qualifing yourself as a seller, which doesn’t send an amazing message to a team in a division race. B. Who replaces him? You’d trust Brian Anderson to take over entirly? Or LaRue? Besides, he’s batting over .300. What’s bad about that? The catcher is the teams quarterback, and you don’t up and trade him.
The Cards have to make moves in a couple days to solve our bullpen problem. As much as Tony says it’s not a prob, it is. We’d be put right back in the middle of things once we get that stopper in the late innings. Imagine the relief we’ll have is someone like Sherrill is introduced before the ninth inning…
I think they should trade Tony. It looks like he is trying to prove a point and running Ryan Franklyn out there every 9th inning to serve up batting practice is getting VERY OLD.
He is a robot of a manager, and his style has run its course in STL
John Mozeliak is joke. The most important part of this deal is the “cash” the Cardinals will receive. That money will go straight into Bill DeWitt’s pocket, just like all the rest. We will continue to see sub-par talent on the field and hope that we get lucky with a few players like Ludwick and Lohse. I am absolutely sick of Mozeliak and ownership. They should all be ashamed of their money-grubbing selves!
Well…Franklin sure wasn’t the answer in the 9th again tonight, was he?
It is rather a pathetic job that Mo and DeWitt are doing this year. We should have had a legit closer, and/or lefty reliever, and/or RH bat by now. With the Cards so close they have done nothing but trade Reyes. If that’s the best that their minds can muster then they should be run out of town. TLR is working his tail off to keep the team on their winning ways and all he and the city get is a minor leaguer for Reyes. What a croc. I am glad that they are really focused on this important season by spending so much time and energy worried about dealing Reyes! It is so hard to make the playoffs in MLB and we have been in contention all year. This management/owner combo have soured the city’s faith in their abilities. They fumbled Percival whom we could have signed; overvalue their farm system; concentrate on insignificant trades during the time of famine; leave TLR and the city of StL in the lurch; worry about pocketing a few dollars. They are bankrupt of helping this team and wealthy in stubbornly sitting on the dock of the bay watching the other teams go by.
For all those wanting to trade prospects for immediate needs, consider how well it’s worked out for the Yankees…you also may want to look into moving all of your retirement portfolio into tech stocks…
if you are a cardinal fan you are happy to see reyes get a chance to shine! i dont think that we got a bad deal b/c i looked at his staes during his career. this could be a future set up man or closer b/c ISH is done done done stick a fork in him he is done. Just like edmonds, rolan he is done with the cards.
Well I have to definitely agree with Mike concerning the possibility of Molina as ‘trade bait’. #1 obviously they are at best fair weather Cardinal fans & #2 know nothing about how baseball works. I just don’t know how people who are supposed Cardinal Fans can sit back and criticise the Front office and LaRussa for the 2008 Cardinals. Talk about an exciting TEAM to watch play baseball. And the pitching staff that didn’t have a chance in the NL Central, according to all of the so to speak proffesional critics before Spring Training, I’m sure are sitting back eating crow now. Now the bullpen could use some help in a left handed thrower but believe me it will happen. Also, who said the TLR was washed up?? Well, just who would you suggest come in and take his place and do a better job. There is NO ONE out there!!!! But believe me there are plenty of teams who would jump @ the chance to have Tony in their dug-out! Yes, this team of young underachievers has done nothing but play Great Defensive & Offensive baseball and are the most EXCITING team to watch play in many years, going back to the Ozzie days. You know everyone talks about the Cubs, well with the monies they have spent over the past two years, second to the ‘over spending’ Yankees,they should be leading the NL Central by 20 games NOT 5. I think we should just ENJOY and Stand Behind the 2008 Cardinals and be Excited to have a contending TEAM! Oh, If You’re a TRUE CARDINAL FAN !!!!!!!