Jess Todd sent to Cleveland to complete DeRosa deal
PHILADELPHIA — Having dealt their best prospect and one of their top pitching prospects already this week, the St. Louis Cardinals completed the transaction hat trick by trading their reigning minor-league pitcher of the year Sunday. Class AAA Memphis closer Jess Todd, who leapfrogged three levels last season to win the organization’s award, was sent to Cleveland to complete the Mark DeRosa deal.
On June 27, the Cardinals traded righthanded reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later to Cleveland for the third baseman. The player to be named later was selected from a list of several minor-leaguers, two of which were known to be pitchers.
Todd was the Indians’ choice.
“He’s a good pitcher, and obviously we’re disappointed, but knew what it was going to take to get the deal done for DeRosa,” GM John Mozeliak said. “I don’t think (moving to the bullpen) helped get him to the big leagues and closer to the big leagues sooner. … We knew that move for DeRosa wasn’t going to be cheap.”
Todd, a righthander drafted in 2007 out of Arkansas, was 4-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 24 saves this season for Memphis. This was his first season as a closer as he moved into the role this spring to make him a better fit for the major-league team. Todd spent all of last season as a starter. He moved into the closer role when Perez was promoted to the major leagues.
The shift to the bullpen helped accelerate his rise the majors, where he made one appearance this season on a one-day cameo with the Cardinals. He’ll report to Cleveland’s Class AAA affiliate.
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(6 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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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. 
ouch…
Bummer. I liked him. Hope he does well for his new team.
Kinda bugs me that St. Louis isn’t too worried about developing & keeping its own starting pitching prospects. That said, a fair trade to get DeRosa.
And then the cupboard was bare!!!
Oh man, I’m really disappointed. I hope we can re-sign DeRosa for ‘10, because this is a big hit to the farm.
A guy like Albert Pujols (arguably the greatest Right Handed Hitter in the History of the game) only comes around once in a lifetime, you have to win now….no time to wait for prospects to develope…something has to give…waist Albert’s prime years with a poor lineup around him…give up prospects to put a good lineup around him…I say “Let’s Win NOW!!!” GO CARDS!!!
Why couldn’t it have been Wellemeyer? God can we please go to a 4 man rotation?
Hey Derrick, what type of free agent will DeRosa be? Basically, if we offer him arbitration and he rejects it, will we get two first round supplemental draft choices like we would with Holliday? We would surely get something I would think. That said I hope we can resign him and Holliday if the price is right.
I was afraid of that. Todd is a pitcher I thought could help the Cards down the stretch. Reading about losing Todd as the PTNL was about as tough as watching the pounding the Phillies put on Saturday. I think Cleveland got more than fair compensation for DeRosa. Still, glad we have DeRosa.
couldn’t expect Perez being the guy for DeRosa, it’s fare,I’m with you Mark ouch…..hopefully we can get some meat and potatoes for a Ankiel and Glause package before trade deadline.