A disappointing season has led the St. Louis Cardinals to break up their pitching staff, sending right-handed reliever Jordan Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays and left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery to the Texas Rangers, multiple outlets reported Sunday.
The Rangers also will receive right-handed reliever Chris Stratton in addition to Montgomery.
In exchange for Montgomery and Stratton, the Cardinals received infielder Thomas Saggese, right-hander Tekoah Roby and left-hander John King.
In the Hicks trade, Toronto sent the Cardinals minor league right-handers Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein. Both pitchers arrive from Double-A New Hampshire.
The Blue Jays were in the market for relief help after All-Star closer Jordan Romano went on the injured list Saturday with lower back inflammation.
The hard-throwing Hicks, 26, is 1-6 with a 3.67 ERA and eight saves in 40 appearances for the Cardinals this season.
One day after the Rangers acquired veteran right-hander Max Scherzer from the New York Mets, they further bolstered their starting staff with the addition of Montgomery. In 21 starts this season, Montgomery was 6-9 with a 3.42 ERA.
In seven major league seasons with the New York Yankees (2017-22) and Cardinals, Montgomery is 34-32 with a 3.77 ERA in 130 appearances (129 starts).
Stratton, 32, was 1-1 with a 4.36 ERA in 42 relief appearances for the Cardinals this season. Over eight seasons with four different clubs, he is 36-24 with a 4.50 ERA in 280 appearances (42 starts).
Saggese and Roby arrive from Double-A Frisco, while King was 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA out of Texas’ bullpen this season. In parts of four seasons, King is 10-10 with a 4.27 ERA in 87 relief appearances for the Rangers.
–Field Level Media