Cardinals trade Tyler O'Neill to Red Sox
The St. Louis Cardinals traded outfielder Tyler O'Neill to the Boston Red Sox on Friday for relievers Nick Robertson and Victor Santos, the teams announced Friday.
O'Neill was the odd man out in a crowded Cardinals outfield and was expected to be moved this winter. He's projected to make $5.5 million and is arbitration-eligible for the final time in 2024 before becoming a free agent.
The 28-year-old appeared in only 72 games last season, hitting .231/.312/.403 with nine home runs, 14 doubles and five stolen bases. He landed on the IL twice, missing time with a lower back strain and a right foot sprain.
O'Neill's best season came in 2021 when he hit .286/.352/.560 with 34 home runs in a career-high 138 games. He won a Gold Glove in 2020 and 2021 while playing left field and appeared in 58 games in the position last season. He also spent 13 games in center field.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow cleared out a spot in the outfield earlier in the week by dealing Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees. O'Neill gives Boston a much-needed right-handed hitting outfielder with power and a strong glove.
"This is a really good move by the Red Sox... if he's healthy he could hit 25-30 HR in that ballpark easily." - @Plesac19 #MLBTonight reacts to the trade that will reportedly send Tyler O'Neill from St. Louis to Boston. pic.twitter.com/qoxSRQilPm
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 8, 2023
Robertson was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in July in a trade for Enrique Hernández. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 6.04 ERA and 1.75 WHIP to go with 26 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings.
Santos, 23, missed last season due to arm discomfort. He split time in Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, posting a 4.97 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 145 innings.