J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero are brave

NEW ORLEANS -- The St. Louis Cardinals traded outfielder J.D. Drew and all-purpose player Eli Marrero to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday for pitchers Jason Marquis, Ray King and Adam Wainright.


"We have great regard for J.D. Drew," Braves manager John Schuerholz said.


The Players Involved
Braves get: OF J.D. Drew and OF Eli Marrero.
Cardinals get: RHP Jason Marquis, LHP Ray King and minor league RHP Adam Wainright.


Drew replaces Gary Sheffield, who became a free agent and for weeks has been close to agreement with the New York Yankees.


"It was like an old-time baseball deal," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said. "We've been talking about this for weeks."


The trade was the first one announced at the baseball winter meetings.


Drew, 28, hit .289 last season with 15 homers and 42 RBI for the Cardinals in just 100 games.


"He's been a guy that has been touted with all kinds of talent through the years," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Unfortunately, he's had all kinds of injuries."


Marrero, 30, batted .224 with two homers and 20 RBI in just 107 at-bats.


"He's capable of stealing 30 bases," Cox said. "I think he'll see a lot of playing time. He's not just a throw-in, we want him."


Marquis, a 25-year-old right-hander, never lived up to his potential as another in the Braves' line of top pitchers. He was 0-0 with a 5.53 ERA in two starts and 19 relief appearances.


King, a 29-year-old left-hander, was 3-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 80 relief appearances.


Wainwright, a 22-year-old righty, was 10-8 with a 3.37 ERA in 27 starts for Double-A Greenville last season.


"We felt that without pitching, we weren't going to have a chance to improve in the standings next year," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said


It wouid have beening a very good trade for us if we had not had to give up Wainwright

 

this is true. i like the deal tho.

 

Yep, I think we lost out on this deal.

 

i don't like it. i've been big on wainwright ever since i saw him pitch in myrtle beach last year. kid has dominant stuff. i think this one will have us kicking ourselves in 5 years.

 

So very true, and what makes anybody think that Drew is all of sudden going to stay healthy and produce? I mean he could, but just too much of a gamble imo.

 

From a Cardinals fan: Thank you!