Baseball trades are a common occurrence in the sport, with teams looking to acquire players who can help them win games and championships. In 2017, the St. Louis Cardinals made a trade with the Miami Marlins to acquire outfielder Marcell Ozuna.
In exchange, the Cardinals gave up a package of players, including Sandy Alcantara, Zac Gallen, Daniel Castano, and Magneuris Sierra.
This trade had a significant impact on both teams, with Ozuna becoming an important player for the Cardinals and the players the Marlins received showing promise for the future.
We’ll take a closer look at the trade and the players involved to determine whether it was ultimately worth it for the Cardinals.
Who is Marcell Ozuna?
Marcell Ozuna is a professional baseball outfielder who was born on November 12, 1990, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Miami Marlins in 2013 and played with the team until 2017 when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ozuna is known for his powerful hitting and strong arm in the outfield. He won a Gold Glove award in 2017 for his defensive abilities, and he was named an All-Star that same year.
During the 2017 season, he hit .312 with 37 home runs and 124 runs batted in (RBIs), which were all career highs for him. His impressive performance in that season caught the attention of the Cardinals, who were looking for a consistent hitter to help improve their offense.
In addition to his offensive and defensive abilities, Ozuna is also known for his positive attitude and leadership qualities. He quickly became a fan favorite in St. Louis, and his energetic personality helped to energize the team during his time with the Cardinals.
Overall, Ozuna’s outstanding performance during the 2017 season, including his impressive hitting and defensive skills, made him an attractive target for the Cardinals in their pursuit of a strong outfielder.
The Trade
On December 13, 2017, the St. Louis Cardinals acquired Marcell Ozuna from the Miami Marlins in exchange for a package of players.
The full details of the trade were as follows:
The Cardinals received Marcell Ozuna, an outfielder who had just completed a strong season with the Marlins.
The Marlins received Sandy Alcantara, a right-handed pitcher who was ranked as one of the Cardinals’ top prospects at the time of the trade. Alcantara had made his MLB debut in 2017, but he had only pitched in eight games at the time of the trade.
The Marlins also received Zac Gallen, another right-handed pitching prospect who was considered one of the Cardinals’ top prospects. Gallen had not yet made his MLB debut at the time of the trade.
The third player the Marlins received was Daniel Castano, a left-handed pitching prospect who had not yet advanced past Double-A in the Cardinals’ organization.
Finally, the Marlins received Magneuris Sierra, an outfielder who had made his MLB debut in 2017 but had struggled to produce offensively.
The Cardinals gave up three pitching prospects and an outfielder in exchange for Marcell Ozuna, who was expected to be a major contributor to their lineup.
While the players the Marlins received in return were all young and unproven at the time of the trade, they were considered to have significant potential and were seen as key pieces in the Marlins’ ongoing rebuilding efforts.
Sandy Alcantara
Sandy Alcantara was a right-handed pitching prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization prior to being traded to the Miami Marlins in the deal for Marcell Ozuna.
Alcantara had made his MLB debut in 2017, appearing in eight games and posting a 4.32 ERA over 16 2/3 innings pitched.
Since being traded to the Marlins, Alcantara has become a key member of their starting rotation. In 2019, he made 32 starts for Miami and recorded a 3.88 ERA with 151 strikeouts over 197 1/3 innings pitched. He was even better in 2020, posting a 3.00 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched over seven starts.
Alcantara’s departure had an impact on the Cardinals, as they gave up a young pitcher with significant potential. While Alcantara had only pitched in eight games at the MLB level at the time of the trade, he was already considered one of the Cardinals’ top prospects.
His departure left a hole in the organization’s depth at starting pitching, which they have since had to address through other means.
Overall, Alcantara has become a key member of the Marlins’ rotation since being acquired in the trade for Ozuna, and his success has made the trade look more balanced in hindsight.
However, it is important to note that Alcantara was just one of four players the Cardinals gave up in the deal, and it is possible that the other players they sent to Miami could also go on to have successful careers.
Zac Gallen
Zac Gallen was a right-handed pitching prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization prior to being traded to the Miami Marlins in the deal for Marcell Ozuna.
Gallen had not yet made his MLB debut at the time of the trade, but he was considered one of the Cardinals’ top prospects due to his impressive numbers in the minors.
In 2017, he posted a 2.93 ERA with 140 strikeouts over 147 2/3 innings pitched across three levels of the minor leagues.
Since being traded to the Marlins, Gallen has continued to impress. He made his MLB debut in 2019 and appeared in 15 games, posting a 2.81 ERA with 96 strikeouts over 80 innings pitched. He was even better in 2020, recording a 2.75 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched over 11 starts.
Gallen’s departure had an impact on the Cardinals, as they gave up another young pitcher with significant potential. While Gallen had not yet made his MLB debut at the time of the trade, he was considered a key part of the Cardinals’ future rotation.
His departure left a hole in the organization’s depth at starting pitching, which they have since had to address through other means.
Overall, Gallen has become a key member of the Marlins’ rotation since being acquired in the trade for Ozuna, and his success has made the trade look more balanced in hindsight.
However, as with Alcantara, it is important to note that Gallen was just one of four players the Cardinals gave up in the deal, and it is possible that the other players they sent to Miami could also go on to have successful careers.
Daniel Castano
Daniel Castano was a left-handed pitching prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization prior to being traded to the Miami Marlins in the deal for Marcell Ozuna.
Castano had spent just one season in the Cardinals’ organization, pitching to a 2.57 ERA with 90 strikeouts over 91 1/3 innings pitched across three levels of the minor leagues in 2017.
Since being traded to the Marlins, Castano has yet to establish himself at the MLB level. He made his debut in 2020, appearing in six games (five starts) and recording a 3.03 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 29 2/3 innings pitched.
Castano’s departure did not have as significant an impact on the Cardinals as the departures of Alcantara and Gallen, as he was not considered one of their top prospects.
However, he was a young left-handed pitcher with some potential, and his departure further depleted the Cardinals’ depth at starting pitching.
Overall, Castano has yet to make a significant impact in the majors since being acquired in the trade for Ozuna, but he is still young and has some potential.
It remains to be seen what kind of career he will have, and whether the trade will ultimately be seen as a win for the Marlins or a loss for the Cardinals.
Magneuris Sierra
Magneuris Sierra was an outfield prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization prior to being traded to the Miami Marlins in the deal for Marcell Ozuna.
Sierra had made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 2017, appearing in 22 games and recording a .317 batting average with two stolen bases.
Since being traded to the Marlins, Sierra has split time between the majors and the minors. He has yet to establish himself as a regular at the MLB level, but he has shown flashes of potential. In 2020, he appeared in 28 games for the Marlins, batting .250 with two stolen bases.
Sierra’s departure did not have a significant impact on the Cardinals, as he was not considered one of their top prospects.
However, his departure did leave them with one fewer outfield option, and they have had to look elsewhere to fill that spot.
Overall, Sierra has yet to establish himself as a regular at the MLB level, but he is still young and has some potential.
It remains to be seen what kind of career he will have, and whether the trade will ultimately be seen as a win for the Marlins or a loss for the Cardinals.
Here is a Table Summarizing the Players Involved in the Trade That Brought Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals:
| Player Name | Position | Team Traded From | Team Traded To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcell Ozuna | OF | Miami Marlins | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Sandy Alcantara | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals | Miami Marlins |
| Zac Gallen | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals | Miami Marlins |
| Daniel Castano | LHP | St. Louis Cardinals | Miami Marlins |
| Magneuris Sierra | OF | St. Louis Cardinals | Miami Marlins |
This table provides a quick overview of the players involved in the trade and their respective positions and teams. It shows that the Cardinals gave up three pitchers (Alcantara, Gallen, and Castano) and one outfielder (Sierra) in exchange for Ozuna.
FAQs
Did the trade for Marcell Ozuna pay off for the Cardinals?
While Ozuna did have a strong season in 2018, his overall tenure with the team was somewhat underwhelming. While the Cardinals did make the playoffs in both seasons that Ozuna was with the team, they did not win any championships. Ultimately, it remains to be seen how the trade will be viewed in the context of the team’s long-term success.
How did Marcell Ozuna perform for the Cardinals?
Ozuna had a strong season in 2018, batting .280 with 23 home runs and 88 RBIs. However, his performance declined in 2019, as he battled injuries and saw his batting average drop to .241. Overall, while he was a productive player for the Cardinals, he did not quite live up to the high expectations that came with the trade.
Did any of the prospects the Cardinals gave up become stars for the Marlins?
Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen, in particular, have gone on to have successful careers with the Marlins. Alcantara has emerged as a top-of-the-rotation starter, while Gallen has also shown a lot of promise. While it remains to be seen how their careers will ultimately play out, both players have been productive since joining the Marlins.
What impact did the trade have on the Cardinals’ outfield depth?
While the Cardinals were able to acquire an established outfielder in Ozuna, they also gave up several young prospects in the trade. This left them with somewhat depleted outfield depth, as they had to rely on players like Tyler O’Neill and Dexter Fowler to fill the void. While the Cardinals have since added other outfielders, the trade for Ozuna did have an impact on their overall roster construction.
Conclusion
The trade that brought Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals in December 2017 was a significant move for the team, as they were able to acquire a proven outfielder who had just come off a strong season with the Miami Marlins.
In exchange, the Cardinals gave up four prospects, including Sandy Alcantara, Zac Gallen, Daniel Castano, and Magneuris Sierra.
While it is still too early to definitively say whether the trade was a win or a loss for either team, it is clear that the Cardinals gave up some valuable assets in exchange for Ozuna.
Alcantara and Gallen, in particular, have gone on to have successful careers with the Marlins, while Castano and Sierra have yet to establish themselves as regulars at the MLB level.
Overall, the trade was a calculated risk for the Cardinals, as they were hoping that Ozuna would help improve their outfield and bolster their offense.
While Ozuna did have a strong season in 2018, his overall tenure with the team was somewhat underwhelming, and he signed with the Atlanta Braves as a free agent following the 2019 season.
The trade for Marcell Ozuna will be remembered as a significant move in the Cardinals’ recent history, but it remains to be seen how it will ultimately be viewed in the context of the team’s long-term success.
