Cards trade outfielder Jay to Padres for versatile infielder Gyorko

As they continue to negotiate with free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward and scour the market for starting pitching, the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday acquired infielder Jedd Gyorko from the San Diego Padres for outfielder Jon Jay and cash considerations at the winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn.

Gyorko (pronounced JER-ko), who played second base (96 games), shortstop (29 games) and first base (one game) last season, batted .247 with 16 home runs and 57 RBIs in 128 games. The right-handed hitter has a career average of .236 hitter with 49 homers and 171 RBIs in 364 games, with a .293 on-base percentage.

Gyorko, 27, has $32 million remaining on a six-year extension he signed in 2014. There also is a $13 million club option for 2020, with a $1 million buyout.

Gyorko figures to be a utility infielder in St. Louis, perhaps getting playing time at second base against left-handed pitching. He batted .282 with a .358 on-base percentage and a .445 slugging percentage against lefties last season.

Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, batted .229 with a .275 on-base percentage against left-handers.

Gyorko expressed happiness about the trade on his Twitter account.

“Want to thank and will always be grateful to the @Padres for giving me my chance in baseball! Will miss the relationships I’ve created there.

“With that being said, words can’t describe how much I’m looking forward to playing in front of Cardinal Nation!! @Cardinals.”

Gyorko batted .249 with 23 homers and 63 RBIs in 2013 and finished sixth in National League Rookie of the Year balloting. He slumped to .210 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs in 2014. He has struck out at least 100 times in all three of his big-league seasons.

Gyorko is a career .262 hitter (11-for-42) with two homers and nine RBIs in 11 games at Busch Stadium.

Jay, 30, batted .210 with one home run and 10 RBIs in 79 games. Jay had surgery on his left wrist after the 2014 season and spent all of August on the disabled list last season with a stress fracture in the wrist. He also spent time on the disabled list in May with tendinitis in the wrist.

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina bemoaned the loss of Jay via Twitter. Jay had been one of Molina’s closest friends on the team, as was Tony Cruz, who was traded to the Kansas City Royals last week.

Molina’s Tweet read: “So sad! First Tony and now Jay!! Maybe I’m next!!! It may be business but for me you guys are family. U will b missed!”

Jay, who will earn $6.225 million in 2016, is a career .287 hitter in 757 games. He batted .300 or better in .2010 (.300), 2012 (.305) and 2014 (.303).

As for the cash considerations aspect of the deal, the Padres reportedly will send the Cardinals $26 million to offset Gyorko’s salary, while paying Jay’s entire salary.

The Cardinals are attempting to re-sign right fielder Heyward, but are in competition with other clubs for the talented 26-year-old who is one of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

Heyward batted .293 with 33 doubles, 13 home runs and 60 RBIs in 154 games in his first season with the Cardinals, winning the NL Gold Glove Award. He came to the Cardinals from Atlanta for right-hander Shelby Miller in November 2014.

Heyward is expected to command a six- or seven-year contract worth in the neighborhood of at least $150 million. How aggressive the Cardinals are in their pursuit of starting pitching in the free-agent market will largely depend on whether they re-sign Heyward.

Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak said Saturday that he would be comfortable with the rotation even if he is unable to obtain another starter. St. Louis already has Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez and Jaime Garcia, with left-handers Tyler Lyons, Tim Cooney and Marco Gonzales remaining as options for the fifth spot.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 9:56 AM with the headline "Cards trade outfielder Jay to Padres for versatile infielder Gyorko."