The St. Louis Cardinals have reportedly traded outfielder Brian Barton to the Atlanta Braves for right handed reliever Blaine Boyer.
Barton was fairly productive last year for the Cardinals playing largely in a utility role in the outfield. Batting .268 last year and providing speed off the bench, Barton will likely prove useful for the Braves but was part of a glut of outfielders in the Cardinals organization.
Boyer, a 27 year old reliever, had a mediocre year for the Braves last year, turning in a 5.88 ERA over 72 innings. The stat is a bit misleading however, as Boyer had a respectable first half (3.93 ERA) and then exploaded after the All Star break (11.17).
Boyer is off to a rough start this year as well giving up 6 runs on just 1.1 innings pitched, but the Cardinals bullpen is in serious need of some help. If St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan can figure out a way to get Boyer back to the pitcher he was in the first half of last year, the Cardinals will have gotten a decent return for Barton who was a rule 5 draftee from the Indians last year.
