The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired OF Austin Dean from the Miami Marlins in exchange for OF Diowill Burgos.
The Cardinals recently traded two right handed hitting outfielders in Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena to the Rays. Like them, Dean is a right handed hitter. However, he is not really a starting outfielder. Dean figures to be more of a 4th or 5th outfielder, and because he still has minor league options, he will likely be a part of the AAA-MLB shuttle. After breaking out in the minor leagues and making his MLB debut in 2018, Dean was a decent choice for a breakout season in 2019. However, he played in just 64 MLB games, and the numbers were more of the same from his weak 2018 stint. He once again had a great AAA season, but now he gets a new MLB chance. If Dean has a 2020 season similar to his 2019 and 2018 MLB seasons, it will be hard to not classify him as a AAAA player. The good news is that they do not give up much in Burgos.
Dean, 26, had a .225 average with six home runs, 21 RBIs and a .665 OPS in 189 Plate Appearances in 2019. For AAA New Orleans he had a .337 batting average with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs (1.036 OPS) in 282 Plate Appearances. In his MLB career Dean has a .223 average with 10 home runs, 35 RBIs and a .656 OPS in 311 PA. In his AAA career he has a .331 average with 27 home runs, 111 RBIs and a .944 OPS in 640 PA.
Burgos is much more of a longshot. A soon to be 19 year old, the Dominic Republic native still has not made it past rookie ball. He did have a good 2019, and could start 2020 in Single-A.
Burgos, who will be 19 on January 29, had a .316 average with 11 home runs, 50 RBIs and a .999 OPS in 251 Plate Appearances. In his two year minor league career Burgos has a .263 average with 17 home runs, 81 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and a .841 OPS in 493 Plate Appearances.
CarterHud 