Inside The Cardinals

Ex-Cardinals Hurler Acquired In Tyler O'Neill Trade Joins Astros In One-For-One Swap

The former St. Louis pitcher is on the move again
Nate Hagerty|
Apr 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of Houston Astros second base Jose Altuve (27) hat on the field during batting practice prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Apr 9, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of Houston Astros second base Jose Altuve (27) hat on the field during batting practice prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsHouston AstrosToronto Blue Jays

A former St. Louis Cardinals hurler is on the move again after being traded to the American League West-rival Houston Astros in a one-for-one swap Tuesday afternoon.

Last offseason, the Cardinals parted ways with two-time Gold Glove defender Tyler O'Neill in a controversial exchange for two pitchers from the Boston Red Sox.

One of the pitchers acquired in the O'Neill trade is poised to join his third team since leaving the 11-time World Series champions last August.

"OFFICIAL: We’ve (Toronto Blue Jays) traded right-handed pitcher Nick Robertson to the Astros in exchange for RHP Edinson Batista," the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.

Robertson posted a 4.38 ERA with a 14-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .306 batting average against and a 1.38 WHIP in 12 1/3 innings pitched for the Cardinals in 2024 before the Los Angeles Angels claimed him off waivers last summer.

The 26-year-old was acquired alongside RHP Victor Santos from the Boston Red Sox in Dec. 2023 for ex-Cardinals slugger O'Neill, who landed a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles this past offseason.

Before joining the Cardinals last winter, Robertson appeared to be a promising pitching prospect. However, the 6' 6" RHP logged a troubling 1-2 record with a 7.48 ERA, 21-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .277 batting average against and a 1.80 WHIP in 21 2/3 innings pitched for Triple-A Memphis in 2024.

Since leaving St. Louis, Robertson hasn't been successful, other than the solid three innings pitched he recorded with the Blue Jays this spring -- sacrificing zero earned runs on one hit, three strikeouts and one walk.

Perhaps the Astros have a plan for Robertson. Still, considering they have one of the poorest player development systems, it's challenging to imagine the aspiring big-league pitcher improving much in 2025. If the Los Angeles Dodgers, Red Sox, Cardinals and Angels couldn't make something of him, what could make moving to Houston any different?

More MLB: Cardinals Fan Favorite Claims 'Something Scary' Is Coming Amid Slow Start To 2025

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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