Cardinals New Acquisition Has A Stink To His Name As Fans React…
The Red Sox, acquired outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, dealing for the powerful right-handed hitter whose upside has been curtailed by injuries but is expected to slot into Boston’s everyday lineup.
The Cardinals, who received right-handed reliever Nick Robertson and minor league right-handed starter Victor Santos in the deal, had put O’Neill on the trade market this winter and expected to move him before the new year.
While the 28-year-old’s breakout season two years ago looked to cement his place as a core member of the Cardinals going forward, the injuries as well as a public fight with St. Louis manager Oli Marmol paved the way for his exit.
When healthy, the two-time Gold Glove winner is an All-Star-caliber player. In 2021, he finished eighth in National League MVP voting, hitting .286/.352/.560 with 34 home runs and 80 RBIs.
Over the past two seasons, he has played in 168 games, slashing .229/.310/.397 with 23 home runs and 79 RBIs while playing left field and center field.
In the first week of the 2023 season, Marmol called O’Neill’s effort on a play in which he was thrown out at home by eventual NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. “unacceptable.” O’Neill expressed frustration that Marmol had called him out in the media, and the Cardinals’ poor start foretold a 71-91 season, their worst in more than a quarter century.