Cardinals Trade Stephen Piscotty To A’s, Where He’ll Be Near Mother With ALS

The St. Louis Cardinals dealt Stephen Piscotty to the Oakland Athletics on Thursday in exchange for two minor leaguers, both teams announced.

Stephen Piscotty trade news

The Cardinals received infielders Yairo Munoz and Max Schrock in exchange for Piscotty, who recorded nine home runs and 39 RBIs in 107 games last year.

Piscotty, a Stanford product, missed some time last season to be back with his family in California after his mother was diagnosed with ALS.

“The thought of playing at home is a dream, and to be close to my mom and family is priceless,” the 26-year-old right fielder told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I’m excited to go somewhere I’m wanted. I hear great things about Oakland’s young core, and I’m excited to be a part of that.

“I grew up an A’s fan and have gone to games since I was an infant. Seems meant to be on multiple levels. I’m looking forward to 2018.”

Indeed, Piscotty reportedly met Mark McGwire when he was five years old and began rooting for the A’s ever since.

John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations for the Cardinals, stressed that Piscotty’s trade was not carried out “simply for geographic or sentimental reasons,” although his mother’s situation was considered.

Piscotty made his debut for the Cardinals in 2015 and finished sixth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .305 in 63 games. In three major league seasons, he has a .262 batting average, 38 home runs and 163 RBIs.

He signed a $33.5 million, six-year extension in the offseason that runs through 2022.

For St. Louis, the trade clears space for new outfielder Marcell Ozuna’s arrival by trade from the Miami Marlins, which was agreed to on Wednesday.

Piscotty recently posted this photo on Instagram:

Munoz, 22, hit .300 with 13 homers and 68 RBIs this year for Double-A Midland and Triple-A Nashville. Schrock, 23, batted .321 with seven homers and 46 RBIs for Midland, and was a Texas League All-Star.