Cardinals And Blue Jays Agree to Trade For Paul DeJong

CARDINALS & TORONTO ANNOUNCE TRADE

RHP MATT SVANSON JOINS CARDINALS ORGANIZATION; SHORTSTOP PAUL DEJONG TO THE BLUE JAYS

ST. LOUIS, MO., August 1, 2023 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Matt Svanson from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for shortstop Paul DeJong and cash considerations.

Svanson, 24, was the Blue Jays 13^th round draft selection in 2021 out of Lehigh University.

The 6-5, 235-pound Svanson has combined to go 4-1 with a 1.11 ERA in 26 games (all in relief) this season between Dunedin (Low-A) and Vancouver (High-A).

Svanson was part of combined no-hitter earlier this season for Vancouver and also in 2018 as a freshman at Lehigh. He threw two perfect games, in addition to two no-hitters, for Lake Zurich (Ill.) High School.

Svanson will be assigned to the Springfield Cardinals (AA).

DeJong, 29, has batted .233 with 13 HR and 32 RBI in 81 games this season.  He was the Cardinals 4^th-round draft selection in 2015 and played seven seasons (2017-23) with St. Louis.

— STL —

Svanson was a 2021 13th round pick as a senior out of Lehigh University. He’s pitched in relief as a pro this season, with a few starts in previous years. Low 90s fastball that touched 96; plays up in the pros as a reliever, now sits mid-90s and touches 98. Slider and change, but neither seem that impressive. Groundball pitchers. Ceiling of middle reliever.

It’s actually a solid return for DeJong, who’s limited offensive profile wasn’t all that impressive.