The MLB Cardinals are being praised for trading RF Stephen Piscotty to the A's so he can be closer to his mother, who lives in the Bay Area and was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. Chicago-based WGNU-AM's Dan Buffa wrote, "If you wonder why outsiders call the St. Louis Cardinals a first class organization, look no further than the Stephen Piscotty trade." NBC Sports Bay Area's Ahmed Fareed wrote the Cardinals are "looking out" for Piscotty by sending him home and called the move "first class." Baseball writer Mark Saxon wrote it was a "pretty cool" move by the Cardinals. The S.F. Chronicle's Susan Slusser wrote, "Cardinals fans have been so supportive of team sending Piscotty home to the Bay Area, where his ailing mother lives. Really restores some faith in humanity. Really well done by St. Louis." A's radio announcer Ken Korach: "A’s announce the Piscotty trade and hard to think of one they’ve made that resonates on so many fronts. They get a really good player and he’s coming home at such a meaningful time for his family. Great to see the Cards and A's working so well together on this" The ALS Association: "Hats off to @Cardinals and @Athletics for making this trade happen. These clubs have been great partners to us. Many thanks to them and @MLB" (TWITTER.com, 12/14). MLB Network's Kevin Millar said, "They did the right thing. Once again, the Cardinals are a great organization for doing the right thing." MLB Network's Chris Rose: "A classy move by that organization to get him back there so he can continue his career and still be close to home" (“Intentional Talk,” MLB Network, 12/14).
COMING BACK HOME: A's Exec VP/Baseball Operations Billy Beane said that he was "aware of Piscotty's family situation," though he "never broached the subject with the Cardinals during trade talks" out of respect. However, he "sensed that St. Louis was out to do the right thing" as talks increased. Beane: "That's what makes the Cardinals one of the classiest organizations in sports." In San Jose, Daniel Brown reported Beane "began making calls" to the Cardinals about Piscotty in August and would check back "every 10 days or so." The Cardinals' acquisition of LF Marcell Ozuna from the Marlins earlier this week began the "final push for the Piscotty deal" (MERCURYNEWS.com, 12/14). Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said, "You are never making a player trade simply for geographic or sentimental reasons. It had to be something that made sense for us. There were certainly some opportunities to move him elsewhere. When you are looking at how to break a tie, clearly that did play into it" (STLTODAY.com, 12/14).
