Dodgers trade OF Mieses to Cards for Valera

April 1st, 2018

The Cardinals and Dodgers completed a two-player trade Sunday that sent infielder to Los Angeles and outfielder Johan Mieses to St. Louis.
Mieses, who signed with the Dodgers in 2013 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, will be assigned to the Cardinals' Class A affiliate in Palm Beach, Fla. The 22-year-old has hit .247 with 68 home runs and 207 RBIs through 411 games in the Minors. Playing for Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga in 2016, he led the California League with 28 homers and hit another 24 between Double-A Tulsa and Rancho Cucamonga last season.
Valera made his Major League debut in 2017, appearing in five games for the Cardinals. The 26-year-old Venezuelan went 1-for-10 with a walk in those contests. He was designated for assignment by the Cardinals last week. The Dodgers optioned Valera to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
"He's versatile, he can run, he gets on base and doesn't strike out a lot," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Valera. "Actually, he's pretty interesting. At 26, he's on the cusp of making a breakthrough."