ST. LOUIS, Mo., December 1, 2016 - The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon that they have completed a four-player trade with the Atlanta Braves, acquiring three prospects from the Braves in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jaime Garcia. The Cardinals added right-handed pitchers John Gant and Chris Ellis and second baseman Luke Dykstra in the deal.
Gant, 24, debuted with Atlanta this past season and went 1-4 with a 4.86 ERA in 20 games (7 starts) at the Major League level, striking out 49 batters in his 50.0 innings pitched.   The 6-3, 200-pound Gant, who was drafted by the New York Mets in 2011, also made 12 appearances (10 starts) for Triple-A Gwinnett in 2016, going 3-3 with a 4.18 ERA.
Ellis, 24, combined for 28 starts between Gwinnett and the Mississippi Braves of the Southern League (AA) in 2016. The Southern League All-Star was 12-9 with a 4.49 ERA between the two Braves affiliates, making 15 starts for Gwinnett and 13 for Mississippi.   The 6-5, 220-pound Ellis was a 3^rd round draft choice of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2014
Dykstra, the son of former Major League All-Star Lenny Dykstra, was a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2016 while batting .304 in 81 games for Rome (A). The right-handed hitting Dykstra, 21, was a 7^th round draft selection by Atlanta in 2014 out of Westlake (Calif.) High School.
Jaime Garcia, 30, and a member of the Cardinals organization since 2005 when he was drafted in the 22^nd round, has compiled a career mark of 62-45 with a 3.57 ERA in 158 games pitched.   He was a member of the Cardinals 2011 World Championship team.