David Freese Traded To Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

First Albert Pujols and now this. Another high-profile member of the St. Louis Cardinals 2011 World Series championship team is headed for a new life in Anaheim, as the Cardinals and Angels announced Friday that third baseman David Freese was leaving the Gateway City in a four player deal that will bring outfielder Peter Bourgos to Busch Stadium.

A Lafayette High School graduate who swatted the walk-off home run to win Game 6 of the 2011 World Series after an earlier triple tied the game when the Cardinals were down to their final out, Freese has battled ankle injuries over the last several years. A career .286 hitter, he struggled at the plate in 2013 hitting .262 with 9 home runs. 

Freese had seemingly embraced the idea of being a "hometown hero," and just this past season took up the role of corporate pitchman for St. Louis-based Imo's Pizza.

Freese's time in St. Louis began coming into question in the 2013 campaign as Matt Carpenter emerged at the plate for the Cardinals and in the field at second base, potentially blocking the patch of 2B prospect Kolten Wong. With Wong and Carpenter, who will likely shift to third base, under "cost control", Freese, eligible for arbitration and a salary north of $4 million, became expendable. 

In Peter Bourgos, St. Louis gets someone who can handle centerfield, where Jon Jay struggled at times in 2013.

The Cardinals also obtained minor league outfielder Randal Grichuk. Fernando Salas, the relief pitcher who debuted for St. Louis during the 2011 championship season before largely falling behind the newer crop of young bullpen arms who emerged in 2013, is also heading to California.