Indians Acquire Jess Todd From Cardinals

In an earlier deal that sent Mark DeRosa packing for St. Louis, the Indians finally acquired the “player-to-be-named later” from the Cards to go along with Chris Perez. Todd has spent all but one game this season in the minor leagues.

The twenty-three year old righty joins the Indians organization after being a second round draft pick of the Cardinals in 2007. Todd was a Pacific Coast League All-Star this year while closing games for the Memphis Redbirds. While in Double-A Springfield, he was tabbed as a Texas League All-Star as well, to go along with the New York-Penn League All-Star selection in 2007. Needless to say, Todd brings credentials to Cleveland as being one of the Cardinals’ highest rated prospects.

Todd is currently placed on Cleveland’s 40-man roster, in an effort to patch up, or rebuild, Cleveland’s dismal bullpen. He appeared in only one game in the majors this year, earlier last month, and managed 1.2 innings with two earned runs against.

While in Memphis, Todd was 4-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 24 saves in 41 appearances. Last year, he was 8-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 28 games while being named Cardinals’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Hopefully, Jess Todd can be a bullpen stopper for years to come, and maybe Tribe fans won’t get a sick feeling any time the call to the pen is made.