Blockbuster Trade : McCann for Francik

Monday's move was as puzzling as it was surprising for just about anybody who wasn't involved in the deal.

The Cardinals traded outfielder Tyler McCann to the Athletics in exchange for Tony Francik, seemingly out of nowhere.

McCann found his way to the Gateway Baseball Club after previously playing for the similar Weasle Baseball League only a few years before. He was placed on the Cardinals when the new team format went into effect, and has done excellent since. He was in second place in home runs (4) on the first place team in the NL, behind teammate Corey Knisley. His last game with the Cards was on June 13, the first game at the new home field.

Despite the great start, the team announced Monday that they would be swapping McCann for Tony Francik, who made a name for himself last season. Francik had a red-hot September last year, and earned a spot in the 2014 Wild Card game, but was upset by Tommy Wheeling in what has been called the most unexpected win of the Postseason. With perhaps a chip on his, Tony has been off to a decent start as well, with a home run in his first 3 games.

Cardinals captain Kyle Knisley has said that the move was made to better distribute leadership throughout The Club. "Tyler had mentioned being a team captain when the new format was being drawn up, but we thought he might be too new at the time. Since then, it's been evident that he'd make a great captain, and someone we'd like to have in a leadership position in the American League."

With McCann's move the the American League, Jeremy Freese is stepping down as A's captain, allowing McCann to fill the role, making sure a no-trade clause was in place for he and third teammate David Lankford until the All-Star Break of 2016, insuring the new captain could not immediately trade away the team that Freese put together.

The McCann-Francik trade is the first major trade with the new format, but we're sure it will work out well.