Rays value defense in their catchers above all, and Herrera isn’t exactly a stud behind the plate. Herrera is also expensive in trade cost. That’s the negative. The positive is that he has looked well above average for a catcher at the plate and he has 5 years of control remaining. The Rays really need to improve the catcher position and they have plenty of pieces to move in trade. This trade has them moving Littell (SP with just 1 year of control but who is a solid #3 for less than $5MM next year), Cleavinger (solid lefty reliever with 3 years of control), and Mead (bat first infielder best used at 2B/3B with 5 years of control). 3 cheap players to slot into the active roster should be very appealing to the Cardinals.

Everything you say has value except for the fact EVERY time Mo shoots craps for a reliever he rolls 7s trying to make his point. Sub in Trevor Martin and I give it a thumbs up.