Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward
Aug 9, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward (22) breaks his bat while hitting a run scoring sacrifice fly ball against the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Turner Field. Reuters

The Atlanta Braves traded Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to the St. Louis Cardinals for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins. The Cardinals got the 25-year-old outfielder in Heyward, who was a first round pick in the 2007 draft and relief pitcher 27-year old Walden while The Braves acquired young pitchers Miller, 24 years old and Jenkins, 21 years old.

Heyward is a two-time Gold Glove winner who has a .262 career batting average with 84 home runs and 292 RBIs since making his MLB debut in 2010. Heyward, who will hit free agency after 2015, logged in .271 with 11 homers, 58 RBIs and 20 stolen bases the past season.

Heyward is considered one of baseball’s most valued outfielders but Atlanta Braves president of baseball operations admitted it was a hard decision to let go a player of his calibre. Jayson Heyward’s contract expires after the 2015 season and Hart believes that he’ll be one of the key free agents that year.

"It was very difficult to trade Jason Heyward, but this deal was made to help us not only in the short term, but also in the long term as we move forward," Hart said via the official site of the league, MLB.COM. "I certainly recognize what an outstanding player Jason is. We would have loved to retain him, but my sense was Jason was going to be out on the free-agent market next year.”

The Braves acquisition of Miller, who was selected 19th overall in the 2009 draft and Jenkins, who was picked in the supplemental round of the 2010 draft will provide depth to Atlanta’s pitching crew. Meanwhile, Walden posted a 2.88 ERA for Atlanta last season and is expected to boost the St. Louis bullpen.

Hart was excited with getting Miller, who he has called a player with a “great pedigree." Unlike Heyward, Miller is under contract for four more years.

"He's an outstanding baseball guy. He's a first-round pick who has always had a big arm. Over the past several years, his pitchability has been improving significantly,” Hart said in the same article.