Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Trade Deadline: We are WINNERS!

Welcome to San Diego, Ian Kennedy.

We were all holding our breath at the deadline, not just you, Ian.


Yes, the San Diego Padres have passed the trade deadline as winners for the first time in who knows how long.

They didn't deal Headley, they didn't deal Quentin, they didn't even deal Street, and although they should have maybe dealt some pieces (or got rid of some unwanted baggage *coughKotsay*), they only gave up Joe Thatcher off the major league roster to the Diamondback for a much needed starting pitcher, Ian Kennedy.

Neither are we at your performance this year.


Interesting to see an inter-division trade and interesting that a rumor about this wasn't even brought up about this until the deal was done, but the Padres managed to land righty none the less.

Full Details:

Padres get:
RHP Ian Kennedy (3-8, 5.23 ERA)

D'Backs get:
Joe Thatcher
AA reliever, Matt Stites
and a compensatory draft pick

Kennedy has shown some signs of regression since 2011, where he went 21-4, but last year he still posted a 15 win season with just over a 4 ERA. Upsides still on him? He is still only 28 years old and has shown some great MLB success. Also, he is a flyball pitcher, which could help moving into Petco rather than Chase Field.

Padres needed to make a move and there was concerns about Byrnes getting through the deadline with nothing, and although I know we would have liked to been buyers come July 31st, it still would have been good to deal off some guys on the team. To me, I feel we have too many competent players who are interchangeable, but still have some value to teams seeking a run in the playoffs this year. A guy like Denorfia or Guzman being moved would not have surprised me at all. Guzman, who has really turned in on in the last few months and Denorfia who is a solid .270 with some pop, good at-bats, and has a solid glove in the outfield.

It is sad to see Thatcher go, though. As a seven-year Padre vet, and a solid arm out of the pen, he was a good guy that I never minded seeing the ball get handed to him, but to see the potential upgrade from this deal gets me excited.

A possible middle to upper rotation pitcher who, although arbitration eligible at the end of the year, still only is making mid $4M and will get a slight raise. To put in perspective, Maybin makes $5M/yr and we see how that investment has gone so far, so risk/reward? I think the risk is way worth the reward.

My thoughts fast-forward to 2014 now thinking of a healthy rotation....
Luebke, Kennedy, Cashner, Stults, and Ross/Kelly/Weiland or...? doesn't sound like a bad group of five guys. No superstars (maybe), but five guys that could give you consistent outings and give the team chances to win ball games. I have loved the progression of Cashner as a starter this year and the recent flashes of brilliance by Tyson Ross makes me wonder how the dude went 2-11 last year as a starter. Get this team healthy and they could sniff at a wild card spot as early as next year.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves....