Padres Editorial/Ranking the Padres off-season moves Part 2

#5

The acquisition of Brandon Maurer from the Seattle Mariners for Seth Smith

Brandon Maurer is someone the Padres organization has been eyeing for years. Last season when Chris Denorfia was dealt to the Mariners, Maurer’s name reportedly came up in conversations. Ultimately the Padres settled for Abraham Almonte and Stephen Kohlscheen in exchange for Denorfia at the trade deadline.

The 24 year old Californian from Costa Mesa comes home and could end up being a most important part to the Padres pitching staff. He has size and durability, which is fantastic. At 6 foot 5 and 220 pounds, he provides a nice downward plain toward home plate. He is reportedly a laid-back type of guy and that bodes well with our existing group in the pen.

Maurer has spent the last two seasons with the Mariners totaling a 6-12 record with a 5.92 era and a whip of 1.466. I know those numbers are not great, in fact they are horrible. I say his youth overshadows these numbers.

Pitching in the major leagues at the age of 22 and 23 and throwing almost 160 innings is valuable. His education has been at the major league level, team that with the honor of working with San Diego Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley and presto! You have a nice, young, inexpensive pitcher with major league experience and tons of upside.

Seth Smith was the most consistent hitter the Padres had last season. While other hitters would just give away at bats, he put a quality at bat time and time again. He will be missed, but he deserves to start on a Major League team. He was not going to do that in San Diego with all the new talent on the Padres roster. So he was deemed expendable.

Maurer has the flexibility to start or relieve. Pay close attention to weather the Padres stretch him out in the Spring (to give him a shot at the rotation), or perhaps they just let him settle into a 7th inning role. He could very well be the Padres chief setup man or nail down the 4th spot in the rotation. Only time will tell.