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.

 #4

The acquisition of Derek Norris and Seth Streich from the Oakland Athletics for R.J. Alvarez and Jesse Hahn

Another former All-Star addition to the San Diego Padres team is Derek Norris. He also (in my opinion) came at the heftiest price if you are counting major league ready talent. Norris hit 10 homers and drove in 55 runs with a .270 batting average. I know those numbers aren’t particular good but his .361 on base percentage, shows he knows the strike zone.

Jesse Hahn and RJ Alvarez are both quality young arms. The Padres have loads of quality young arms, but after moving both Yasmani Grandal and Rene Rivera they lacked a quality major league catcher. Thus a trade was born.

Austin Hedges comes with a lot of hype. The only thing preventing him from being in San Diego is his bat, or lack there of, so far in his young career. Defensively he has the quick release and arm strength scouts dream of. His receiving and pitch calling are improving day by day.

Now, did AJ Preller give too much for Norris being that Hedges is only a year or so away from being an everyday, Yadier Molina type of catcher. Okay, maybe that’s a little too high a praise to give to Hedges. I do remember Molina first entering the league with the reputation similar, now how has his bat improved? It can happen, after all the catchers first responsibility should be to handle the pitching staff not hitting 3 run homers.

Back to Norris, he is a very legit hitter. He has the on-base percentage and power that will be a nice addition to a previously stale offense. Defense is not his strong suit though. The Kansas City Royals went wild running on him in the 2014 post season. Its not all his fault, but troubling to say the least.

What Norris needs to do is improve his receiving skills. Jesse Hahn had a very impressive rookie year last year. He was 7-4 with a 3.07 era and 70 strike outs in 73 innings. At the age of 24 and with his above average curveball, he could very well be a decent two or three pitcher in the Major League for years to come. RJ Alvarez, a power bullpen arm was also a loss for the team. He is only 23 and could provide a decent bullpen option for the Athletics.

This trade ranks this high provided Austin Hedges is moved in a trade for say Cole Hamels (fingers crossed). That would, to me, justify the deal for Norris. He is under control for the next four years and being that he is only 25, his defense should improve with time. He has already stated that he has been working on it during the off season.

If we are playing Norris and Hedges towards the end of this year, then we have a problem. Derek Norris and Austin Hedges are catchers that need to play everyday. In order to appreciate each catchers abilities they need to be out there five or six days a week.

Sure, Norris might give up a big steal here and there, but he will also get some huge hits provided he is given the opportunity to play. Hedges will give away at bats from time to time, while at the plate, but he will also throw out base runners with ease on the base paths.

Perhaps we can get Commisioner Manfred to designate a new rule called designated catcher. That way Hedges can receive the pitching staff while Norris gets all the at bats. I’ll get right on that Padres fans.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

#3

Three-way trade- to San Diego Padres- Wil Myers, Ryan Hanigan, Gerardo Reyes, and Jose Castillo– to Tampa Bay Rays– Steven Souza, Travis Ott, Jake Bauers, Rene Rivera, Burch Smith– to Washington Nationals– Joe Ross and player to be named later (rumored to be Trea Turner)

This trade really came out of no where. Matt Kemp and Justin Upton were both rumored to be coming to San Diego for weeks, but nobody in the Major League Baseball world knew someone of Myers ability was available. Well, I guess two teams knew (Nationals and Padres).

When I first heard this, I was completely shocked. How could someone like Wil Myers, with all that talent, be available? I mean, he comes with as much minor league hype as can be attained. 2012 in the Kansas City Royals organization Myers hit .314/.387/.600 with 37 homeruns and 109 runs batted in 134 games. That’s just flat-out raking the ball!

The last time in Myers was injured (2011), he rebounded with the before mentioned monster season. At the age of 24 he has unlimited potential. With just a little luck Wil Myers will be the face of The San Diego Padres for years to come.

He is under team control until the 2020 season when he is eligible for free agency. That alone has immense value. We can essentially get the best years out of Myers, and only have to pay him a fraction of his potential worth. Of course he is no guarantee. There is no guarantee in baseball, anything can most surely happen.

The prospects that we dealt to acquire him are very solid. Trea Turner and Joe Ross were both considered top prospects in the Padres farm system. Jake Bauers was a lower level prospect, but still very young and raw. Burch Smith did a decent job in the bullpen for the Padres last season. Losing Rene Rivera was probably the most direct hit to the team as far as immediate damage in this deal.

Rivera would have most surely, started the season as the every day catcher until Hedges was ready. A very solid plan if you ask me. Rivera, a defensive catcher would have mentored Hedges well. Obviously Rivera was a pivotal part of the Myers deal, so I don’t blame AJ Preller for doing it. That’s what I enjoy about AJ Preller, he adapts well on the fly. If Rivera was going to be moved, then plan B (Norris) would  be pulled off. You have to do it, to acquire someone of Wil Myers ilk.

Wil Myers has that kind of appeal. The Tampa Bay Rays fell in love with him in December 2012 when they dealt their ace pitcher “Big Game” James Shields and Wade Davis. A very hefty price tag, but both Shields and Davis led the Royals all the way to the World Series this past year. Now the Padres have the infatuation, and its even rumored the Philadelphia Phillies are also in love with him, demanding Myers in a potential deal for Cole Hamels.

I like Myers a lot, and despite all the strikeouts, I believe he will open some eyes this year. The projections on his numbers will be blown out of the water. If all the stars align, Wil Myers can be the face of the San Diego Padres for the next 15 years. If Myers looks like he is anything close to his potential, look for the Padres to try and look him up long term. Probably not this year, but in the next coming years.

Sep 19, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) hits a single against the New York Mets in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

 #2

The acquisition of Justin Upton and Adam Northcraft from the Atlanta Braves for Max Fried, Dustin Peterson, Mallex Smith and Jace Peterson

Justin Upton is in the prime of his career. What that means is his value and usefulness will never be any higher than say the next three to five years. He is the proverbial five tool talent who is currently in the peak of his playing career.

His price tag was not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Max Fried was the Padres #1 draft pick in 2012 draft, the seventh pick overall. He is currently on rehab for Tommy John surgery, but at his age (21) he can easily come back from such a setback.

Mallex Smith, a speedy centerfielder hadn’t progressed passed high A ball but has very impressive numbers. Stealing 88, 88 and 64 bases the past three seasons. He is also only 21-years old.

The Peterson duo are also decent mid talent prospects. Dustin Peterson is a 20-year old third baseman prospect. Jace Peterson is a infielder who got in 27 games for the Padres last season. He provides the Braves with organizational depth.

Along with Upton comes Adam Northcraft who brings us another young quality arm in the minors, or potentially in the back end of the bullpen. He is 24-years old and has yet to make it all the way to Major Leagues. He has spent six years in the minors and sports a 3.91 era in 639 innings. Another Balsey project could pay big dividends here.

Justin Upton brings to San Diego a career .274 average with 164 homeruns. He has been in the Major League for eight years, when he started with the Arizona Diamondbacks at the age of 19. In 2011 while playing for the Diamondbacks, Upton crushed 31 homeruns and hit .289 with a .369 on base percentage. Last year he hit .270 with 29 homeruns and 102 runs batted in.

In my opinion his best years are in front of him. He has played in at least 149 games for four straight years, so you can count on him being in the lineup day after day. He is an All-Star caliber player in the prime of his career. The negative is, he might just be a one year rental.

Upton’s contract expires at the end of the year. He is likely to command in the excess of 100 million dollars on the open market. He will get that money from someone, question is will the Padres invest that much in him. That might be a bit much to ask, having Matt Kemp’s contract for the next five years already on the books.

If the Padres keep Upton the whole year and offer him a contract, but he decides to leave then they are entitled to a compensatory pick. He would be a Type A free agent allowing the Padres to get a first round pick out of the potential loss of Upton.

Hopefully there is a way to keep Justin Upton, but I believe the writing is clearly on the wall. He is looking like a one year rental at the cost of four young prospects. Anything can happen in this sport we love called baseball so stay tuned folks. Its going to be a fun summer.