San Diego Padres in the playoffs…sort of Part 2

What other former San Diego Padres are participating in this year’s postseason? The list is complete.

Of the former Padres who have made it to the postseason this year, third baseman Chase Headley has played only a minor role for the Yankees. Todd Frazier (acquired in a July trade from the White Sox) has received playing time over Headley at third.

Former Padre Fernando Rodney now closes for the Diamondbacks. Arizona beat Colorado in the national league wild card game, but the Dodgers quickly dispatched the D-Backs and await their opponent in the National League Championship Series.

In 2011 Yasmani Grandal joined the Padres as part of a trade that sent pitcher Mat Latos to the Cincinnati Reds. The following year, MLB suspended him for high testosterone levels, and he missed 50 games. In three seasons with the Padres, he played in 216 games as catcher.

As part of general manager A. J. Preller’s’ trade flurry in the winter of 2014, the Padres swapped Grandal for Dodger slugger Matt Kemp. The outfielder could still hit, but, thanks to aging and injuries, he couldn’t cover right field for the Padres and became a defensive liability. The trade benefited the Dodgers, as moving Kemp made way for Yasiel Puig in right, and Grandal solidified the catching position for LA.

However, this season Austin Barnes has taken playing time away from Grandal. Known for his pitch-framing ability, Grandal leads the majors (along with Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez) in passed balls at 16. (Padres’ catcher Austin Hedges has three).

The Padres drafted infielder Logan Forsythe, also with the Dodgers now, in the first round in 2008. He played for San Diego from 2011 until the team traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Alex Torres and RHP Jesse Hahn. The Dodgers picked him up in the off-season and, for the first time in his career, Forsythe plays for a team with a winning record.

Former Padres Anthony Rizzo and Trea Turner have played major roles in helping the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals reach the postseason. In 2012 Josh Byrnes, Padres general manager of the moment, traded Rizzo for pitcher Andrew Cashner. Of course, Rizzo has become a superstar with the Cubs.

Related Story: Padres in the playoffs....sort of (part 1)

Cashner, now with the Texas Ranger, did not become a superstar in San Diego. In five years with the Padres the hard-throwing right-hander had a 28-43 record and never lived up to his capability. The Padres let him go in 2016 in a trade that netted the Padres Jarred Cosart, Carter Capps, and Josh Naylor. Cosart and Capps are currently on the disabled list, Naylor in the minors.Turner, hampered by a broken wrist for part of the season, bats first for the Washington Nationals and plays shortstop (a perennial sore spot for the Padres). He stole 46 bases in only 98 games but can also hit the ball out of the park. Nationals’ general manager Mike Rizzo had his eyes on Turner when he was in the Padres’ system, and bided his time until Preller took over as general manager. The Padres wanted Wil Myers from the Rays, and in a three-team swap, the Nationals got their guy.

Turner, hampered by a broken wrist for part of the season, bats first for the Washington Nationals and plays shortstop (a perennial sore spot for the Padres). He stole 46 bases in only 98 games but can also hit the ball out of the park. Nationals’ general manager Mike Rizzo had his eyes on Turner when he was in the Padres’ system, and bided his time until Preller took over as general manager. The Padres wanted Wil Myers from the Rays, and in a three-team swap, the Nationals got their guy.

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• This veteran DH target seems ideal for contending Padres roster

And finally, the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs began their turnaround when they hired former Padres’ executives Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein.   Both had only short stints in San Diego, Hoyer as general manager for two years beginning in October 2009. He had originally acquired Rizzo in a trade sending Padres’ first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox.Epstein began his career with the Padres when Larry Lucchino held the position of director of player development. Lucchino (the driving force behind the building of Petco Park) left in 2001 for the Red Sox and took Epstein with him. In 2011 Epstein moved on to the Cubs with Hoyer, and the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time since 1908.

Epstein began his career with the Padres when Larry Lucchino held the position of director of player development. Lucchino (the driving force behind the building of Petco Park) left in 2001 for the Red Sox and took Epstein with him. In 2011 Epstein moved on to the Cubs with Hoyer, and the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time since 1908.

Next: Padres in the playoffs....sort of (part 1)

Of course, the Padres have yet to win that grand prize. Thanks to changes in ownership and front office personnel, the team has lurched from one philosophy to another. One general manager’s prize draft pick becomes another’s trade bait in a seemingly endless loop. Local fans can only wait and hope for the stability necessary for the team to become successful.