San Diego Padres: Four Affordable Free-Agents Friars Should Pursue

LHP Tony Watson would strengthen the San Diego Padres bullpen

Tony Watson is an effective left-handed reliever with a funky delivery and a killer fastball, an even deadlier slider, and a scary sinker that’s increased his groundball rate considerably. Splitting last season between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Watson pitched to a 3.38 ERA, though his ERA after being traded to LA was an impressive 2.70 (in much more high-leverage situations, no doubt).

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The San Diego Padres could use Tony Watson as a shut-down lefty in their bullpen. Though Watson may have lost the title of “shut-down” over his last season or so in Pittsburgh, his career 2.68 ERA and 9.8 WAR make it very clear that Watson has the potential to be a bulldog in the bullpen.

Adding Watson in a 6th or 7th-inning role behind Craig Stammen and Brad Hand could give the San Diego Padres a formidable back-end to their bullpen and give their younger relievers a much easier environment to continue developing without all of the added pressure of being counted upon in high-leverage situations.