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San Diego Padres: Becoming Trade Partners With The Cleveland Indians

By Nick Stevens |
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 23: Starting pitcher Tyson Ross #38 of the San Diego Padres waits to pitch against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 23: Starting pitcher Tyson Ross #38 of the San Diego Padres waits to pitch against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on May 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 13: A San Diego Padres hat sits in the dugout during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on May 13, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – MAY 13: A San Diego Padres hat sits in the dugout during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on May 13, 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

The San Diego Padres have a perfect trading partner in the Cleveland Indians.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how the New York Yankees would be a great fit for Tyson Ross, giving the San Diego Padres a chance (no pun intended) to acquire AAA and AA talent that is just a 2018 offseason away from reaching the majors (Chance Adams). Those rumors have cooled off as the Yankees appear to have focused much of their attention towards Manny Machado, Mike Moustakas, and possibly, Brad Hand (save that for another time).

Let’s turn our attention to another potential trading partner, the current leaders of the American League Central division.

Working out a deal with the Cleveland Indians just makes too much sense. The Indians are currently 49-41, 8.5 games up on the Minnesota Twins (nine games below .500) in the American League Central. Outside of one of the biggest miracles in baseball history, the Indians have the Central all but mathematically locked up. However, their roster can’t survive a playoff run against the likes of Boston, New York, and Houston.

The bullpen ranks 26th in saves with 20, just one ahead of the Royals, White Sox, and Marlins. Their strikeout rate ranks 19th while they are giving up an MLB-high 1.66 HR/9. The Mets are second worse on that list at 1.45.

Cleveland relievers are stranding just 67.2% of runners on base, the second-worst mark in the majors. A combined 5.37 ERA ranks dead last and their combined -0.8 WAR is better than only the Mets and Royals.

I think you get the idea now, the Cleveland Indians bullpen is atrocious. Combing through the names and numbers of the Padres’ bullpen has to invoke the same feelings we all had when we were small kids and our parents finally caved and took us into the massive candy store at the mall.

If San Diego and Cleveland were to work out a deal, one of the top names on everyone’s list is Francisco Mejia, for good reason. However, that’s not where I’m looking at the moment.

PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 25: Relief pitcher Craig Stammen
PHOENIX, AZ – APRIL 25: Relief pitcher Craig Stammen /

The Indians need bullpen and outfield help, both of which the San Diego Padres have.

The San Diego Padres need to target Triston McKenzie. One of my favorite resources for prospect information is 2080baseball.com and Adam McInturff was in Richmond recently (along with many scouts from many different teams) to get eyes on the 20-year-old top pitching prospect.

I’ve seen him numerous times, each performance more dominant than the previous, however, I don’t travel the country scouting players, so I’ll use the words of McInturff.

  • Fluid and athletic, repeats extremely well.
  • 88-93 mph FB, should hold velocity as he matures (6’5″ 165 pounds and seemingly hasn’t gained a pound in two years)
  • Above average 11-5 curveball that is major league ready.
  • Potential with his changeup that clocks at 84 mph.

What are the San Diego Padres giving up in this deal?

The focus of the deal would be the bullpen pieces of either Kirby Yates or Craig Stammen. Stammen is three years older and will make over $2.2 million for the next two seasons. Yates is earning just over $1 million this year and is having the best season of his career.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a track record of success.

Whichever option Cleveland chooses, it’s an immediate and substantial bullpen upgrade.

Cleveland is also in need of some help in the outfield, again, a position the San Diego Padres are flooded with. Lonnie Chisenhall could be out for the rest of the regular season with a severe calf strain. He’s not expected back for 8-10 weeks, plus rehab time.

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Since Chisenhall went down, the Indians have used an outfield alignment of Michael Brantley, Brandon Guyer, Tyler Naquin, Rajai Davis, and Greg Allen.

Brantley is having a fantastic season, so there’s no concern with left field. Naquin is hitting .266 with a .299 OBP and a 36/5 K/BB ratio (-0.1 WAR). Rajai Davis is still stealing a massive amount of bases at 37 years of age but isn’t an everyday option for the Indians. Guyer is hitting .168 and Allen is at .208 with a .248 OBP and 35 strikeouts in 125 at-bats.

Travis Jankowski can be a versatile piece for Cleveland and provide more speed on the basepaths. He may have cooled off since his hot stretch earlier this year, however, Jankowski still getting on base at a .353 clip, aided by an 11% walk rate.

San Diego also has nine-Top 30 prospects that will be Rule-5 draft eligible, unless they are placed on the 40-man roster this offseason. Luis Urias, Anderson Espinoza, Chris Paddack, and Jacob Nix all need to be protected. The Padres could throw in one or more of the remaining prospects who could be lost for nothing, including Edward Olivares (from the Yangervis Solarte trade), Trey Wingenter, or Michael Gettys.

Many also argue that Adam Cimber’s trade value may never get any higher than it is right now. The 27-year-old rookie is having a dominant season out of the pen but there’s disagreement about whether or not his stuff can truly play or it’s all funk and deception. I’m more inclined to keep Cimber but if he can help bring in a player like McKenzie, throw him into the mix.

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Is that enough to acquire McKenzie? Only those in the front office know exactly what it will take (and the Theo Epstein’s of Twitter) but at the end of the day, the Padres need to move a number of pieces or risk losing them with no return. McKenzie isn’t a prospect who is three years away from joining a major league roster, he’s already putting up really good numbers in Double-A for the Akron Rubberducks in the hitter-heavy Eastern League. He could very well be in the majors by the 2019 All-Star break.

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