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San Diego Padres AM Talk: Well, Yesterday Was Fun

By Nick Stevens

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Garrett Richards #43 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim throws a ptich to Josh Reddick #22 of the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 30, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Garrett Richards #43 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim throws a ptich to Josh Reddick #22 of the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 30, 2015 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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San Diego Padres AM Talk: Thursday was a busy day across the league and the Padres made a move!

You wanted the San Diego Padres to make moves, well, ask and you shall receive. Reported yesterday by Fancred’s Jon Heyman, San Diego was able to ink starting pitcher Garrett Richards to a two-year deal. This after it was believed the Los Angeles Dodgers were in line to sign the former LA Angels Opening Day starter.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports was first with the contract details, a two-year deal worth $15.5 million, potentially worth as much as $18 million. As many have pointed out, Richards earned a bit more than other pitchers who have been signed while out from Tommy John surgery, but with the Dodgers also being aggressive and his potential to slot in at the top of a rotation, the price tag was driven nearly twice as high as many projected.

Fans have more access than ever to advanced analytics, pitch movement, spin rates, graphs, charts, and just about anything else you can think of. But we don’t have access to all the data and reports on players. How much do you trust that AJ Preller and company saw enough to feel confident in this signing?

This move obviously doesn’t help anything in 2019, but it is a good move.

As I mentioned yesterday, Richards used his slider 39% of the time, his most used pitch in 2018. Opponents hit .144 against the slider and whiffed on 45% of them. Among all MLB pitchers with at least 100 batted balls against their slider, only seven other pitchers had a lower average against, with Cleveland Indians Trevor Bauer leading the way with a .100 BAA. He has the right stuff, now if he could just stay healthy.

This is a team that needs starting pitching. Richards has proven that when he is healthy he is a very good pitcher who can limit base runners and produce more than his fair share of strikeouts.

What if Richards can’t rebound from another major injury? The Padres move on and don’t take a big financial hit, pretty simple. But what if the Padres hit with this bet? The potential rewards outweigh the risks with this signing. Welcome to San Diego, Garrett Richards.

San Diego has not officially made the announcement and corresponding roster move. Expect that information to be released in the coming hours.

Friday morning Hot Stove report.

The Seattle Mariners and New York Mets are

working on a blockbuster deal

that is expected to be finalized at any moment.

Ken Rosenthal has reported

that the Mets will likely include top prospects

Jarred Kelenic

and

Justin Dunn

, along with

Jay Bruce

and more pieces in exchange for

Robinson Cano

and All-Star closer

Edwin Diaz

. As Anthony Dicomo points out in the above-linked article, the Mets have already informed their players to be involved that the trade is imminent. The New York Mets want to win now, otherwise why trade away two top prospects and take on a 36-year-old that is owed more than $100 million? It makes you wonder just how serious they are about moving

Noah Syndergaard.

More from Friars on Base

  • Former Arizona Diamondback pitcher Patrick Corbin is set to become a very rich man. He spent his week visiting the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, and New York Yankees. The Phillies are all in this offseason and the Yankees don’t appear to be hitting the offseason slowly, meaning a big bidding war could be underway. So much for any idea of the Padres sweeping in on this one.
  • The Cincinnati Reds have been connected to a number of high-profile arms this offseason and now Jon Heyman is reporting that the organization is “all over” Dallas Keuchel and has reached out to J.A. Happ.
  • Last but not least, the Los Angeles Angels have released outfielder Jabari Blash. Do the El Paso Chihuahuas need another outfielder? #BringHimBack #JustKiddingButNotReally

    • Next. Franmil Reyes Set To Miss Significant Time. dark

    Today should be one of the more exciting days of the offseason and provide more entertainment than all of last season. With the deadline to offer contracts to arbitration-eligible players set for later this afternoon and at least one blockbuster trade all but official, the hot stove should stay a blaze all day long.

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