Chris Paddack glad to be out of “UPS” uniforms after trade from Padres to Twins
Chris Paddack’s name was in trade rumors throughout spring training, but it wasn’t until Opening Day that he actually got dealt.
The San Diego Padres traded him to the Minnesota Twins, who’ve had their eye on the righty for almost half a decade now.
But Paddack – who is on record as saying he grew up idolizing Joe Mauer – doesn’t seem too thrilled with the Padres about being traded to Mauer’s team:
"“Looks fairly good on me, I think. Better than the gold and brown [of San Diego] — I looked like UPS. We always got those jokes in San Diego, but I’m excited, man. It’s a new [jersey] number. I’m still the same guy, but just want a fresh start. Being a younger guy, I learned a lot over the years. But I’m excited for the new journey.”"
via MLB.com
Sounds like there’s no love lost between Paddack and his former team.
Unsurprisingly, the comment did not play well with Padres fans, with several making mail-themed jokes in response. One person tweeted, “Too bad YOU COULD’NT DELIVER WHEN IT COUNTED,” and another chimed in, “At least UPS could actually deliver. Pipe down deputy.”
Elbow injuries impacted Paddack’s 2021 campaign, sidelining him for over a month in the second half of the season. Overall, he posted a 4.07 ERA in 23 games (22 starts). There were several encouraging games, though, including the month of May, when he allowed 0-1 earned runs in four of five starts.
Now, he’ll be the sixth man in the Twins’ rotation. He went from one team with an abundance of pitching to another in a similar situation.
Hopefully, he gets the fresh start he wants, but his parting message wasn’t well-received.
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