The San Diego Padres acquired left-handed starter Blake Snell of the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for a multi-player package, sources confirmed to CBS Sports. The Rays host right-handers Luis Patino and Cole Wilcox, and catchers Blake Hunt and Francisco Mejia in the 4-for-1 trade. No team announced the deal.
Snell (28) won the 2018 American League Cy Young Award and has set a 2.85 ERA (148 ERA +) and 3.54 elimination-to-step ratio over the past three seasons. He owes $ 39 million until 2023, which is extremely affordable in the big scheme, but also a bit expensive for the rays, which work according to the best budgets.
Tampa parted ways with two of their top three starters this weekend – they turned down Charlie Morton’s $ 15 million club option last month and then signed with the Braves – and Tyler Glasnow as the team’s only remaining champion left. The Rays will have to figure out how to complete their turn behind Glasnow, Michael Wacha and Ryan Yarbrough before training in the spring.
As for the Padres, Snell gives them a legitimate top of the turn arm on a team-friendly contract. Even without Mike Clevinger, who will miss 2021 as he recovers from the Tommy John operation, San Diego has loaded an impressive rotation with upside down:
- RHP Dinelson Lamet
- LHP Blake Snell
- RHP Chris Paddack
- RHP Zach Davies
- LHP Adrian Morejon
- LHP Joey Lucchesi
The Padres were able to complete this trade – as well as the Clevinger trade – without sacrificing left-wing MacKenzie Gore, probably the best prospect in the game. Gore could make his MLB debut next season and it is entirely possible that the Padres will turn in 2022 with Lamet, Snell, Clevinger, Paddack and Gore.
San Diego achieved the third best record (37-23) and the second best running differential (plus-84) in baseball in 2020, and they will be even better in 2021, even without Clevinger. They have Snell, a full year’s completion of the deadline for Austin Nola, and a healthy season of Tommy Pham, plus youngsters like Paddack and Fernando Tatis Jr.
The problem for the Padres? They are in the same division as defending World Series champions Dodgers, who will repeat as favorites next year. This current Padres team looks like the biggest threat to the Dodgers in the Andrew Friedman era. Los Angeles has won eight straight titles and San Diego should claim them in 2021.
Patino (21) goes to the rays. He was won in his MLB debut last season (10 runs in 17 1/3 overs), but MLB.com ranks him as the leading number 23 in the match. Our RJ Anderson named Patino the No. 2 prospect in San Diego’s system behind Gore earlier this month. Here is an excerpt from his writing:
Patino is on the smaller side, but he has big things, including an above-average fast ball and break ball. Patino has yet to work on his change and his command; provided he progresses – note his age – he should get a chance as an appetizer. Otherwise, he has a promising future in relief, where his size will not be talked about as often.
The 25-year-old Mejia was a prospect in the not too distant past. Mejia, who was acquired from Cleveland in the Brad Hand trade, has struggled to establish himself at MLB level and is a career-high 0.225 / .282 / .386 in 128 games. The inclusion of Mejia in the trade tells us that the Padres are confident in Nola and Luis Campusano as their catchers of the present and future.
Wilcox, 21, was the 80th overall pick in the 2020 draft and has yet to play a professional game. Hunt was the 69th pick in 2017. The 22-year-old is a .258 / .341 / .384 victim in 175 minor league games in his career, none above Single-A, and he stands out the most for his throwing arm behind the board. . Hunt and Wilcox are long-term projects. Mejia and Patino should have more immediate impact.
The Rays achieved the second best record (40-20) and the third run differential (plus-60) in baseball last season and are after the sixth game of the World Series. They are still formidable – no team is that good at finding cheap players, although Morton and Snell will have a hard time replacing them. A-caliber entrees are in short supply, and it’s two baits out of season.
Earlier this season, we placed Snell fifth on our candidate list. Lance Lynn, who finished fourth, was traded to the White Sox last month. Trevor Bauer is the only comparable starter available for free during the off-season.