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San Diego Padres common supervisor A.J. Preller reunited with an previous good friend in one other blockbuster transfer Tuesday night time.
The aggressive Padres received Yu Darvish in a commerce with the Chicago Cubs, including one other ace to their rotation after saying a deal for Blake Snell earlier within the day. Throughout his time in Texas’ entrance workplace, Preller scouted Darvish earlier than the Rangers acquired the Japanese right-hander in 2012.
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“His final season and a half has been as productive as anyone within the recreation. He is a pressure,” Preller stated Tuesday night time. “So I believe getting again on the telephone with him, catching up for a couple of minutes, actually wanting ahead to being round him each single day once more.”
The Padres received Darvish, catcher Victor Caratini and money from the Cubs for right-hander Zach Davies and 4 younger minor leaguers. The switch-hitting Caratini caught Darvish in Chicago and batted .241 with 16 RBIs final season.
“We have had curiosity in Victor for a couple of years now,” Preller stated. “I believe he is been a man that, simply on his personal, we really feel like is a high quality catching choice for us.”
Davies went 7-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 12 begins for San Diego this 12 months. The bundle of prospects headed to Chicago consists of Owen Caissie, an 18-year-old outfielder who was chosen by the Padres within the second spherical of this 12 months’s newbie draft.
The 34-year-old Darvish was 8-3 with a 2.01 ERA in 12 begins for Chicago through the pandemic-shortened season, ending second within the NL Cy Younger Award race. He has three years and $59 million left on the $126 million, six-year deal he signed with the Cubs earlier than the 2018 season.
San Diego additionally accomplished a giant commerce with Tampa Bay for Snell. The 2018 AL Cy Younger Award winner was despatched from the Rays to the Padres for a bundle of 4 gamers: right-handers Luis Patiño and Cole Wilcox, and catchers Francisco Mejía and Blake Hunt — all well-regarded children from a San Diego system that’s been stocking the farm for years.
The Padres made the playoffs this 12 months for the primary time since 2006, however their injury-depleted rotation was in shambles when the postseason arrived. They beat St. Louis within the first spherical earlier than getting swept in three Division Collection video games by their NL West rivals, the World Collection champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mike Clevinger, acquired from Cleveland in August, isn’t anticipated again from Tommy John surgical procedure till 2022, however the Padres produce other high quality starters in Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. Left-hander MacKenzie Gore is one among baseball’s high pitching prospects.
“Just about each commerce dialog normally begins with MacKenzie Gore,” Preller stated. “However once more, I believe we’re wanting ahead to Mack coming to camp and competing and being a part of the group right here for a very long time.”
Darvish is in the midst of a profession renaissance after struggling upon arrival in Chicago. He was restricted to eight begins and 40 innings in 2018 due to accidents. He began to regain his kind in 2019, posting a 2.76 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 81 2/3 innings over his closing 13 begins.
He picked up this 12 months proper the place he left off, serving to the Cubs to the NL Central title. The correct-hander attributed a few of his turnaround to going again to a extra deliberate model that he employed when he was a star pitcher in Japan. He additionally has developed a rapport with Caratini that ought to assist his transition to San Diego.
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4 years after a historic World Collection championship, Chicago is retooling beneath Jed Hoyer, who was promoted to president of baseball operations after Theo Epstein stepped down in November. Veteran outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Albert Almora Jr. have been let go on Dec. 2, however the Darvish deal is the staff’s greatest transfer since Hoyer took over.
There might be extra trades on the horizon. All-Star sluggers Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo are eligible totally free company after subsequent season. However the Cubs nonetheless would possibly have the ability to contend whereas Hoyer reworks the roster because of the cost-cutting ambiance across the NL Central.
Minor league infielders Reginald Preciado, 17, and Yeison Santana, 20, and outfielder Ismael Mena, 18, additionally have been acquired by the Cubs within the Darvish commerce.
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