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Padres already looking to the future with their rotation
Wednesday’s Say Hey, Baseball includes the Padres’ attempts at a youthful rotation, Bryce Harper doing Harper things, and the future of Christian Yelich under Barry Bonds.
Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images
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The Padres have three starters that they can -- and likely want to -- trade at some point in 2016. Tyson Ross is a free agent after 2018, and would bring back a significant return. Andrew Cashner is a free agent this fall, and if he can't be traded for something worthwhile, will likely be able to bring a compensation pick back like Ian Kennedy did this past winter. Then there is James Shields, who has an opt-out after this season and is signed through 2018 with an option for 2019 otherwise. It's easy to envision a contender paying for any of these three by July, and it's why the Padres are focused so much on developing their replacements internally.
Drew Pomeranz, Colin Rea, and Robbie Erlin are all in the rotation now -- in part thanks to Ross going on the disabled list after his Opening Day start. Pomeranz was acquired this offseason for first baseman Yonder Alonso, and has been given another shot at the rotation instead of relief work. If the transition works, he’s either going to be valuable to the Padres while in their uniform or in a trade. Colin Rea is getting a chance to hold on to a rotation spot after debuting in 2015, and while his ceiling isn’t high, as the aforementioned Kennedy proved with a $70 million free agent deal, even a potential back-end starter has real value in this market. And Rea might be more like a mid-rotation arm if things break right.
Erlin is maybe the most intriguing of the bunch. Injuries and the occasional bouts of ineffectiveness have kept him from being a full-time starter in the majors for a couple of years now, but he’s a former top-100 prospect who now has a chance to keep a job on a rebuilding team. He’s not about to lead a rotation or anything, but between the three of these arms, the Padres might be able to build the back-end of one on the cheap. The rest is up to their even younger arms still on the farm and what A.J. Preller can bring back in trades, but this is a start.
- Dee Gordon won the National League batting title, and what that means for Marlins players is they get an enormous pendant with diamonds in it from the team.
- The Nationals hit four home runs in the seventh inning on Tuesday, including Bryce Harper’s second grand slam of the season. You hear that Papa John Schnatter? A grand slam.
- Christian Yelich is going to be a monster player with a little help from his coach, Barry Bonds.
- This Giants’ fan was ejected for touching a fair ball. Never touch a fair ball, y’all. Have some self-control and situational awareness.
- The Twins haven’t look good so far in 2016, but it’s not Joe Mauer’s fault.
- Johnny Cueto is extremely good at blowing bubbles. I am very jealous, as I’ve never blown a bubble with gum in my life.
- Jason Kipnis is off to the best start of his career, and the Indians are going to need him to keep it going in a competitive AL Central.
- The Lake Elsinore Storm, High-A affiliate of the Padres, are going to host the California/Carolina League Home Run Derby on a decommissioned aircraft carrier.
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