So your team just acquired a Padres prospect? Join the club. It seems like every team in the league got one in the last week. With all the dealing, one might guess that the current state of the farm system is completely barren. However, this is not the case. Sure the Padres gave up some major talent, but they were able to keep the studs (Gore, Patino, Campusano, Head) and drew from some of their excess young major league talent.
Here is some information about the prospects the Friars gave up before the trade deadline.
Mariners Deal (In exchange for Austin Nola, Austin Allen, and Dan Altavilla)
Taylor Trammell, OF, #3 Padres prospect – If I were to question one move by the Padres, it would undoubtedly be the Austin Nola deal. Nola has been really good this year and can play everywhere, but Trammell is an overpay in my opinion. Speed, power and defense are the calling cards for the former Reds farmhand and he should be up soon for the Mariners to contribute to quite a dynamic young outfield. Trammell had gotten some of his prospect shine back after a fantastic finish last season, but I think the emergence of Trent Grisham made Trammell expendable (at least in the Padres minds). Either way, the Mariners should have their left fielder (CF?) set for the next decade.
reminder that Taylor Trammell’s last official at-bat of 2019 (and as a Padres prospect) was a go-ahead grand slam for the @sodpoodles in the top of the 9th inning of the Texas League championship game pic.twitter.com/FxLSlkNFKZ
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) August 31, 2020
Andres Munoz, RHP, Unranked Padres prospect – I didn’t have Munoz ranked because I no longer really viewed him as a prospect, but since his injury (Tommy John), he should probably be mentioned here. An absolute flame-thrower Munoz could easily be a top 5 closer in MLB — if only he could stay healthy. I was shaky about that before the season and now I am even more pessimistic. He reminds me of a Joel Zumaya in a lot of ways. When he is healthy he will be dominant, but there is just a lot of evidence that suggests he will continue to get hurt. Who knows, maybe the surgery will do wonders and he comes back with his 100 mph heater and killer slider.
Royals Deal (In exchange for Trevor Rosenthal)
Edward Olivares, OF, #7 Padres prospect – I had Olivares ranked highly because of his appealing fantasy profile and he got off to a nice start in San Diego. He came back to earth quickly and clearly isn’t quite ready to help the major league team right now. But he has speed and power (18 HR/35 SB in 2019) and he might be able to find playing time pretty easily in Kansas City. If he does, that fantasy profile still is valuable, but he probably needs a year of development until he fully contributes. This trade seemed pretty fair for a bullpen arm and Olivares isn’t as appealing in real life as he is in fantasy.
Indians Deal (In exchange for Mike Clevinger and Greg Allen)
Gabriel Arias, SS, #8 Padres prospect (Indians) – He probably won’t get the recognition that Naylor and Quantrill will get, but to me Arias is the best get in the Clevinger trade. His defense almost assuredly guarantees he will contribute to the big league club and his bat is starting come around (.302/.339/.463) with more pop than expected at this point. I could see him really taking a leap with some more development and can play all around the infield. While he isn’t a glamorous headliner, I think when you remember how many other guys the Indians got it is a great acquisition for the Tribe.
Owen Miller, SS, #14 Padres Prospect (Indians) – Miller might seem like a throw-in, but I think the Indians did well to include him in the deal. He is big-league ready and will hit. Think Jake Cronenworth 2.0 –a guy that just hits and fills in for a position only to never relinquish it. He was a .300 hitter in the minors and has enough pop to hurt you. If nothing else, Miller will be the perfect utility guy in Cleveland. Miller is far from a nobody.
Owen Miller comes up clutch against the Mariners in Peoria! 🙌 #PadresST pic.twitter.com/Zlpi9FVrHb
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 5, 2019
Joey Cantillo, LHP, #16 Padres prospect (Indians) – Cantillo is a favorite of mine and his ceiling keeps rising. He has everything going for him (strikeouts, walk-rate, left-handedness) except for elite velocity. But when you watch him pitch you can see there is more in the tank that is waiting to be unleashed. I believe he can add that velocity and if he does he will be the best player in the deal without a doubt. Of course, simply adding velocity without any ramifications to his other skills is easier said than done, but he was already looking good in Spring Training 2.0 and made my watch list for 2020. I bet the Indians see him as a potential 2/3 starter with the right development.
Red Sox deal (In exchange for Mitch Moreland)
Hudson Potts, 2B/3B, #12 Padres prospect (Red Sox) – Looking back on my rankings, I would probably move Potts a little lower than #12 at this point in time, but he is a good target for the Sox. Potts has power and the standard swing and miss, but what is concerning for me is the lack of progress. He is sort of the same guy he has been for the last three years. The hit tool is really questionable, as he is probably a .240 hitter in the big leagues if this continues. He can play a few different positions and his value may end up being tied to that while providing some pop here and there. I don’t view him as a long term regular, but he is a quality bench bat. And hey, it was for Mitch Moreland so what else could you hope for?
For Red Sox fans…a primer on your new infielder, Hudson Potts.
Former 1st-round pick who’s still just 21.
Potts has plenty of raw potential and power. Can hit the ball a mile and will do that in games. Plays a solid 3rd base and has seen time at 2nd base, too. pic.twitter.com/1o4hRBlRLC
— Sam Levitt (@SammyLev) August 30, 2020
Jeisson Rosario, OF, #24 Padres prospect (Red Sox) – The perfect guy to target if you’re the Red Sox and want to deal Mitch Moreland. By no means close or a finished project, Rosario still offers intriguing tools and is a true lottery ticket. What really gets me excited is the approach and patience. For a young player, he shows a mature skill-set in that regard and he is still young enough to really develop in other aspects of his game. I would love to see some more power, but I wouldn’t hold my breath although it wouldn’t surprise me.
Angels deal (In exchange for Jason Castro)
Gerardo Reyes, RHP, Unranked Padres prospect – I didn’t quite view Reyes as a top-50 prospect but he will probably make the Angels bullpen at some point. He has some strikeout stuff, but at 27 years old, there isn’t much potential here. I would rather have seen the Angels take a lottery ticket guy, but that’s why they are the Angels — that’s not a compliment, by the way.
Royals deal (In exchange for Taylor Williams)
Matt Brash, RHP, #49 Padres prospect (Mariners) – This isn’t confirmed yet, but the rumor is that Brash will be the PTBNL in the Taylor Williams deal. A Canadian-born 4th round pick Brash doesn’t have a lot of innings to go off of. His college stats were impressive but lacked elite competition. He made my list with the idea that he has a lot of bullets left in the tank and might develop into a 4/5 starter down the road. Not a bad piece to acquire for a pitcher with a career 5.34 ERA reliever in Taylor Williams.
Recap
The Padres have to be praised for their moves. I thought that the price for a stud cost-controlled pitcher was a lot higher than what the Padres gave up for Clevinger. Josh Naylor and Cal Quantrill are fine players, but there is not major headliner here that has true all-star potential. The prospects could be something but they each have a lot to improve upon. If I were the Indians I would have asked for Trammell instead of the number of decent guys that they got. But that’s a legit strategy and the odds are good that a 2-3 of those players can contribute and quickly.
The Austin Nola trade is the one that I truly wonder about because I would have figured that deal could have been done with the quantity approach. Yet, the Mariners got a top-5 prospect (albeit little else) for a 30-year-old second-year player. Nola is nice, but Trammell could truly be special. It’s a move that I understand but also would hesitate to pull the trigger if I were in charge.
As a group, the Padres gave up a lot. However, they basically filled every hole with the major league club without giving up huge ceiling guys, Trammell notwithstanding. That is what makes this system so special — the #24 ranked player (Rosario) all of a sudden becomes an instant top-10 guy in another system. And when you are as starved for playoff wins as the Padres, these are deals look golden.
My goal is to provide an unique perspective when it comes to baseball so that readers can have the information and insight, as well as a bold and progressive analysis. I trust the analytics, but I also trust my eyes when I see the player perform on the field. I don’t want to regurgitate the same, old information but rather I want to give my opinion that is based on research and well-developed thought. Baseball is a game on intricacies and delicate balances and I want to explore every facet that I can. Here on Prospects1500 I will give you the inside scoop on the prospects so that you get to know who they are before everyone else. I won’t always be right, but I can promise my logic and dedication will be sound. Feel free to reach out to discuss and debate and let’s get to prospecting!
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Alex Sanchezhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/asanchezmilb/
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Alex Sanchezhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/asanchezmilb/
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Alex Sanchezhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/asanchezmilb/
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Alex Sanchezhttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/asanchezmilb/
I’m terribly sorry this article has most definitely been written by a non baseball person.
Hudson Potts is the truth, he’s a gentleman and pure natural power hitter who ALWAYS hits the ball hard.
He will be a Rock Solid everyday player most certainly here in Boston, where they will greatly benefit from his arrival.
I said this about Verdugo after the Betts trade when every Boston fan was looking for the negatives in Verdugo and look at what he’s done so far.
As a long time baseball person and die hard Yankee fan after Verdugo and now the arrival of Potsie , if they stick him here, nurture him and he thrives as he will…..
I will become a true due hard Red Sox fan, I swear…..
Give the kids a shot, play him steady and am sure he will shine.
Gods Blessings with Hudson Potts, Alex Verdugo and Luis Torrens a few of my favorite prospects with different homes this year.
You see, in all my scouting reports, hours of studying and research I have never heard of him as a “Gentleman.” With that information, I am going to add “Scholar” to his profile now too. Thanks!