Padres and A’s swing four-player trade involving Yonder Alonso, Drew Pomeranz
Head’s up, everybody. The Hot Stove is officially hot!
The latest MLB move comes from two old trading partners, the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, who have hooked up for a four-player trade involving Yonder Alonso and Drew Pomeranz. ESPN’s Keith Law was first to report the deal was close.
[Related: Hot Stove Digest: David Price has signed and Zack Greinke could be next]
The Pads are sending Alonso to Oakland, where the first baseman gets a fresh start after hitting .282/.361/.381 with five homers and 31 RBIs in 2015. It’s not the type of production you want from a corner infielder, but it’s pretty standard for Alonso, 28, a player many have hoping would break out for years. You may remember that at one point, the Padres decided to trade Anthony Rizzo to the Cubs and keep Alonso as their young first baseman, a move that, in hindsight, looks horrible. Maybe a new club will help?
The A’s also get relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski, who had a 5.66 ERA last year in 72 appearances and owns perhaps the toughest-to-spell surname in MLB. Good luck putting that one on your signs, A’s fans.
On the other side of the trade, San Diego gets Drew Pomeranz and minor-leaguer Jose Torres. Pomeranz is the key here, as the Padres like him as a left-handed starter. He signed with Oakland in 2014 as a reclamation project and did well to re-establish his MLB career. In 2014 in particular, he had a 2.35 ERA in 20 appearances as both a starter and reliever. Oakland used him mostly out of the bullpen in 2015, as he posted a 3.66 ERA in 86 innings.
[Related: Report: Mariners sign outfielder Nori Aoki to one-year deal]
Pomeranz. 27, is a former No. 5 overall pick of the Cleveland Indians, who was hampered by injuries and inconsistencies before joining the A’s. Now we find out whether he can fully live up to his pedigree now that he could earn a rotation spot in San Diego.
Lots of question marks in this deal — Can Alonso finally find his groove? Will Pomeranz succeed as a starter? How long will it take people in Oakland to learn to spell Rzepczynski? — but we’ll see how it pans next season.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
