PEORIA, Ariz. — The Padres completed Spring Coaching and left for Korea on Wednesday — however not earlier than pulling off a significant late-spring blockbuster.
San Diego acquired ace right-hander Dylan Stop from the White Sox, the Padres introduced Wednesday night time, moments earlier than their airplane was slated to depart for subsequent week’s season-opening Seoul Collection. In return, they despatched three of their High 10 prospects and righty reliever Steven Wilson to Chicago. Right here is the commerce in full:
“It is exhausting to surrender the names that we gave up,” mentioned Padres normal supervisor A.J. Preller. “We predict very extremely of Drew Thorpe, Iriarte, Zavala and Wilson. However a man like Dylan Stop was the appropriate pitcher on the proper time for this group.”
Stop, who will earn $8 million this season, is underneath membership management via 2025. He has posted a 3.83 ERA throughout 5 large league seasons, together with a second-place end for the American League Cy Younger Award in 2022.
The 2023 season was a down yr for Stop, by which he notched a 4.58 ERA, although his peripheral numbers point out he may’ve handled a little bit of dangerous luck. Stop recorded a 3.72 FIP, whereas putting out 214 hitters in 177 innings. In San Diego, he’ll be pitching in entrance of a greater protection in a extra pitcher-friendly setting.
A bounce-back yr from Stop would bolster the Padres’ rotation in an enormous method. He’ll slot in on the prime, alongside right-handers Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove, basically changing Blake Snell, who departed through free company. Right here’s how the San Diego rotation may line as much as begin the season:
Final yr, the rotation posted a Main League-best 3.69 ERA. However after dropping Snell, Michael Wacha, Nick Martinez and Seth Lugo, the Padres wanted to strengthen that group over the winter. Within the Juan Soto commerce, they added 4 items — King, Brito, Randy Vásquez and Thorpe.
Nonetheless, Preller remained looking for that front-line arm that would flip his rotation into one of many sport’s finest once more. He seems to have discovered it in Stop.
It’s unclear when Stop will be part of the group and whether or not he will likely be in a position to take action in Korea, the place the Padres open the season with two video games in opposition to the Dodgers, March 20-21. The group has already introduced Darvish and Musgrove because the starters for these video games, and it’s unlikely this transfer would alter that plan.
Stop has been build up on a special schedule, in any case. Taking the ball amid swirling commerce rumors, he pitched 3 1/3 frames of one-run ball in opposition to the Reds on Tuesday night time, shifting his Cactus League ERA to 2.16.
“I feel the best way I’ve pitched this spring has most likely elevated [the trade talk] a little bit bit,” Stop mentioned after that begin. “I have been actually locked in.”
Within the aftermath of the deal, the Padres had been particularly happy that they held on to their prime 4 prospects, although Thorpe, Zavala and Iriarte are all extremely regarded. Pitching in large league camp for the primary time this spring, each Thorpe and Iriarte had been glorious. Wilson, in the meantime, figured to function one of many group’s major setup males. His absence leaves the bullpen considerably skinny.
However the Padres felt the value was price it for an arm like Stop. In every of the previous three seasons, Stop has made his full contingent of begins, main the American League twice in that class. He’s racked up greater than 200 strikeouts in all of these seasons.
“He brings lots to the desk,” Preller mentioned. “He brings the power to overlook bats. … It is a energy repertoire, however energy with sturdiness.”
There are nonetheless loads of questions elsewhere on a San Diego roster that noticed a number of vital departures through the winter. The outfield is skinny, and the bullpen appears to be like risky (significantly with the ever-reliable Wilson headed to Chicago).
However this was a roster that, getting into the offseason, was riddled with rotation questions. Because the Padres started their trek the world over on Wednesday night time, that they had answered these questions resoundingly.