Latos Is Seeing Red

So recently I wrote an article on my top 15 MLB starting pitchers under 25. Mat Latos was #5 on that list. Not to say I’m 100% accurate on that, but he is very good no doubt. He was just acquired from the Padres by the Reds. You would think getting a young pitcher who has already had success in the big leagues would be a good thing, but a lot of people aren’t seeing it that way. Maybe that’s because of San Diego’s monster haul in the deal. Not only did they acquire proven starting pitcher and former all-star Edison Volquez, but they also acquired 1^st baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Granal, and pitching prospect Brad Boxberger. This package of players is no joke, most people know Volquez is an immediate help to the starting rotation (a replacement of sorts for Latos), yet should have plenty of years ahead of him to contribute as well. Yasmani Grandal is a top switch hitting catching prospect who in a lot of opinion is going to be a very good major league catcher at the least, he can really hit. Yonder Alonso also is a very good hitter and seemed to have nowhere to go being that the Reds have perennial MVP contender Joey Votto, although he also was a top prospect and should be a very good major league player at some point. This also bears asking the question of what happens to Anthony Rizzo as he is a 1^st baseman who was acquired by the Padres in the deal for Adrian Gonzalez, this may put him on the trade block, or maybe send him to the minors, or maybe they give Alonso a change of scenery and put him in left field possibly. Finally Brad Boxberger is a solid pitching prospect likely slated for bullpen duty in San Diego. This trade fills many spots for the Padres and in my opinion they are huge winners, all these guys are fairly close if not ready for the majors. People argue Latos’ potential, some saying he’s a future #1 some saying he’s a #2. Either way, getting Volquez who’s probably a strong #3 plus a good bullpen arm would help, but what makes this deal great is they also got a future catcher and 1^st baseman. The Padres may be contenders soon and this trade may do it. I think the Reds were crazy to give up that much for Latos, I’d say they’d be crazy to give up that much for just about any one player, but if Latos can be their ace for years to come, and the prospects they shipped off don’t pan out, then I will say I was wrong. I just don’t know what the Reds were thinking.

A Gone, But Look Who's Here

Casey Kelly, Anthony Rizzo, and Reymond Fuentes all headed west while Adrian Gonzalez was shipping up to Boston last offseason. Adrian had a very good season with the Red Sox, hitting stats of .338/.410/.548 are great, but more or less what was expected. Everyone was talking about Gonzalez and the impact he would make on Boston and the void San Diego would feel without him. The Padres didn’t walk away empty handed. 3 top prospects in return, and I’m writing this because I think that they will pay dividends sooner rather than later. Maybe as soon as 2012 in some cases. Kelly ranks 14^th and Rizzo as the 18^th overall prospects in MLB.com’s top 50 prospects. Kelly, Rizzo, and Fuentes are 1^st 2^nd and 8^th ranked prospects in the Padres system respectively. Rizzo had already seen major league time with the Padres playing in 49 games, he had his struggles at the plate, but his AAA numbers were outstanding and with a little adjusting time he will be the 1^st baseman of the future. It appears for now he will compete with Guzman, but I like Rizzo to take control of the position during the 2012 season and be a major factor for the Padres by the end of the year. Kelly, a starting pitcher with great stuff, played in AA last season and will no doubt be looking to earn a spot in AAA this season, and who knows he could definitely be a September call up if he has success there. The Padres could look to give him a taste of the big leagues so he is ready by the start of the 2013 season which would be ideal, but hey maybe he surprises everyone and earns a spot with the big club this season permanently, it could happen. Fuentes played well in A+ so I would look to see him in AA in 2012. Kelly and Rizzo are both 22 years old, Fuentes still only 20 so it would seem fit he may take a little longer to get to the majors, but I eye the 2014 season for him and this guy is going to be GOOD. I think he is underrated for sure, an all-around good outfielder, speed, glove, gets on base, he’s the real deal. When he arrives to play CF for the Padres, everyone will know it. When all 3 of these guys arrive at the big club, the Padres will be back in contention, and ready to make a serious run at a championship. Gonzalez is great, but the Padres got a lot of talent in the deal. Don’t sleep on the Padres, they are a couple years away from doing it BIG!!!