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 1st 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 1st 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 1st 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.
