You just never know what the Padres are going to do these days.
A couple days after trading away top setup man Joaquin Benoit, the Padres are dealing another top reliever – this time, it’s their pricey closer (improvidently acquired last offseason on the even of Opening Day), Craig Kimbrel:
Source: #RedSox acquiring Kimbrel from #Padres. Return not yet known.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 14, 2015
It’s incredible to see the move so soon after it was looking like a fait accompli that the Red Sox were going to acquire Aroldis Chapman.
One big question: are the Padres now selling off, or were they just moving a guy they thought they could replace (Benoit) and a big contract (Kimbrel)? Obviously, if they’re selling off, you can expect the Cubs will be inquiring about Tyson Ross and/or Andrew Cashner.
UPDATE: Oh my, this could actually be an even bigger deal:
Source: Tyson Ross' name has been discussed heavily in Red Sox-Padres talks. Could be part of much bigger deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 14, 2015
UPDATE 2: Looks like Ross is staying put for now:
Tyson Ross is not in the Craig Kimbrel trade, according to a source.
— Dennis Lin (@sdutdennislin) November 14, 2015
And it may indeed just be a straight up Kimbrel for prospects deal:
Kimbrel goes to red sox for 4 minor leaguers @Ken_Rosenthal 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 14, 2015
UPDATE 3: And the prospects in the deal:
Source: That's the entire deal: Asuaje, Allen, Guerra and Margot for Kimbrel. No one else involved.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) November 14, 2015
Wow. That’s just for Kimbrel? Steep price when you consider that Manuel Margot is a really interesting top 100 type, Javy Guerra probably is, too, and Logan Allen and Carlos Asuaje are top 30 prospects in a very good Boston system. Throw in the fact that Kimbrel is not cheap ($11 million this year, $13 million next year, then a $13 million club option ($1 million buyout)) and he’s coming off the worst season of his career …
Use assets to acquire big leaguers. I get it. I really do. And Boston has the kind of super deep system to make this kind of trade. But boy. That’s a lot.