NEWSLETTER
The Nationals are tearing things down to the studs tonight, having already sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers, and Kyle Schwarber to the Red Sox. Now it’s reliever Daniel Hudson going to the Padres.
The return is Triple-A reliever Mason Thompson, per Dennis Lin. He was high up on the MLB Pipeline list before the midseason update, but it’s looking like (based on his struggles at Triple-A and the FG re-rank which has him falling out of the top 30) that’s outdated. On first blush, it doesn’t really look like a huge return.
I was wondering how the Hudson market would play out relative to Ryan Tepera, because Hudson has been a little better this year and also has the better/longer track record, but Tepera is much cheaper and isn’t currently on the COVID-IL. As we saw, Tepera netted the Cubs a pure scouting play in Bailey Horn, who won’t be in the top 30 of the Cubs’ increasingly VERY deep system. I’m not actually sure Thompson is a better return than Horn – kinda depends on your flavor of flyer – and I wonder if the COVID thing was a huge ding to Hudson’s value at this time. (UPDATE: Nationals are reportedly also getting Jordy Barley, a top 30-40ish prospect, so now this makes a little more sense.)
Now the question … is this the only bullpen move the Padres make (after the Adam Frazier trade, that is)? Is it the only move overall the Padres make? They were close on Scherzer, there were serious Joey Gallo rumors, and there’s still the desire to move out Eric Hosmer. And you know GM A.J. Preller is itching to make a big upgrade.
