Padres make another trade, acquire Joe Musgrove from pirates in three-team deal



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There is for that, and then there is Go for it. The Padres are Go for it. This offseason alone, San Diego has stepped up its rotation with Blake Snell of the Rays and Yu Darvish of the Cubs. The Padres have also signed Korean shortstop Ha-Seong Kim on a four-year contract.

These three are on top of the transport they added to last season’s trade deadline, which included Mike Clevinger – who will be missed in 2021 after undergoing surgery on Tommy John – and wide receiver Austin Nola, among others.

On Monday, they struck again, acquiring right-hander Joe Musgrove from the Pirates in a three-team deal that sent Joey Lucchesi to the Mets and four prospects – led by No.8 prospect Hudson Head – to Pittsburgh. The Pirates will receive Mets wide receiver Endy Rodriguez in exchange for Lucchesi to give them a fifth prospect in the deal. Dennis Lin of the Athletic and Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune were the first to report the players involved.

It’s a homecoming for Musgrove, who grew up in San Diego and was drafted at Grossmont High, about 20 minutes east of Petco Park, in 2011.

ACQUIRE PADRES

Joe Musgrove, RHP
Age: 28

Musgrove gives the Padres the established backend they needed to complete their rotation. The 6-foot-5 right-hander posted a 3.86 ERA over eight starts in 2020 with the highest takeout strikeout rate (12.5K / 9) of his career, though he also has the rate highest walk (3.6 BB / 9) of his career. Despite a modest fast ball speed that averages 92-93 mph, Musgrove registers swings and misfires and smooth contact with the best of them. Its average exit speed of 85.1 mph in 2020 was in the 93rd percentile of the Grand Leaguers, and its 33% pullout rate was in the 90th percentile. Its four-stitched fastball comes with excellent spin rate and it keeps hitters in the lead with a varied arsenal that includes a sinker, slider, curveball, changeup and cutter. His slider in particular is a pitch wipeout, swing-and-miss against right-handed people and his Curveball neutralizes left-handed people. Musgrove missed a month in 2020 with inflammation in his right triceps, but he showed his durability with 170.1 innings in 2019. He is in squad control for two more seasons and will enter the Padres’ rotation. behind Snell, Darvish, Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. In the event that Lamet, who had an injection of platelet-rich plasma after missing the playoffs, is not able to pitch in 2021, the deal gives them much-needed coverage with another durable starter.

ACQUIRE PIRATES

Hudson Head, DE
Age: 19

Head, the Padres’ 2019 third-round pick, is a nervous and dynamic athlete who played his high school quarterback and had one of the fastest bat speeds in the Padres system. He has a lot of movement in his swing and some evaluators are wondering if that will prevent him from throwing better, but he has the speed of the bat to hit the speed even with all of his extra moves. Head has surprisingly raw power in his slim build and could get taller. He has an extremely aggressive approach that he will need to tone down and is equally aggressive in the outfield, where he shows the speed and athleticism to play on central court but is prone to making bad decisions because he plays so fast, especially when it comes to when to dive. Head’s sheer athleticism and batting speed give him a shot at becoming an everyday outfielder provided he makes the necessary adjustments with experience. He is set to make his full-season debut at Low-A in 2021.

Omar Cruz, LHP
Age: 21

Cruz was on the verge of classifying himself as the # 23 Padres prospect and was climbing the list after their multitude of off-season deals. The astute southpaw was 85-86 mph at the age of 17 when the Padres bought his rights to the Mexico City franchise from the Mexican League and have since grown to 89-93 mph. He rode that speed bump to an ERA of 2.76 in 10 starts at Low-A Fort Wayne in 2019 and impressed in the Education League in 2020. Cruz’s fastball plays with carry through the zone and gets oscillations and misfires despite modest speed. His primary weapon is a large, curved bullet that is set in the mid-70s but should add power as he gets stronger. He rounds out his arsenal with a change that shows medium potential and pairs it all with medium control. Cruz has the makings of a rear starter as long as his business continues to progress. He is set to open 2021 at High-A, although he is a strong contender with a chance to progress quickly.

David Bednar, RHP
Age: 26

Bednar was a 35th round pick who enjoyed Cinderella’s rise among the majors, although success eluded him, with a 6.75 ERA in 17 career appearances. Bednar’s fastball sits at 95-96 mph, and his 80s top splitter is his primary secondary. Bednar is at his best keeping his things in the zone, but has too often left his fastball and splitter in the middle of the plate in the majors. If the Pirates can help him stay out of the middle and improve his well below par curve ball, he has a chance to emerge as a solid relief option.

Drake Fellows, RHP
Age: 22

The Padres’ sixth-round pick over Vanderbilt in 2019, Fellows has swing-and-miss stuff, but shoddy control too. He finished fifth in the SEC in strikeouts as the Commodores’ top starter as a junior, but also led the conference on wild pitches and slaps. Fellows operate with a low lead of 90 and a plus slider that makes swings and misfires. He’ll need to improve his fastball control and change in mid height to stay a starter, but his lead and slider give him a chance to do it like a reliever even if they don’t.

Endy Rodriguez, C
Age: 20

Rodriguez placed 20th overall for the Mets after a strong performance in the rookie Gulf Coast League in 2019 and the College League in 2020. He played outfield, first base and wide receiver, but Settles into an established role behind the plate with good flexibility, strong hands and improved technique. He has a medium arm. Rodriguez has good flat balance, a feeling of contact and recognizes the throws. He still has a slender build and offensive projection depends on how he matures physically, but an average hitter with double-digit home running power isn’t out of the question. Rodriguez has promises, but he’s a long way off and still has work to do to stay behind the plate. He will make his full-season debut at Low-A in 2021.

Padres NEW 900X635

Tirso Ornelas wins AB in Mexican Pacific League

Barely 20 years old, Tirso Ornelas was doing well in the Mexican Pacific League as he auditioned for a 40-player spot.

METS ACQUIRE:

Joey lucchesi, LHP
Age: 27

Lucchesi’s funky delivery has earned him most of the attention since his debut in 2018. The tall southpaw won’t fire a radar gun and his control is just average, but he’s been durable and productive when given to him. given the opportunity. He went 18-19, 4.14 in 56 starts for the Padres in 2018-19, providing roughly the league’s average production while making nearly 300 innings. He fell out of favor with the Padres as other tougher pitchers made their way to the majors and only made three appearances in 2020. Lucchesi’s fastball ranges from 89-92 mph and sits at 90 He has both a traditional curveball from the 70s and his famous “churve”, a change that looks like a bullet escaping his hand. Lucchesi relies on deception and the mixing of his arguments to be successful, but he’s shown he can do it. He provided the Mets with valuable rotational depth and will remain in squad control for four more seasons.

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