After weeks of inactivity, the MLB hot stove finally appears to be kicking into gear. On Sunday night, the San Diego Padres reportedly struck a deal to acquire 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays.
The left-hander joins an impressive starting rotation that includes Dinelson Lamet, Chris Paddack and top pitching prospect MacKenzie Gore, among others. However, with Mike Clevinger expected to miss the 2021 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, the Padres still have their sights on adding another starting pitcher.
According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and Jeff Passan, San Diego reportedly is nearing a trade to acquire Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs:
The San Diego Padres are on the verge of making their second trade for a star pitcher in as many days, with the team expected to acquire righty Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs, according to sources familiar with the deal. Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini, who emerged as the right-hander’s personal catcher in Chicago, will go to San Diego once the deal is completed, sources said.
In return, the Cubs are poised to acquire right-hander Zach Davies and four young prospects: outfielders Owen Caissie (18) and Ismael Mena (18), and shortstops Reggie Preciado (17) and Yeison Santana (20).
Darvish, 34, is coming off a resurgent year for the Cubs in which he posted an 8-3 record with a 2.01 ERA, 2.23 FIP and 0.96 WHIP over 76 innings pitched (12 starts).
The right-hander was efficient in his lone postseason start against the Miami Marlins, allowing one run on five hits in 6.2 innings of work. He finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting and earned some MVP votes this year.
Darvish, who spent the past three seasons with the Cubs, briefly pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 and was successful up until the World Series, when he struggled in two starts against the Houston Astros.
Now back in the NL West, Darvish will look to anchor a Padres starting rotation that has potential to be one of the best in baseball next season.
Padres reportedly signing KBO star Ha-Seong Kim
In what has been a busy week for the Padres, the club is on the verge of bolstering their lineup with the signing of KBO star Ha-Seong Kim.
The 25-year-old was one of the top free-agent bats on the market and can play all around the infield. In 138 games for the Kiwoom Heroes this year, Kim hit a stellar .306/.397/.523 with 24 doubles, 30 home runs and 109 RBI across 622 plate appearances.
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