Maurer, Buchter and Cahill Dealt to Royals for Travis Wood & Prospects
Credit: UT San Diego
We all knew the San Diego Padres were going to make moves.
On Monday, the first of seemingly several trades happened.
A.J. Preller started dismantling the bullpen by sending Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer to the Royals. They also traded Trevor Cahill to Kansas City in the deal.
What did the Padres receive in return?
They acquired veteran left-handed pitcher Travis Wood along with prospects Matt Strahm and Esteury Ruiz.
Wood gives the team a veteran pitcher now. He is due $6.5 million next season and has an option for $8 million in 2019 (Royals are paying it). The team might explore trying to trade Wood, but his 6.91 ERA in 2017 will be an issue. Instead, the Padres will probably try to build up his value under the watchful eye of Darren Balsley. Wood is an excellent hitter and athlete and could pitch out of the pen or take a rotation spot.
Matt Strahm is currently shelved with a knee issue, but the left-handed pitcher is a decent prospect. He is major league ready and at 25, could slide into the rotation next season. He has a mid-90’s fastball and is considered a ground ball pitcher. He could have some real value down the line for the team.
The key to the deal appears to be young second baseman Esteury Ruiz. He is 18 and is put up a .419/.440/.779 batting line 86 at bats. He has three homers and nine stolen bases. Ruiz was the only batter to get a hit off of Padres’ first-round pick, Mackenzie Gore’s debut last week. That must have gotten the Padres attention.
Losing Maurer will be tough. He has seemed to really turn the corner recently. Sure he has hiccups every once in a while, but his stuff is legit.
Look for Carter Capps to be a member of the bullpen for the rest of the 2017 season.
Source: Royals and Padres nearing completion on a trade that sends Maurer, Cahill, Buchter to KC for T. Wood, Matt Strahm and a prospect.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 24, 2017
I love the Esteury Ruiz pickup for the Padres. Middle infielder with big-time hit and power potential. https://t.co/AxCI0EXHoz
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) July 24, 2017
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.