The Padres Welcome Chase d’Arnaud to Town & Other News/Notes
It’s been a rough week for the Padres on the field, as they lost three out of four to the Brewers before losing two out of three to the Diamondbacks, including two blowout losses. The Padres have also had a busy week off the field, as the team has made quite a few roster moves over the course of the last seven days. The most recent of those involved the Padres selecting third baseman Chase d’Arnaud off of waivers from the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Despite being 30 years old, d’Arnaud has only had 448 plate appearances at the big league level, highlighted by a career-high 262 plate appearances with the Atlanta Braves in 2016. d’Arnaud appeared in 84 games for the Braves last season, slashing .245/.317/.335. For his career, d’Arnaud has a .233/.289/.314 slash line and a wRC+ of just 63. After being placed on waivers early this season, and claimed by the Red Sox, d’Arnaud has once again been claimed off waivers, this time by the Padres.
Originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, d’Arnaud has played in the big leagues for the Pirates, Phillies, Braves, and Red Sox. d’Arnaud will be making his return to his home, as the utility infielder was born in Torrance, California. d’Arnaud will join Allen Cordoba and the Cory Spangenberg/Ryan Schimpf mix in the Padres infield. As a result of him being claimed, the Padres have designated the struggling Luis Sardinas for assignment. Sardinas wasn’t receiving much playing time, but d’Arnaud figures to pick up much of that time.
Other News/Notes
-Chase d’Arnaud isn’t the only player the Padres claimed off of waivers over the last two weeks, as the team claimed right-handed pitcher Jose Valdez off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on May 10. After appearing in a few games at Triple-A, Valdez made his Padres’ debut on Saturday night’s blowout loss, pitching three scoreless innings and giving up only two hits while striking out three. It remains to be seen whether Valdez stays on the roster long term, but so far so good for the hard throwing right-hander.
-In injury news, the Padres placed right-handed pitcher Trevor Cahill on the 10-day disabled list earlier in the week with a shoulder injury. Cahill didn’t feel well after throwing a bullpen on Saturday, so the veteran underwent an MRI to see if there was any further damage. The results of that test are not yet known.
-Trevor Cahill wasn’t the only Padres starter to go down this week, as Jered Weaver was placed on the 10-day DL following another poor outing on Friday night in which he could not get out of the first inning. It remains to be seen whether we have seen Weaver in a Padres jersey for the last time, but the injury timing definitely seems questionable. The Padres are clearly biding their time and trying to figure out their options going forward.
-Despite the Padres potentially losing a year of service time for both Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe, the team does not plan to send either player down this year, according to a report by Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union Tribune.
-In the place of the injured Trevor Cahill, right-hander Jarred Cosart made his return from the disabled list on Thursday, giving up only one earned run over five innings. Cosart will likely get more opportunities in the rotation with both Cahill and Weaver on the disabled list.
–Carter Capps has been moved to the 60-day DL following the team’s call up of right-hander Jose Valdez. Capps was most recently sent back to Arizona to work on his pitching form in the comeback from his Tommy John surgery. Capps may still return within the next few weeks, but the Padres have no real reason to rush him coming off such a major surgery.
-With Jered Weaver now on the disabled list, the Padres will likely be calling up one of their minor leaguers to make a spot start or two in his absence. The most likely options appear to be Tyrell Jenkins or Walker Lockett. Zach Lee would be a name to watch, but he is also currently on the disabled list for the El Paso Chihuahuas.
Editorial and Prospect Writer for East Village Times. Twenty-five years young, Patrick has lived in San Diego for his entire life and has been a Padres fan nearly as long. Patrick lives for baseball and is always looking to learn new things about the game he loves through advanced stats.