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Moriarty9 · 11-08-2009, 02:44 PM

Rays, Padres make big swap
Holliday heads west, Gonzalez coming east
July 3, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Diego Padres made a blockbuster trade today in which eight players will change uniforms.

The Padres acquired outfielder Matt Holliday, firstbaseman Derrek Lee, and pitchers Brian Wolfe and Zack Greinke from Tampa Bay in exchange for firstbaseman Adrian Gonzalez, reliever Carl Sadler, and minor leaguers Lawrence Jones and Danny Herrera. San Diego will also get roughly $3 million as part of the deal.

"We touched base with the Devil Rays about a trade centering around Adrian and Matt, and after some negotiations, we made a deal that works for both clubs," said San Diego GM Ed Wheelock.

The Padres are leading the National League West by three games over the Arizona Diamondbacks and are hoping the additions to their club will help pad that lead. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, is 13 games out in the American League East and adds some minor league talent while gaining two good big league players.

Gonzalez, 29, has been the most productive player this year of any of those involved in the trade. In 80 games with San Diego, Gonzalez hit .280 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI, putting him on pace to hit .281 with 37 homers, 111 RBI, and 119 runs scored. He hit .344 with 38 homers and 128 RBI for San Diego last year and is a career .311 hitter with 280 home runs. Gonzalez is a four-time All Star and winner of the 2007 AL MVP when he hit .358 with 48 home runs and 148 RBI for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is signed through 2015 and is owed $19.86 million this season. He will be paid $23.24 million in the final year of his current deal.

Sadler has been a valuable reliever for the Padres this year, and Tampa Bay manager Christian O'Neal said he believes the left-hander can be very valuable for the Devil Rays. In 45 1/3 innings over 37 appearances, Sadler has poted a 2-1 record, 2.78 ERA, .217 opponents average against, and 1.15 WHIP. The career National Leaguer went 6-4 with three saves and a 3.72 ERA in 70 games with San Diego last year and is 41-32 with 27 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 11 big league seasons with the Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Padres. He is signed through next season at $4.5 million annually.

Jones is a 20-year-old outfielder drafted in the third round of the 2009 amateur draft. He has spent most of the year in AA this season, but has played in 12 games at the AAA level in 2011. In those 12 games, Jones has hit .275 with three RBI and five runs scored. He is not a power hitter and is best known for his speed.

Herrera is a 26-year-old lefty who has worked primarily as a closer in the minor leagues. He owns a 16-15 record with 51 saves and a 3.14 ERA in 155 career relief appearances in the minor leagues. This year, with San Diego's AAA affiliate, he has posted a 1-2 record with six saves and a 2.29 ERA in 15 games. He had seven saves in 14 games with the Padres' AA affiliate earlier in the season.

To get this talent, however, the Devil Rays gave up a lot — especially by dealing fan favorite Holliday.

Holliday, 31, is hitting .330 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI so far this season. Limited to 56 games last year with an injury, Holliday hit .290 with 11 homers and 43 RBI, coming off a 2009 in which he hit .340 with 26 home runs and 124 RBI in 156 games. He is signed through 2014 with a team option for the 2015 season at $28 million. He is owed $26.18 million this year.

By dealing Holliday, the Devil Rays gain some payroll flexibility this year and going forward while gaining a suitable replacement in the lineup in Gonzalez.

With Gonzalez coming in to play first base, Derrek Lee and his $2.55 million contract became expendable. Lee, 35, has shown power but has largely disappointed. In 79 games, Lee has hit .206 with eight home runs and 38 RBI, putting him on pace for 16 homers and 77 RBI in 551 at bats. He hit .262 with 21 homers and 76 RBI for the Diamondbacks last season and returns to where his career started. Lee came up with San Diego in 1997 and was with the club through the 2001 season, when he hit .266 with 21 home runs and 85 RBI.

Greinke has not been the same pitcher since fracturing his elbow during the 2009 season. At the time of that injury, he was 10-0 with a 3.44 ERA. In 2010, he rebounded from the injury with a 10-13 record, 4.44 ERA, and 1.52 WHIP. This season, he has worked in the bullpen and in the rotation, going 1-3 with a 6.98 ERA, 2.07 WHIP, and .329 opponents average against. His Devil Rays career ends with a 47-27 record and 3.91 ERA in 124 games, including 104 starts.

Wolfe, having impressed in AAA, was in his second stint of the year with the big league club when traded this morning. The 30-year-old rookie right-hander has a 2.53 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 21 1/3 innings of work, allowing 17 hits, eight runs, six earned runs, four walks, and three home runs with 17 strikeouts. Wolfe is a native of Fullerton, California.

In San Diego, Holliday will take over in left field, putting Pat Burrell and Bernardo Chavez to the bench after platooning the first half of the year. Holliday will bat third.

Lee will take over for Gonzalez at first base and will hit sixth while Greinke joins the San Diego starting rotation and Wolfe becomes a member fo the Padres bullpen. Greinke, who was scheduled to start today for Tampa Bay, will likely start for the Padres if he can arrive in San Diego in time for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Devil Rays in Arlington, Texas, Greinke should have no problem getting to California on time.

The Devil Rays lineup will now have Gonzalez in the number three slot, formerly held by Holliday. Aubrey Huff, who had spent time at first and third, as well as DH, will move between first and DH with thirdbaseman Alex Gordon returning to the big leagues. Gordon missed 2010 with an injury and has played in 44 games in AAA this year, hitting .262 with four home runs and 25 RBI.

Also joining the big league club will be Mike Pelfrey, who will take Greinke's spot in the rotation. Pelfrey went 12-1 with a 1.00 ERA in 16 starts in AAA, and will make his first big league start of the year tomorrow.

Tampa Bay will benefit from the return of outfielder Josh Hamilton next week. Hamilton was hitting .328 with nine home runs and 23 RBI through 33 games when he fractured his jaw.

11-08-2009, 02:44 PM	#682 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Rays, Padres make big swap Holliday heads west, Gonzalez coming east July 3, 2011 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Diego Padres made a blockbuster trade today in which eight players will change uniforms. The Padres acquired outfielder Matt Holliday, firstbaseman Derrek Lee, and pitchers Brian Wolfe and Zack Greinke from Tampa Bay in exchange for firstbaseman Adrian Gonzalez, reliever Carl Sadler, and minor leaguers Lawrence Jones and Danny Herrera. San Diego will also get roughly $3 million as part of the deal. "We touched base with the Devil Rays about a trade centering around Adrian and Matt, and after some negotiations, we made a deal that works for both clubs," said San Diego GM Ed Wheelock. The Padres are leading the National League West by three games over the Arizona Diamondbacks and are hoping the additions to their club will help pad that lead. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, is 13 games out in the American League East and adds some minor league talent while gaining two good big league players. Gonzalez, 29, has been the most productive player this year of any of those involved in the trade. In 80 games with San Diego, Gonzalez hit .280 with 19 home runs and 57 RBI, putting him on pace to hit .281 with 37 homers, 111 RBI, and 119 runs scored. He hit .344 with 38 homers and 128 RBI for San Diego last year and is a career .311 hitter with 280 home runs. Gonzalez is a four-time All Star and winner of the 2007 AL MVP when he hit .358 with 48 home runs and 148 RBI for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is signed through 2015 and is owed $19.86 million this season. He will be paid $23.24 million in the final year of his current deal. Sadler has been a valuable reliever for the Padres this year, and Tampa Bay manager Christian O'Neal said he believes the left-hander can be very valuable for the Devil Rays. In 45 1/3 innings over 37 appearances, Sadler has poted a 2-1 record, 2.78 ERA, .217 opponents average against, and 1.15 WHIP. The career National Leaguer went 6-4 with three saves and a 3.72 ERA in 70 games with San Diego last year and is 41-32 with 27 saves and a 3.15 ERA in 11 big league seasons with the Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Padres. He is signed through next season at $4.5 million annually. Jones is a 20-year-old outfielder drafted in the third round of the 2009 amateur draft. He has spent most of the year in AA this season, but has played in 12 games at the AAA level in 2011. In those 12 games, Jones has hit .275 with three RBI and five runs scored. He is not a power hitter and is best known for his speed. Herrera is a 26-year-old lefty who has worked primarily as a closer in the minor leagues. He owns a 16-15 record with 51 saves and a 3.14 ERA in 155 career relief appearances in the minor leagues. This year, with San Diego's AAA affiliate, he has posted a 1-2 record with six saves and a 2.29 ERA in 15 games. He had seven saves in 14 games with the Padres' AA affiliate earlier in the season. To get this talent, however, the Devil Rays gave up a lot — especially by dealing fan favorite Holliday. Holliday, 31, is hitting .330 with 11 home runs and 45 RBI so far this season. Limited to 56 games last year with an injury, Holliday hit .290 with 11 homers and 43 RBI, coming off a 2009 in which he hit .340 with 26 home runs and 124 RBI in 156 games. He is signed through 2014 with a team option for the 2015 season at $28 million. He is owed $26.18 million this year. By dealing Holliday, the Devil Rays gain some payroll flexibility this year and going forward while gaining a suitable replacement in the lineup in Gonzalez. With Gonzalez coming in to play first base, Derrek Lee and his $2.55 million contract became expendable. Lee, 35, has shown power but has largely disappointed. In 79 games, Lee has hit .206 with eight home runs and 38 RBI, putting him on pace for 16 homers and 77 RBI in 551 at bats. He hit .262 with 21 homers and 76 RBI for the Diamondbacks last season and returns to where his career started. Lee came up with San Diego in 1997 and was with the club through the 2001 season, when he hit .266 with 21 home runs and 85 RBI. Greinke has not been the same pitcher since fracturing his elbow during the 2009 season. At the time of that injury, he was 10-0 with a 3.44 ERA. In 2010, he rebounded from the injury with a 10-13 record, 4.44 ERA, and 1.52 WHIP. This season, he has worked in the bullpen and in the rotation, going 1-3 with a 6.98 ERA, 2.07 WHIP, and .329 opponents average against. His Devil Rays career ends with a 47-27 record and 3.91 ERA in 124 games, including 104 starts. Wolfe, having impressed in AAA, was in his second stint of the year with the big league club when traded this morning. The 30-year-old rookie right-hander has a 2.53 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 21 1/3 innings of work, allowing 17 hits, eight runs, six earned runs, four walks, and three home runs with 17 strikeouts. Wolfe is a native of Fullerton, California. In San Diego, Holliday will take over in left field, putting Pat Burrell and Bernardo Chavez to the bench after platooning the first half of the year. Holliday will bat third. Lee will take over for Gonzalez at first base and will hit sixth while Greinke joins the San Diego starting rotation and Wolfe becomes a member fo the Padres bullpen. Greinke, who was scheduled to start today for Tampa Bay, will likely start for the Padres if he can arrive in San Diego in time for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the Devil Rays in Arlington, Texas, Greinke should have no problem getting to California on time. The Devil Rays lineup will now have Gonzalez in the number three slot, formerly held by Holliday. Aubrey Huff, who had spent time at first and third, as well as DH, will move between first and DH with thirdbaseman Alex Gordon returning to the big leagues. Gordon missed 2010 with an injury and has played in 44 games in AAA this year, hitting .262 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Also joining the big league club will be Mike Pelfrey, who will take Greinke's spot in the rotation. Pelfrey went 12-1 with a 1.00 ERA in 16 starts in AAA, and will make his first big league start of the year tomorrow. Tampa Bay will benefit from the return of outfielder Josh Hamilton next week. Hamilton was hitting .328 with nine home runs and 23 RBI through 33 games when he fractured his jaw.