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« Gary Matthews Jr. Comments | Main | Rockies Rumors: Podsednik, Hammel, Gaudin »
Padres Acquire Edward Mujica
WEDNESDAY: Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the Padres acquired Mujica from the Indians. Brock reports the same. Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Indians will receive a player to be named later or cash. Click here to read Paul DePodesta's thoughts on Mujica.
Additionally, Krasovic says the Padres shipped minor league pitcher Manny Ayala to the Phillies.
TUESDAY: According to MLB.com's Corey Brock, the Padres continue to eye the trade market for a hard-throwing reliever with late-inning potential. Like recent acquisition Eulogio De La Cruz, the focus is on pitchers who are out of options.
Brock says the Padres might have interest in Cleveland's Ed Mujica. Mujica, 25 in May, hasn't had big league success in recent years but did average 92.5 mph on his fastball in '08.
My own speculation - another name to watch might be Fernando Nieve, who the Mets recently claimed from the Astros but then placed back on waivers. Here's the partial list of other out of options players I cobbled together earlier this year.
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Padres are plucking through everyone's garbage.
Posted by: Calriver | April 01, 2009 at 12:23 AM
Calriver, thats how the Padres get almost all of their relievers waiver claims or small trades. Its how every year they have built their bullpen since KT too over as GM, guys like Linebrink, Meredith, Bell, and Adams, some of the better arms we have had in the bullpen over the last couple of years, all of them either waiver claims or trades that got little notice. Its how the Padres always build their bullpen. Its nothing new thats how they are doing it this years, the surprise is how bad they have done thus far this year.
Posted by: AirmanSD | April 01, 2009 at 12:54 AM
The 2009 Padre bullpen won't be as bad as it was last year. I think this bullpen will surprise everyone as to how good it will be. Guys who so far who are a lock to make the bullpen for Opening Day:
CP - Heath Bell
RP - Cla Meredith
RP - Edwin Moreno
RP - Eulogio de la Cruz
RP - Duaner Sanchez
We know Bell is pretty good. Scouts say Meredith has been at his best so far this ST and his stats back that up as he hasn't allowed a run. Moreno comes in as a sleeper as he has an ERA below 1. As far as De la Cruz goes, well, he has a bit of control problems but he can do very well. Good fastball in the top 90's, mixes it up with the changeup and slider. He's got nasty stuff. Sanchez is so so, hopefully he bounces back with this fresh start.
KT will add another arm and the only remaining spot left will go to Hampson (who's had a VERY bad spring) or Arturo Lopez. Plus don't forget we will get back Mike Adams at late May-early June. The true question marks are on the rotation after Peavy and CY IMO.
Posted by: Franco | April 01, 2009 at 01:23 AM
"I think this bullpen will surprise everyone as to how good it will be."
Don't count on Meredith's streak to last, the guy is a head case. The tougher the situation, the more likely he is to crack... sure he's confident now, but the first mistake he makes he'll go down hill fast. On the other hand if the Pads use him more rigidly as an 8th inning man, then he'll be more stable. Bell hasn't been a closer yet... from everything I've seen, they can be hit or miss when moving from set up to closing.
I'd say the pen is just as much a question mark as the starting staff.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | April 01, 2009 at 02:05 AM
Meredith's made some adjustments which is what has made him successful so far this spring. As far as Bell goes, I do agree they are a hit or miss but one must assume he must do well especially since he had good mentoring from Trevor Hoffman. I predict 25-30 saves depending on how the team does this season.
Posted by: Franco | April 01, 2009 at 02:41 AM
Not to point out the obvious, but the Padres obviously declined to take on Nieve when he was waived 2 weeks ago that he made it to the Mets on waivers, and I don't see what's changed.
Posted by: AdropOFvenom | April 01, 2009 at 08:37 AM
So did the Indians place him on waivers, or was this a trade?
Mujica has pretty decent stuff, but has not shown anything at the big league level. He could blow.. or he could be one of those guys who comes up to the majors and overthrows, loses some movement and control.
Worth a shot, but I wouldn't be shocked to see the Padres dump him within the first couple weeks of the season.
Posted by: GoTribe | April 01, 2009 at 10:18 AM
SO apparently we acquired a pitcher with a low 90s fastball (instantly making him one of the hardest throwers on the team) but who apparently.....CAN'T PITCH. Any problems with that????
Posted by: AnteaterPadre | April 01, 2009 at 10:56 AM
I actually think Mujica can find some success in San Diego.
He's posted pretty good numbers in AAA each of the past three seasons, and he even posted a 4.27 FIP in his time with Cleveland last year, although he was a victim of some awful luck.
Considering the guy's fastball sits around 92-95, he's obviously got a powerful arm, and I think the only think that would hold him back is a lack of groundballs.
Mujica's had some serious issues keeping the ball down, and pitching in Petco will help to convert a lot of those batted balls into outs. He doesn't walk too many guys, so an improved groundball rate would likely make him a very good middle reliever.
Posted by: scribbletone | April 01, 2009 at 11:02 AM
The Tigers should pick up Nieve. He could come in handy as a clean up guy, and he has experience as a starter.
Posted by: Rob M. | April 01, 2009 at 11:06 AM
So did the Indians place him on waivers, or was this a trade?
Mujica has pretty decent stuff, but has not shown anything at the big league level. He could blow.. or he could be one of those guys who comes up to the majors and overthrows, loses some movement and control.
Worth a shot, but I wouldn't be shocked to see the Padres dump him within the first couple weeks of the season.
Posted by: GoTribe | April 01, 2009 at 10:18 AM
For a player to be named later or cash considerations.
And, I'd be shocked because considering the rest of the staff, it's not like they have anyone better.
Posted by: strikethree | April 01, 2009 at 11:16 AM
And I just wanted to throw this out there for discussion, but the Tigers announced that Rick Porcello has won the fifth spot in their rotation, despite the fact that's never pitched above High A ball.
I think it's a pretty risky move, advancing Porcello this quickly to pitch for a team that's not a clear contender. If they screw up his arm, they'll be left with a near-barren farm system in terms of quality pitching prospects. I find the decision to be rather curious, what are others' thoughts?
Posted by: scribbletone | April 01, 2009 at 11:35 AM
I've always kind of liked Mujica. He has very good command and can throw fairly consistant around 93-94.
That being said, he never really seemed to "put it together" and seems to shrink in the big moments.
This one could go definitely go either way, at least "Chulkamania" is now on the Tribe where he belongs.
Posted by: the lowercase zach is better | April 01, 2009 at 11:48 AM
I've always kind of liked Mujica. He has very good command and can throw fairly consistant around 93-94.
That being said, he never really seemed to "put it together" and seems to shrink in the big moments.
This one could go definitely go either way, at least "Chulkamania" is now on the Tribe where he belongs.
Posted by: the lowercase zach is better | April 01, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Mujica has a live arm but to say that he has very good command implies that he intends to groove the ball up in the strike zone.
Posted by: MickS | April 01, 2009 at 01:08 PM
the lowercase zach is better,
chulkmania as in vinnie chulk? if so, he is not making the team right out of spring training. left hander zach jackson won the last spot in the pen that was supposed to go to either chulk, jackson or mujica. that doesn't mean that chulk won't be up with the team in may or even april. he's had a strong spring.
good luck to mujica though. he had a streak last year with over 10 outings straight of no runs given up. showed signs but never really put it all together. best of luck to him.
Posted by: ilulic | April 01, 2009 at 02:44 PM