There has been no shortage of interest this summer in Padres closer Kirby Yates, one of baseball’s top trade chips. It doesn’t appear the Padres are going to move Yates by Wednesday’s deadline, though, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The team instead hopes to extend Yates, who’s in his penultimate year of club control.
Yates has unexpectedly turned into a core Padre and one of the elite relievers in baseball since they claimed him off waivers from the Angels in April 2017. At that point, the right-hander owned a 5.38 ERA across 98 2/3 innings divided among the Rays, Yankees and Angels. With help from the splitter he added to his repertoire upon joining the Padres, Yates has pitched to a stellar 2.38 ERA/2.47 FIP with 13.78 K/9, 2.49 BB/9 and 44 saves on 50 chances over 162 2/3 innings in San Diego.
While Yates was tremendous a year ago, he has found yet another gear this season. Through 44 frames, Yates ranks first among qualified relievers in ERA (1.02) and FIP (1.07), second in K/BB ratio (8.00), third in xFIP (2.12), fourth in K/9 (14.73) and 20th in BB/9 (1.84). Hitters have recorded a matching and feckless .208 weighted on-base average/expected wOBA off Yates, who has converted 31 of 33 save opportunities.
The Padres are likely out of contention this season, Yates is set to play his age-33 campaign in 2020, and relievers are known for their volatility. Those are all arguments for the Padres to sell Yates when his value’s at its zenith, and the fact he’s earning a bargain salary ($3MM-plus) would make an impressive haul easier for them to land. But it looks as if the Padres, hoping to snap their lengthy playoff drought in 2020, will keep Yates and make an effort to reach a new deal with him.
Makes more sense than making a deal for more prospects. They’ve got Trammell to add to their list of Blue chip prospects. Really do not need anymore of those. Closer would be a gigantic need for them moving forward if he’s traded.
Andres munoz
Well let’s pretend Munoz is still all that. Even though the man currently only has 8 big league innings under his belt. I’m fairly positive you’ll need multiple relievers to be successful. I don’t see how that would negate the fact that Yates offers more value than another uncertain prospect.
I think Trammell just about does it for the need for anymore prospects. It’s about time to see some ML results.
We do have Munoz waiting in the wings, but he does make a great setup to yates
Well Baez also would be a potential option. But having more relief pitching is always a great thing to have. I don’t think another prospect is going to make the Padres better off. If they could somehow Attach Yates and Let’s say Xavier Edwards and get a prospect like Christian Pache who plays CF that’s probably the only way I see how dealing Yates could make them better.
Or similar logic w a pitcher. Like a Yates and Morejon for Brendan McKay type of deal. I don’t think either one of those deals is really possible though.
“We don’t need anymore blue chip prospects” — No rebuilding team ever.
if you amass so many psopects eventually you will have more then you can use on your roster and some will end up wasting away or losing value in AAA. similar to the idea that the Braves should cash a few chips now because they will never be able to give all of those starters even a chance to show they can stick.
I’m surprised Preller isn’t trying to trade Yates for a couple of low-A prospects. He’d even throw in Lamet if one of them was a catcher!
The problem with this whole plan is that he’s already 32. Realistically how much longer will he really be on the top of his game? I think the way he provides the most value for the Padres is trading him for a couple of younger players — maybe wait until the off-season and trade him for ML talent or something. Unless the Padres really think they’ll be contending in the next year or two (which is possible) I just think he has more value as a trade chip rather than a ‘building block’ given his age.
Could also simply be posturing heading into today. The cost could remain high for a Team that truly believes in Yates. This might just be a new angle if San Diego is not getting the bidding war they expected. If not, the cost for other available relievers might have gone up.
As well they should be.
But looking at it from Yates’ perspective, after what happened with Seth Smith, Yangervis Solarte and Brad Hand, I wouldn’t take any kind of discount to sign with the Padres.
32, at peak value and a lot of teams screaming for relief help – I’d be trading him prior to 4 pm EST to the highest bidder no question. The idea that you can have too many good prospects is absurd. Stock up to get that big arm this winter.
And what did we get for Hand AND Cimber? Other GMs are fleecing Preller.
Lol
This trade deadline is going to be a bust. We needed one contender to make a huge splashy addition for the dominoes to fall and it just hasn’t happened. Would not be surprised if all the teams just stayed home. A few relievers for minimal returns will happen but not much else. I so hope I am wrong!
Split the cost. 3 team trade
Mets padres and either rays or some team looking for rp
Padres get syndergaard
Mets get prospects and or mlb ready guys
Rays or 3rd team get yates
Yates would be a perfect trade chip in a 3 team trade to get Syndergaard to SD. Syndergaard to SD, Yates to the 3rd team, prospects and ML talent back to the Mets.
If Texas can get a #1 draft pick (21-year-old, Kolby Allard) from the Braves for journeyman reliever, Chris Martin, then the market for relief pitching is stronger than I thought.
That said, I’m trading Yates to the highest bidder. Yates is already on the wrong side of 30, and if there is a more maddening position than relief pitcher, I don’t know what it is. One year a guy can look like Mariano Rivera, and the following year only NASA can track the batted balls against him. Padres ain’t gonna seriously compete until 2021.
Get what you can for Yates now because in 2021 he could be pitching in Korea, Mexico or for your favorite pub’s slow-pitch softball team.
Contenders always need bullpen help and they want to contend in 2020 and beyond so why not? Age is a concern, but a 3 year deal (buys out last arb year) with club option for 4th sounds good.
They’re gonna extend him and trade him next season
Trade him now. Hand the ball to Baez and Munoz! And send Erlin back to AAA! Maton….now erlin….they just get bombed. I am so tired of hearing “our bullpen is tired”. And we blow another game yesterday.