The Padres have acquired one of the top relievers on the trade market. San Diego announced a deal with the Nationals to add Daniel Hudson to the late-inning mix. Two prospects — pitcher Mason Thompson and infielder Jordy Barley — are expected to head to Washington in return.
Hudson becomes the latest player out the door as part of the Nationals broader sell-off. Washington is finalizing a deal to send Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to the Dodgers and has already announced agreements to move Brad Hand and Kyle Schwarber. Once GM Mike Rizzo and his staff embarked on the teardown, a Hudson deal became increasingly likely given his impending free agency.
The right-hander has long been a productive reliever, but he’s taken his game to a new level this year. The 34-year-old has a career-low 2.20 ERA across 32 2/3 innings, striking out an elite 37.8% of opposing hitters against a tidy 5.5% walk rate. There’s little question he’s capable of stepping into high-leverage innings for the Padres, who are amidst a three-way battle in the NL West. That won’t be the case immediately, though, as Hudson landed on the COVID-19 injured list this morning as the virus spread throughout Washington’s clubhouse.
Hudson is playing out the season on a $6MM contract, a bit more than $2MM of which is still owed. His two-year, $11MM deal comes with a $5.5MM luxury tax hit, which prorates to about $1.9MM. The Padres are reportedly a bit over the $210MM threshold, but indications are that ownership is willing to pay some extra expenditures. The Friars’ reported talks with the Nationals about Scherzer this afternoon would’ve likely pushed San Diego well above that line had they resulted in a deal, for instance. Of course, there’s also the possibility that Washington retains some salary.
In order to add Hudson for the stretch run, San Diego parts with Thompson, a 2016 third-round draftee. The righty has made his first four big league appearances this season but spent the bulk of the year with Triple-A El Paso. A pure reliever, Thompson has tossed 26 2/3 innings over 23 appearances, working to a 5.74 ERA with slightly lower than average strikeout and walk rates (21.8% and 7.3%, respectively) in that hitter-friendly environment. He’s already on the 40-man roster and has a pair of minor league option years remaining beyond the current season.
Barley has been in the Padres organization since signing as a member of San Diego’s massive 2016-17 international class. At one point, the speedster was a fairly well-regarded prospect, but he’s struggled to hit in the low minors. Barley has posted higher than average strikeout rates throughout his professional career, and that’s continued this season. The 21-year-old is hitting .240/.333/.388 with a 29.4% strikeout percentage in Low-A. Entering the season, Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs slotted Barley as the #28 talent in the Padres system.
Robert Murray of FanSided first reported the Padres and Nationals were in discussions on a Hudson deal. Jim Bowden of the Athletic confirmed the trade had been agreed upon. Dennis Lin of the Athletic was first to report Thompson’s inclusion. Jon Heyman of MLB Network was first to report a second prospect was involved, with Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post specifying Barley’s inclusion.
Padres better hurry.
It looks like the Nationals acquired a great player back. Not bad. Their farm system is improving with all the recent trades.
Starting from a low bar.
Yeah, mason Thompson is amazing, they got a great young arm
With the exception of 2010, every time this guy pitches for an NL West team he gets lit up like a Christmas tree. Good luck w/all of that. Ahahaha!
Next we’ll be hearing that “Padres are in serious discussions for National’s ball boy”.
Dodgers money will come in to block again! and add the ball boy AND girl
Good reliever with playoff experience. Boy, that Dodgers/Padres wild card game is gonna be exciting!
Do the Nationals have enough players to play this weekend?
Plenty of 40 man and 26 man space now
Well, they offloaded one with Covid…Turner.
Kinda funny to think that cubs play Nats tomorrow…will each have enough players for the game or will right field be out?
And now he’s a dodger
Way to one-up the Dodgers with this doozy
Maybe also get Ross in deal or even Corbin or Robles.
Oh man. If they took on Corbin and his contract……give back someone in A ball. Please let that happen!
Me and the homies only know him as Daniel Studson.
Doesn’t matter anymore
The Nationals are the sellers that I thought the Cubs would be
Hoyer still has 16.5 hours. I’d be SHOCKED if Bryant and Kimbrel were on the lineup card for the opener at Nats Park tomorrow night.
I don’t think the Cubs are finished selling. We still have 20 hours!!!
I’m still hoping the Giants just make the trade for Kimbrel/Bryant tbh. They could make that trade without gutting the entire farm
Can we send them Patrick Corbin’s contract for a picture of the San Diego Chicken as well??
We would but the bust that is Hosmer tapped us out.
Corbin 3.5 years left and after the season 3 years and 82 mill.
Hosmer has essentially 4 years and 59 mill left.
Maybe the Nationals and Padres do a swap of bad contracts in the off-season
Corbin and 17 mill to knock him down to 65 mill for Hosmer and his 4 years 59 mill left.
Ultimately that’s the only way Padres unload Hosmer without giving up prospects is to take back a bad contract and hope a change of scenery helps both players.
Nah all you have to do is trade them to the braves.
I feel like even though Hosmer sucks, going big for him may have done what it did for that Nationals when they went big for Jayson Werth. Gave them some much needed credibility and maybe helped draw in players like Machado. Certainly hasn’t hurt them overall. Except in the pocketbook.
Preller traded Mason Thompson (who is a hard throwing rp 11 years younger) for Hudson. Pure desperation.
Every year since 2017, Thompson’s ERA has been above 4.65…
He might be hard throwing, but he’s getting hit hard too.
96-97 is hard throwing now? Isn’t that the standard these days?
James Norwood “throws hard” too. It’s a very hittable hard thrown ball.
For two months of a guy they don’t need, it’s a good trade for them. Guy can be thrown into the bullpen right away. Good arm and see what happens.
Once in the playoffs (hopefully), you can never have enough experienced bullpen arms
The only desperation I saw today was the Dodgers breaking bank to make a splash because they were heading to a 3rd place finish.
Yeah now they only have the best rotation and lineup in the sport. They must be shivering.
I’d still take the Brewers rotation over the Dodgers. Scherzer would be like the 4th best pitcher on that staff
Which everyday Brewers would start for the Dodgers? I can’t think of any.
I can’t disagree. Brewers pitching is ridiculous and soooo much cheaper!
I said rotation not everyday players. Unless Yelich becomes who he was a few years ago I feel safe saying the Brewers position players are weaker than all three of the NL West contenders
I’m not a Brewers fan, I brew beer
For a hard thrower he doesn’t miss a ton of bats.
Padres going to empty the farm for Soto? Haha! (I’m kidding)
Can you imagine Soto and Tatis on the same team? That would be a blast to watch!
The Nationals pitching staff is now accepting volunteers.
Cubs nats this weekend. Show up early, you can play in the game.
So… Daniel Hudson to the Giants?
Now this right here is how you do a proper fire sale…trade everything but the kitchen sink (or in this case Juan Soto lol).
Padres should still look for a rotation piece.
Jon Gray seems the most likely target. Padres could also target Adam Wainwright and Charlie Morton.
Alex Cobb and Raisel Iglesias are right up the street.
There’s also Gibson and Berrios
Eric Hosmer +cash (to counter some of the difference between Corbin’s contract [82 million after this year] and Hosmer’s [59 million after this year]) for Patrick Corbin. Which team says no first??
Padres. Hosmer’s contract isn’t any worse than Corbin’s.
Been saying they should go after Gray for years. Now that Colorado basically has to trade him I just might get my wish…
They’re going to need make tags in DC tomorrow.
Way to realize it’s time to fold and get as much talent as you can.
Lemme guess…… for Hosmer?
This is a steal for the Nationals! Thompson is going to be a legit bullpen arm.
Who are the Nats gonna have left on the roster after tomorrow
Solid pickup. You can roll the dice with your starters when your bullpen is solid….
Thompson for an overpaid injury prone reliever? I feel like just taking the contract should be more than enough.
Why? The padre’s need is SP, send Paddack and Lamet to the BP, get Berrios and Pineda.
Does in 8 hrs what it took Al Avila 7 years and counting to do……
Takes actual talent to trade for prospects… And actual talent doesn’t stay in Detroit long enough to realize that value.
Caps & Wizards players are being asked to fill in some spots on Nats roster for next game.
Great job by the Nats, getting mlb ready talent, good free agent class next year.
Nats get peanuts from the Dodgers and hose my Padres. Flipping Nats
Dodgers about to jump out the bushes and trade for Hudson too.
I keep going to the milb (minor league) website to check the in-game boxscores to see if the Giants top prospects are playing. J. Bart, H. Ramos, M. Dubon, M. Luciano, L. Matos are all playing. Seems no deals are imminent.
Maybe the Padres should talk to the Dodgers about getting a starter … I hear that Gonsolin and Price have been told that with the addition of Duffy and Scherzer they’re going back to the bullpen.
Sherzer is going to get lit up in the West, just watch.
But if the Madres got him you would say the opposite. I don’t expect your AAAA franchise to stay classy because you guys have never won a title. The sad thing is that you guys maybe blowing your load now and won’t be able to compete a few years down the line because you guys will be broke. You guys are penny pinching now even though you think it is your window. Soon you guys will have to blow up the team because you can no longer support high salaries and still finish in 3rd. You guys should be used to this by now. It is the Madres Way. You guys are the MLB version of the Browns.
Check out this thread…as it goes from Padres getting Scherzer to Dodgers getting Scherzer and Turner.
gaslampball.com/2021/7/29/22599902/padres-news-mlb…
Duffy’s going to be out until late August at least anyways. I don’t think Price or Gonsolin are worried for the time being about losing their spot to him. Plus I think Duffy ends up working out of the bullpen regardless.
My Pads got screwed. What a joke!
I dunno… I’m thinking the Nationals might be sellers at this deadline. What say you?
Come on Giants! Do SOMETHING
If Max did come to the Pads , he won’t last more than 3 starts then he’ll have to get TJ surgery and at his age, it would game over on his career
This is the Washington Nationals shots fire(d) sale. Maybe Pelosi could lend her National Guard over to the Nats so they could field a team this weekend.
Maybe their players continue to over perform for the rest of the year? I think back to 2010, 2012 & 2014 when the Giants were constant underdogs in the playoffs. In 2012 they won 6 sudden death games to get to the world series. Good pitching, defense & timely hitting can go a long way. The MLB Network guys ended up looking like ass*oles with their predictions.
McCovey — I don’t think MLB networks guys were a-holes or stupid, I just think that decent Giants teams were very good at overachieving. I was glad to root for them because I like it when mediocre (certainly not excellent) teams do well. The 1987 Twins come to mind.
No they were ass*holes. My favorite was 2012 when they became incredulous anytime someone mentioned that Giants pitching could shutdown Detroit hitters. All the Giants did was sweep the series. Priceless!
This is the first time I will be actively rooting for a Padre to fail.
A for Padres. Hudson having strong year. I felt they got him cheap.
C for Nationals. Throws hard but hasn’t been impressive. Lower prospect is a weak lotto. I just think they should have gone younger more upside.
Well, as if trading Trea Turner away when he was on the verge of breaking out didn’t already suck for the Padres.
If the Padres had kept Trea Turner, there is a chance that they would not have made the Tatis trade. They may have but they may not have. Decision-making and deals would have definitely been altered in ways that are impossible to imagine.
@Remove (parody) Absolutely Preller still would have traded for Tatis if he hadn’t traded for Turner!
1. At the time the Padres were in the early stages of a rebuild. When you are in the early stages of a rebuild you ALWAYS trade for talent over fit and then see how it all fits together later.
2. At the time it wasn’t clear that Tatis would stick at short. Heck, it wasn’t clear at that point that Turner would stick at short. And Tatis will have to move off of short in a year or two anyway.
3. Those are both players you MAKE room for.
Next post: ‘Dodgers Finalizing Deal For Hudson; Padres Insist They Never Had Real Interest’
Padres get Hudson. Dodgers will counter with Kimbrel. A strong hunch that will happen.
Quite possibly. With :LA adding Trea Turner to the mix suddenly Gavin Lux is the odd man out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him moved before the deadline, possibly attached to a Kimbrel return
Shouldn’t the Ommissioner step in and stop the Nationals from gutting their team?
Why? I was about to congratulate my friend for his team doing such a good job.
Lots of “we” and “us” Dodgers and Giants comments here lately. Many during games.
Shouldn’t you all be concentrating more on playing than ripping each other and congratulating yourselves? You might miss your turns at bat.
Go cry some more
That’s social media. The great passive aggressive tool known to mankind. I wonder if some of these comments would be said if done face to face?