The Padres made a series of transactions prior to today’s game, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). Right-hander Pierce Johnson was activated from the 60-day injured list, right-hander Reiss Knehr was optioned to Triple-A, catcher Austin Nola was activated off the paternity list, and infielder/outfielder Matt Beaty was designated for assignment.
Johnson appeared in six games in April before heading to the IL with tendinitis in his right forearm. While the bright side is that forearm issue didn’t result in a longer-term injury like a Tommy John surgery, Johnson still ended up missing most of the 2022 season, costing the Padres a key bullpen arm and costing Johnson a chance to build himself a nice platform for his entry into free agency this winter. Still, the right-hander has time to play an important role down the stretch as San Diego looks to secure a wild card berth.
After playing with the Hanshin Tigers in Japan in 2019, Johnson returned to Major League Baseball when he signed a two-year, $5MM deal with the Padres in January 2020. That contract then become a three-year, $7MM pact when the Padres exercised their club option on Johnson for 2022 — essentially a no-brainer decision given Johnson’s solid work (3.22 ERA, 31.6% strikeout rate) over 58 2/3 innings in 2021.
Beaty also spent time on the 60-day IL this season, with a shoulder impingement limiting him to only 20 games. Beaty was a solid part-time/bench player for the Dodgers in 2019-21, but Los Angeles designated him for assignment in March, and Beaty landed with the Padres in a rare trade between the two NL West rivals. It’s safe to say that the injury derailed Beaty’s season, as he has only a .333 OPS over 47 plate appearances.
With these struggles in mind, teams might be wary of claiming Beaty off the DFA wire, though his roughly league-average production as a Dodger could sway teams in need of a left-handed hitter. Beaty also brings some versatility in the field, as he has experience at both corner outfield and corner infield positions.
Claimed by the Dodgers and becomes good again.
Looks like Beaty hitting .093 obviously SDP did not win that deal, might as well kept River Ryan.
Meanwhile the Dodgers converted River Ryan into a pure pitcher and his 99 MPH fastball and plus slider have helped him put up a 35% k rate.
Padres and Mets are stumbling to the finish, like always.
Don’t forget the yankees
Padres are 7-3 in last 10 with 2 of those against Dodgers.
Is that really “stumbling”.
It’s stumbling when you lose the division lead.
In all fairness to the Dodgers I think the NL West was more about how good the Dodgers more than how much the Padres have “stumbled”.
Padres had a bad month leading up and after the break which coincided with Manny’s ankle injury.
I don’t see the last 6 weeks as “stumbling”. Maybe holding on to what they got but, but to be stumbling – line say the Mets or even Yankees, they would have to be losing what they got which they aren’t doing that.
Most are looking at the big trade splash SD made and how little it affected the team. They went all in and have not seen the return. There was enough pressure on the team already, then Tatis Jr. became a nail that popped a tire. Offseason motorcycle riding, PED’s for a haircut injury? Manny can’t do it all by himself.
The Dodgers just took 4 out of 6 from the Padres. Outscoring the padres 45 – 23 in the series and clinched their tenth consecutive playoff berth. The Dodgers are now 12-4 against the padres this season. They have won 21 of their last 27 regular season meetings including a sweep right after the padres, “big trade acquisitions”. Are the padres stumbling, no the padres are not a great team, they know that the Dodgers are their padre.
Pierce Johnson….ouch
He’s a lot better hitter than what he showed in SD I can easily see him getting picked up by another team.
Guaranteed that Farhan, will take a chance here.
If I were the Giants, I would be all over him. He was good off the bench for “The Bums” and got some key hits.
Part Duex For Pierce. #returnOfTheJohnson
Keep your hands off our Johnson, Bay Boy!
The team that claims Beaty will be on the Padres schedule later this month and he will hit a 3 run home run against them.
Trayce Thompson has had a good run. But then when he was a padre he didn’t do the same to Dodgers.
Funny how that seems to work that way.
Pierce Johnson is not eligible for free agency until 2026…
Isn’t Pierce Johnson the name of who sung “Forever Young”?
Oh it can’t be because he is F O R E V E R G I A N T
Where is @TonyGwynnSD19 when you need him?
Pay no attention to that troll, he’s not even a Padre fan.
wasn’t that Mortimer Young from Forever Young Films?