The Padres have acquired left-hander Jackson Wolf from the Pirates, per announcements from both clubs, with minor league infielder Kervin Pichardo going the other way. Wolf had been designated for assignment by the Pirates last week and has now been optioned to Triple-A El Paso. The Friars had an open spot on their roster and won’t need to make a corresponding move.
Wolf, 25 this month, returns to his original organization. The Padres selected the lupine lefty in the fourth round of the 2021 draft but he was sent to the Bucs in the deal at last year’s deadline that sent Rich Hill and Jiman Choi to San Diego. Prior to that trade, Wolf had made 18 Double-A starts with a 4.08 earned run average, 29.8% strikeout rate and 6.3% walk rate. He also made one emergency start in the big leagues, allowing three earned runs in five innings.
His numbers after changing organizations were not as impressive. He made eight Double-A starts after the deal with a 4.25 ERA, 19.9% strikeout rate and 6.6% walk rate. Perhaps he was surpassed on the Pirates’ depth chart by guys like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. The Bucs needed three Opening Day roster spots for Jones, Ryder Ryan and Hunter Stratton and Wolf was one of the casualties.
But losing his roster spot with Pittsburgh gives him the chance to rejoin the Padres. Pitching depth has been a concern for the Friars all winter as each of Blake Snell, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Nick Martinez and Hill reached free agency. They added Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez and Drew Thorpe in the Juan Soto trade and then added Dylan Cease, sending Thorpe out in that deal.
They currently have a rotation consisting of Cease, King, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Matt Waldron, with Brito in the big league bullpen as Vásquez and Jay Groome are on the 40-man and pitching in Triple-A. Wolf will join the latter two in that category and try to earn his next trip to the majors. He still has two option years remaining.
To reacquire Wolf, the Padres will part with Pichardo, whom they acquired from the Phillies in the 2022 deal that sent James Norwood the other way. He split 2023 between High-A and Double-A, striking out in 25.9% of his plate appearances but also drawing walks 12.5% of the time. His combined batting line of .257/.370/.402 translated to a wRC+ of 120.
He didn’t crack Baseball America’s list of the top 30 Padres prospects coming into the year but will give the Bucs a bit of extra minor league infield depth. He has played all four infield spots in his minor league career and a little bit in the outfield as well.
Partially undoes that awful awful Rich Hill trade.
You a big Alfonso Rivas fan?
Padres would have been better off simply releasing Wolf and Rivas than trading them for Hill and Choi.
Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. No benefit of hindsight whilst in the moment. Maybe the Bucs just felt bad and returned Wolf? Now, before you hound me for years saying that I said that a MLB team felt bad for another… it was a joke, Harambe.
I wasn’t going to hound you for anything?
Suero was the only thing of noteworthy value in that trade. Raw upside lotto ticket. Risky not good trade. A out of shape injury prone guy and a 43 year old arm at end of season. Compared to other trades though it was a low price to pay. Get what you pay for.
Pichardo is a decent fielder, swing and misses alot but OBP guy with power. Minors stats look like Grish’s last two years on Pads. As a SS no place to rise with Pads. Good trade for both teams
Meh. Another depth piece I guess, but I’ve got at least 4-5 guys ahead of him in the event they need a spot start.
Most likely path is as lefty specialist. Hopefully he doesn’t need to start unless he improves.
First came the shortstops. Now come the Jacksons.
Maybe the Padres can have a “Jackson 5.” But seriously, it seems as if Jackson as a first name was a big thing around the turn of the century. I would just go by “Jack.”
Jackson Wolf actually was drafted by SD and made one start for the Padres last year.
They got Profile, Merrill and now Wolf?
There’s a Jackson Profile?
Don’t forget a Juricksen
a team of Wolves would be fun
And tough to play against.
Especially given the revenge factor
Well, if we can’t have Franklins, I guess getting Jacksons is ok. Easier to spend them.
The Bucs will need to make a corresponding move because though
Why? Pichardo isn’t on the 40 man roster.
Pirates brass stupid on this move! Never him a chance! Totally stupid!
He was not good in ST and he had a drop in Velocity. Several guts in front of him not named Skenes. Chandler, Solometo, and burrows to name the 3 most prominent ones. He would be hard pressed to get in front of Ashcroft and Harrington as well.
I like that slip, Robert. Several guts in front of him. Doesn’t paint a pretty picture but your overall point is well made
Oops! When you don’t proofread befor hitting the post button…..lol!!
Idk, from his few Spring Training games, his velo didn’t seem down. Was sitting 88 MPH, which is about where he typically is. Either way, even with other, better prospects in the system, it would have been nice to keep him as a depth piece.
Especially considering that the top prospects haven’t faced major league hitters and despite the high expectations, until they do, you’re not going to know if they’re ready this year
In addition, Contrares is another few blown leads waiting for waivers and Falter isn’t the answer as a #4 starter
And it’s not like we needed another infielder. They should have found a way to keep Wolf
The other 28 teams are stupid by your logic. They think as much about him as the Pirates do.
Minor league depth. He was once a top 30 prospect for the Padres.
Still is by mlb.com Top 20 lol
He was #16 in Padres farm when traded away. Now he is #19.
mlb.com/prospects/2023/padres/
mlb.com/prospects/padres/
Why lol? He was a top 30 prospect before being traded to the Pirates and now he is minor league depth for the Padres.
It’s a awful amateur hour ranking. He’s a lefty specialist. Odds of him being a starter are slim. Needs changeup or velo. Could happen but that doesn’t put you as a top 20 prospect. Maybe makes top 30 by a hair when Pirates traded for him. MLB had him like 10 11 12 or something. After the velo loss he shouldn’t be in it for either system. Keep an eye on him but both systems easily have 30 better prospects.
You seriously think you know more? Then put out your own list. Otherwise STFU.
I do x2
The Pads originally drafted him.
Wow, over pitched Oliveido by trading away hill and cost him TJ . That’s 2 Sp’s traded away in less then a week
Wolf isn’t a starting pitcher.
Neither is Falter but he’s in the Pirates rotation
Better than Wolf.
He has only made one relief appearance in his career vs 58 starts including one at the MLB level.
When did Jiman Choi switch from Ji-Man Choi? This is the first time seeing this spelling.
Mandela effect
Must be recent as I’ve never noticed it before now either. Baseball Reference now has it that way as well.
I see Newsday has an article that says he recently told people that they were spelling his name wrong. I can’t see the full article because it’s behind a paywall.
Does anyone remember the jingle from the 1971 pirate team that played San Francisco in the playoffs.
I can remember CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME WE’LL SHOW YOU WHERE THE RUNS COME FROM
OPEN UP YOUR GOLDEN GATES. Something more that I can’t remember. Anyone remember?
1971? what ever it was, Sister Sledge made us forget in 1979
The 71 pirates were twice the 79 pirates were. 1971 was the start of the LUMBER COMPANY. They also had Danny Murtaugh, Roberto, stargell, and the young guys that made the 70s magical
This is the place to ask. Maybe the old older or oldest tired old dude will remember.
The hill trade had no effect on Oviedo. He pitched on his regular days and only pitched ~55 innings after Hill was traded on deadline day. He did not pitch on short rest. Had one 7 inning game Aug 6, his 9 inning complete game shut out Aug 28 and the 6 inning game on Sept 21. All the other 7 games were 5 innings or less. I would not blame that on the hill trade.
He pitched like 50 more innings than he ever had. They literally had 2 starters for 2 months. They over played extended his arm.
I think I would have rather have kept Wolf, but I don’t think keeping or trading Wolf moves the needle much in either direction. The Rich Hill/Ji-Man Choi trade goes down as Kervin Pirchardo, Alfonso Rivas, and Estuar Suero. Pretty clear the most valuable piece of this trade was always Suero.
Any relation to Randy?
“lupine lefty” lol
I too giggled at that.
A+ trade for Pirates. Every team had a chance and only 1 thought he was worth more than 100 grand. Not an exciting prospect. I am not familiar enough with him but K’s aren’t awful and walks are decent. Hrs aren’t there. But something to work with.
A+ for Padres. Wolf looked like a good lefty specialist before velo drop. They wanted him back for some reason and traded about the worst prospect they could that would beat a waiver claim or cash considerations. Seems both teams just swapped their trash out so a good win win.
I don’t ever see Pichardo making any impact in the big leagues, whereas Wolf could’ve at least served as competent pitching depth, something you always need. He also would’ve been on a long list of guys I’d rather see than Bailey Falter
Not likely to but you never know. He has a base to work with. Could be a utility player. Back and forth guy. Just takes some late added power or one coach to completely change a profile. Not someone to get excited about as of now.
I thought Wolf was a lefty specialist last year. Very little value. He had just enough funk and command to see a guy who got a shot and just made it work as a starter. Now with less velo he was a easy dfa. Falter can easily be joining him but not yet. Even I still wanna see another Falter start. You just can’t give away a mlb pitcher this early in the season. Even a weaker one. I don’t want him starting playoff games but until he is just not usable and someone else is ready let’s see if he can figure things out.
These players are not trash.They are young men who are following the dream that many of us had at one time.
The spots on the 40 man roster have become fairly dear.Wolf May eventually turn into a decent pitcher but there are many other pitchers who will need his spot fairly soon anyway.
Cherington pirating everyone
I like Wolf, even though he’s probably just a reliever. Deceptive delivery and can really get lefties out.
But, don’t mind this trade for the Pirates since Wolf is buried on their pitching depth chart. Basically no chance of making the majors and was about to get sent back to AA because they didn’t even have room for him in AAA.
Don’t know much about Pichardo, but his numbers are good and he’s young for his level. Pirates are a little short on hitters in their system, so adding another good bat is a plus for the system overall.