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| Winter Meetings held in San Diego. Photo Credit: Jake Roth/USA Today Sports |
The Winter Meetings in San Diego turned out to be one that was full of trades that were going through so fast it made your head spin. Here is a recap of today's trades.
By: Michael Hanley
Dodgers Trade Kemp to San Diego
Los Angeles is sending Kemp along with $32 million to offset the $107 million remaining salary on his current contract to the Padres over the next five years. This means that San Diego will be responsible for the remaining $75 million on his deal. Also part of this trade, the Dodgers will receive pitching prospects Joe Wieland and Zach Eflin. Also, the Padres will send switch hitting catcher Yasmany Grandal to LA as well. San Diego will get the addition of catcher Tim Federowicz along with Kemp and cash.
It was the splash signing the Padres and new GM A.J. Preller were looking to make at these meetings. It adds a power bat to the middle of the lineup that has been missing for years for the franchise. Coming off a very productive second half of last season, Kemp is poised to continue to produce and be a star player for the team that could use a face of the franchise.
The Dodgers meanwhile get some more prospects that they have great flexibility with. They could chose to keep them, put them in their farm system and develop, adding to their pitching depth or, as they have done already in other trades, flip the prospects and put them in a deal to make a run at a prized free agent on the market.
Red Sox Trade Cespedes to Detroit for Porcello
Boston sent Yoenis Cespedes to the Tigers in exchange for starting pitcher Rick Porcello. Cespedes is in the final year of his contract while Porcello is in his final year of arbitration. The Tigers also were able to acquire relief pitcher Alex Wilson and minor league player Gabe Speier.
For the Tigers they add a power bat to that already formidable lineup they have on hand. Cespedes has a solid season last year for both the A's and Red Sox as he hit 22 home runs and 100 RBIs while batting .263. His swing and power are perfect for Comerica Park and will be a very productive and lethal bat for the Tigers to feature and will be a great player in the outfield. Cespedes has a cannon for an arm and can nail runners trying to swipe a bag or get to home plate. He will prove to be a great overall player for Detroit.
The Red Sox get a pitcher in Porcello who went 15-13 with a 3.43 E.R.A in 31 games started for the Tigers last season. Though he had an up and down season and never built that consistency he sought, Boston will not ask him to be an ace type pitcher for their rotation, just a middle to back of the rotation type pitcher who can give them five or six solid innings each time out and keep the team in the game until handing it off to their bullpen.
Ervin Santana Signs with the Twins
Former Braves starting pitcher Ervin Santana agreed to a four-year $54 million deal with the Twins which includes a team option for a fifth year. The Braves will receive draft pick compensation since Santana turned down Atlanta's one year qualifying offer in November.
The Twins get a front line starter that they can depend on for quality starts throughout the season. Santana went 14-10 with a 3.95 E.R.A in 31 starts for the Braves last season. He has a full arsenal of pitches that should be just as effective back in his old league of the American League. He still has plenty left in the tank and will be able to take advantage of spacious Target Field and its dimensions to keep some balls that left the yard down in Atlanta in the field of play this time around.
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