Padres aquire Carlos Quentin

by Husk on Dec 31, 2011 3:53 PM EST

The Padres have acquired Carlos Quentin from the White Sox for pitching prospects Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez, the teams announced. It's the second time Padres GM Josh Byrnes and White Sox GM Kenny Williams have gotten together for a trade involving Quentin; Byrnes was the Diamondbacks GM when the outfielder was traded from Arizona to the ChiSox in 2007.

Quentin, 29, grew up in San Diego and will instantly add some power to the offensively challenged Padres' lineup. The right-hander hitter produced a .254/.340/.499 batting line with 24 homers in 2011, and he's hit .257/.352/.505 with at least 21 homers per year from '08-'11.

During his time in Chicago, the outfielder has battled shoulder, foot, hamstring, and wrist problems, requiring four separate stints on the disabled list. We project him to earn $7.5MM his third time through arbitration in 2012 before becoming a free agent after the season. On the surface, the deal appears to be a cost-cutting measure for the White Sox.

Castro, a 23-year-old right-hander, was ranked as the Padres third best prospect at this time last year by Baseball America but was left off of this year's top ten list. In 2009, Castro was tabbed as the best pitcher in the Padres system after turning in a 3.33 ERA with 10.1 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 for the club's Single-A affiliate. The 6-foot-5 hurler started off 2011 with Double-A San Antonio before being promoted to Triple-A Tucson. Combined, Castro posted a 5.63 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 2011.

Hernandez, 22, was also left off of Baseball America's top ten list of Padres prospects in 2011. The left-hander worked his way up from Class-A+ Lake Elsinore to San Antonio and finished the year in Tuscon. In total, Hernandez turned in 116 innings of work with a 3.49 ERA, 7.3 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9.

Neither prospect was ranked among the top 25 in San Diego's system by John Sickels of Minor League Ball while Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus had Castro tabbed at No. 20. Goldstein writes that Castro has "gone backwards from [his] big prospect days" and cites the fastball as his only dependable pitch.

The first time Josh Byrnes and Ken Williams hooked up in a trade involving Quentin, the outfielder was sent to the White Sox for first baseman Chris Carter.

1. Maybin
2. Headley

3. Alonzo
4. Quentin
5. Rizzo
6. Hudson
7. Hundley

8. Bartlett

I'm guessing...

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Comments

Wow

Seems like quite a steal for the Pads. Unsurprisingly, Byrnes is doing good work with the club this offseason. They’re a much more formidable opponent headed into 2012.

"Slump? I ain't in no slump. I just ain't hitting." Yogi Berra

by njjohn on Dec 31, 2011 5:21 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, there's a chance

they might be able to move out of last place next season.

sententia Platonis semper in ore illius fuit, florere civitates si aut philosophi imperarent aut imperantes philosopharentur

by NASCARbernet on Dec 31, 2011 5:59 PM EST up reply actions

Looks like a better Carlos Quentin trade

than Byrnes made last time. Ugh.

by Craig from Az on Dec 31, 2011 5:43 PM EST reply actions

Good info,

But I feel like this should probably be a fanshot…

Ian, Daniel, Josh, and two Trevors: It's not a Christian rock group.

by Zavada's Moustache on Dec 31, 2011 6:35 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Can't wait to

See him rehabbing in Tucson sometime around June.

Founder of the 'Foundation for the Advancement of Clefoing' a 501C3

by Clefo on Dec 31, 2011 7:45 PM EST reply actions

eh

i think Quentin will be pretty mediocre in SD

you get what you pay for….and the prospects given up by SD aren’t anything special….

by blue bulldog on Dec 31, 2011 8:02 PM EST reply actions

He hasn’t exactly set the world on fire the past few years, and he’s going to the place where hitters not named Adrian Gonzalez go to die. Plus there’s the fact he can’t sneeze without a lengthy DL stint.

Founder of the 'Foundation for the Advancement of Clefoing' a 501C3

by Clefo on Dec 31, 2011 11:17 PM EST up reply actions

I'd rather have Quentin than Kubel

besides the side of the plate from which he bats, I would have liked to see Quentin in our outfield over Kubel or Parra. If we wanted to add some offense to the lineup, he’s the one that could have given it to us. And the prospects going back makes this look like a salary dump…half of what we’re paying Kubel (granted, also for half the years).

Don’t get me wrong, he’s no monster. His power won’t play in SD and his defense will be exposed, and AZ just doesn’t need another RH hitter. But I think his numbers would take a nice rebound back in the NL at a place like Chase.

by Counsellmember on Jan 1, 2012 2:13 AM EST reply actions

Bill James projections

Kubel: .274/.343/.466/ and a .351 wOBA
Quentin: .255/.343/.488 and a .351 wOBA

I don’t see any major reason to prefer one over the other. Kubel is more expensive while acquiring Quentin might cost us someone like Wade Miley or David Holmberg. They’re both lousy defenders and they’re both coming off of injuries.

Wear your own fur.

by Marc Fournier on Jan 1, 2012 11:55 AM EST up reply actions