While Jake Peavy was busy vetoing a trade that would have sent him to the White Sox, the Padres unloaded center fielder Jody Gerut on the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr.
Gwynn is 26 years old and the proud owner of a .275/.348/.345 career line in 607 minor-league games. He’s a poor man’s Freddy Guzman, a younger version of Jason Tyner.
Gerut was among the best at his position in 2008 but got off to a slow start this year. Although the Padres take an enormous talent hit with this deal, they save a few bucks in shedding themselves of Gerut’s salary. Saving money, as evidenced by their off-season jettisoning of Khalil Greene and their repeated attempts to move Peavy, is a top priority for the organization.
They also potentially reignite interest among fans that have stopped caring. In 2007, the Padres averaged better than 34,000 per home game. In 2008, that number slipped to a shade below 29,000. This year it is down to 25,000.
Some in San Diego will enjoy seeing “Gwynn” on the back of a home uniform and wax nostalgic about the “good ol’ days”… like, say, 1993. Well, maybe not ‘93. Bad example, but you get the idea. If the Padres aren’t going to be competitive this year, at least they can bring in a name that might help sell a few more tickets.
As for the Brewers, they pick up a good left-handed hitter who has some power and who is a capable defender at all three outfield positions… for the low price of a kid that didn’t fit into their plans. What’s not to like?
So are the Padres heading down that road of not caring at all whether they have a decent team? Anyone who makes 7 figures can be had for next to nothing?
This was a serious sell-low trade, but Gerut is not a young man anymore. He might offer a productive season or two, but I'm skeptical that he really does anything for the organization. Gwynn, just 26, might actually make a useful 4th OF or something for a few years.
I went to the game last night and the Padres seemed to be using every possible excuse to mention Gwynn's dad. Whether or not playing Gwynn Jr. will actually increase interest is an open question--and I think if there is one it will last only as long as it takes folks to realize Gwynn Jr. really isn't any good--but that pretty clearly is what the Padres are trying to do.
Couldn't the Padres have had Gwynn Jr. for free at the start of the season? I'm pretty sure he was out of options and lost the 5th OF slot to Chris Duffy.
So they didn't want him for free, but were willing to give up a useful OF to get him. O...kay?
As a Padres fan, hate, hate, hate this trade. Looks cynical. Gerut had a road OPS of 909 last year (152 AB), 845 overall. That road OPS (less affected by park effects) was the best in MLB. Maybe a fluke, but the guy has potential. He is making $1.75m this season. That is a bargain. And you trade that away for a name.
Sorry this looks like an attempt at "hey, don't look at us gutting this club...look, over there, it's a Gwynn!!! Yea!!! Smiles everyone."
Can't see any other explanation and I want to vomit.
152 ABs is a tiny sample size and out of sorts with his historical norms. That screams fluke to me.
Don't care much for Gwynn, Jr., especially since he could have been had for free a few months ago, but making Gerut - who has been putrid this season and is old - some hidden star is banking on a fluke and praying for his continued health. Both of these are bad ideas.
I think one of the reasons they made this trade was to open up spots on the 40 man roster so they have room for some of the players they get in the upcoming Peavy trade.
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As a sometimes Padre fan(I live in San Diego.)I hated this trade but Schlom makes a good point about the roster space. Still, it seems the Padres could have gotten something more.
I'm going to change my name to Randy Jones Jr. Then I'll call the Pads and get a try out, and since I'll play for free, I should be pitching in the Show in no time. What's not to like ?
As a Padre fan I don't much love this deal but it's hardly noteworthy. Gerut played well over his head last year but was miserable this year and no amount of defensive efficiency makes up for that, or for the fact that Gerut is 33 and not going to be around when the Padres are good. Sure, maybe San Diego could have waited for Gerut to get "hot" before trading him, but that may not happen.
I'm curious, Geoff, about your comments about the Khalil Greene trade being another bad transaction though. Greene was brutally awful last year, at the plate and in the field, and the disturbing news coming out of St. Louis with regards to him this year - the physical self-punishment, specifically - points to serious emotional problems that I don't think are ever going to be fixed. The fact that Worrell - who is probably going to be a decent bullpen arm - got injured obscures the fact that the Padres probably got rid of Greene at the right moment.
I didn't think the Greene trade was a bad transaction necessarily, just one that was clearly motivated by the need to clear his salary. The fact that Greene is struggling and Luke Gregerson is pitching well for the Padres makes it look more palatable from a performance standpoint, but I doubt you'd find many observers who thought before the season started that Greene for Gregerson and Worrell was anything other than a salary dump.
Although both of the Greene and Gerut trades saved money, you can make a solid baseball argument for the merits of both regardless of payroll concerns.
Greene, as he has proven in St. Louis is not even close to the player he was a few years ago for a variety of reasons. I think St. Louis would take Rodriguez in a heartbeat if he were healthy.
While I agree much of the local sports media has overhyped the return of Gwynn the deal was essentially trading backup outfielders. Gwynn can play all three positions and will be under the teams control for the next five years. Gerut, while he did have a big year last year, it aslo was an outlyer and its likey he will not be able to repeat it. His current numbers in Milwaukee certainly indicate that is the case.
On the other hand Gwynn is probably a better defender and not as good a hitter as he has shown recently, but does make an ideal 4th/5th outfielder: can play all three positions, has some speed and takes his walks, which is important in a ballpark like PETCO.
Do both deals save money? Yes, a team shouldn't have to pay more for lesser performances to show that it "really wants to win."
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So are the Padres heading down that road of not caring at all whether they have a decent team? Anyone who makes 7 figures can be had for next to nothing?