Padres Acquire Bullpen Help In Deal For Trevor Rosenthal

Image credit: Trevor Rosenthal (Joe Robbins/Getty)

Just two days away from the trade deadline, the Padres struck a deal to improve their beleaguered bullpen. 

The Padres acquired Royals closer Trevor Rosenthal on Friday night, sending No. 14 prospect Edward Olivares and a player to be named later to Kansas City.

San Diego’s relief corps has been among the game’s worst in 2020, pitching to a combined -1.7 wins above replacement, as measured by Baseball Reference. Rosenthal’s seven saves are second-most in the major leagues.

It is the second time in just over a month the Royals and Padres have hooked up on a trade involving a major league reliever and a toolsy young outfielder. The Royals sent lefthander Tim Hill to the Padres in exchange for Franchy Cordero and pitching prospect Ronald Bolaños on July 16.

Nov. 6 Update: Minor league righthander Dylan Coleman has been announced as the player to be named later.

PADRES ACQUIRE

Trevor Rosenthal, RHP
Age: 30

A one-time All-Star closer with the Cardinals, Rosenthal struggled mightily in his return from Tommy John surgery last year but, like many others, has bounced back in his second year removed from surgery. After he allowed 23 earned runs and walked 26 batters in 15.1 innings in a disastrous 2019, Rosenthal has pitched to a 3.29 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 13.2 innings this season after originally signing a minor-league deal with the Royals. Rosenthal brings premium velocity with a fastball that sits 97-98 mph. His control can be iffy at times, but it’s been vastly improved this season and the biggest reason for his turnaround. He’s also made better use of his changeup, throwing it more often and getting lots of swings and misses on it. Rosenthal immediately slots in to the back of the Padres bullpen with Drew Pomeranz. He will be a free agent after this season.

 

 

ROYALS ACQUIRE

Edward Olivares, OF
Age: 24

Olivares hadn’t found much playing time in San Diego—36 plate appearances over 13 games—even after the team lost Tommy Pham to injury. Wil Myers and Trent Grisham are mainstays in right and center field, and Jurickson Profar has seen the bulk of the action in left field. Olivares was one of the faster players on the team—his sprint speed was third behind Fernando Tatis Jr. and Grisham—and joins a group of burner prospects in Kansas City which also includes Nick Heath and Khalil Lee. Now, Olivares will continue to try to unlock his other talents, which include the combination of a compact swing and strength to give him a future as a potentially fringe-average hitter with average power. Overall, he should fit nicely as a fourth outfielder.

Dylan Coleman, RHP
Age: 24

A fourth-round pick out of Missouri State in 2018, Coleman teased the Padres by sitting 94-96 mph in his pro debut but dropped to 89-91 mph in his first full season at high Class A Lake Elsinore in 2019 and was demoted to extended spring training. Coleman started in college but has pitched exclusively in relief in pro ball. He’s a big, physical righthander at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds and gets a lot of extension on his pitches with his long limbs. His success just depends on his stuff. At his best he’s sat 94-96 mph to go with a sharp, mid-80s slider; at other times he’s sat 89-91 mph with a slurvy 80-81 mph breaking ball. The Royals will see if they can get Coleman’s best stuff to come back. He has a chance to be a power-armed reliever if they can.