The San Diego Padres are looking to make a splash in the National League West and have quite the offseason in their attempt to do so. Now just hours before the regular season is scheduled to begin, they’ve made one last splash and it might be their biggest of the offseason.
That’s because the Friars have traded Carlos Quentin, Cameron Maybin, Matt Wisler, Jordan Paroubeck and the 41st pick in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton, better known as BJ Upton.
Per Ken Rosenthal:
Complete deal: Kimbrel and B.J. from #Braves to #Padres for Quentin, Maybin, Wisler, Paroubeck and 41st pick.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 5, 2015
Rumors had swirled that Maybin was on the block and San Diego had been long looking to move Quentin, though the price didn’t come very cheap considering they also had to give up three strong pieces of their farm system if you include the draft pick.
As for the Atlanta Braves, it’s an obvious rebuilding trade which will allow them to bring in some young talent while letting the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins battle it out for the National League East.
The trade will push Joaquin Benoit into a setup role for the San Diego Padres.
