The San Diego Padres moved third baseman Chase Headley and closer Huston Street prior to the July 31 trade deadline. Still, they declined to move two key pieces in Ian Kennedy and Joaquin Benoit, both of whom were in high demand. With the recent hiring of A.J. Preller as the General Manager, an August trade could be in order. It figures to be at least a couple years before the Padres will be in a position to contend, and Benoit and Kennedy become free agents after the 2015 season.
The Padres picked up Kennedy from the Arizona Diamondbacks at last year’s deadline. Kennedy was in the midst of a rough year with Arizona after having three good years with the D’Backs, and the Padres got him for pennies on the dollar. He’s rebounded nicely this year, posting a 3.51 ERA with better peripherals. His strikeout rate of 25.5 percent is a career-high, and he’s lowered his walk rate from 9.2 percent in 2013 to 8.2 percent this season. Overall the 29 year-old right-hander has posted 2.4 fWAR and a career-best 90 xFIP-. Going forward he projects as a solid starter, and his 2015 arbitration salary figures to be around $6 million.
Benoit, who the Padres signed to a two-year deal worth $14 million, is having a second straight excellent season. His strikeout rate is sitting at 30.2 percent, and he owns a stingy 1.71 ERA. At age 37 he’s exhibiting a career-best average fastball velocity of 94.7 miles per hour, and his changeup and slider are both formidable weapons. His 18.0 percent swinging strike rate is higher than Craig Kimbrel. While the Padres have expressed an interest in keeping Benoit around, there’s a great opportunity to get a good return in trade for the veteran reliever.
This is a big year for Detroit and their 85 year-old owner Mike Ilitch. They made the biggest trade yet by dealing away Austin Jackson, Drew Smyly and prospect Wily Adames to get David Price. Now, they have a hole in their rotation with Sanchez on the disabled list. Robbie Ray, who they acquired in the Doug Fister deal this winter, made three starts earlier in the year, but he’s had blister issues and has mediocre numbers in Triple-A. Drew VerHagen made a spot start in July, but both he and Ray project for ERAs above 5.00. Meanwhile, the bullpen has a 4.49 ERA. Only the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies have fared worse.
Their farm system has been thinned with the Soria and Price trades, but there are still pieces available should they seek to make a deal with the Padres. The Tigers are all in for 2014, and the Padres should be looking to sell. There might be another big deal left this trade season.
