The Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League announced that they’ve signed former Twins/Padres right-hander Tim Stauffer as well as former Rays first baseman Allan Dykstra.
The 33-year-old Stauffer enjoyed a long but injury-marred tenure with the Padres after being selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2003 draft. He became a free agent for the first time this season on the heels of a solid 3.50 ERA in 64 1/3 innings of relief for the 2014 Padres. Minnesota signed him to a one-year, $2.2MM contract, but he struggled in Minnesota from day one. Stauffer missed a chunk of time with an intercostal strain and ultimately saw his Twins career end with a release following a 6.60 ERA with six strikeouts against seven walks in 15 innings.
As for Dykstra, he was cut loose by the Rays earlier this season. He made his big league debut in 2015 but struggled to a .129/.289/.226 line in 38 plate appearances with the Rays. Interestingly, Dykstra was also a first-round pick of the Padres, who selected him 23rd overall in 2008. He’s enjoyed a good amount of success at the Triple-A level, however, hitting .261/.411/.457 in 606 plate appearances.
Its funny that people badmouth Preller, but the previous regimes were responsible for way more misfires than Preller has had so far in his attempt to contend while cleaning out the house. The Padres had been one of the worst drafting teams in the game for a long time before him and it will be interesting to see if he’s any better.
Tim Stauffer is one of my favorite non star padres of all time.Had a few good years in SD.