The Padres announced this evening that they have designated infielder Carlos Asuaje for assignment. His roster spot will go to righty Garrett Richards, whose previously reported two-year deal is now official.
Asuaje, 27, originally came to the organization as part of the multi-player package received in exchange for closer Craig Kimbrel. The left-handed hitter has appeared in each of the past three seasons with the Padres but will now make way for a more-hyped crop of middle-infield talent.
Though he showed promise at the plate in 2017, Asuaje struggled quite a bit last year. He finished with a .196/.286/.280 slash through 218 plate appearances, though he did have a much better showing during his time at Triple-A (.314/.386/.463).
Teams considering Asuaje may find some comfort in the underlying numbers. Asuaje boosted his walk rate to 11.0%, which could bode well for the future. And he carried only a .243 batting average on balls in play in the bigs. That was an unlucky figure, Statcast suggests, crediting him with a .288 xwOBA that dwarfs his .255 wOBA.
Of course, even Asuaje’s hypothetically deserved offensive output wasn’t all that exciting. If he’s to carve out a role, it’ll likely be as a utility player. Asuaje has hit much better against right-handed pitching, which limits him but also suggests he could be useful in a platoon role. Defensive metrics have not loved him in a limited sample, though he’s generally considered a solid defender.
There’s some value in the fact that Asuaje is still optionable for another season. On the other hand, it doesn’t help his cause that he has never been considered capable of playing shortstop, though he does have plenty of lower-level experience at third base and has also spent some time in left field. All told, it’s possible he’ll be claimed, but by no means a given.
As for Richards, he’s still a long ways away from contributing on the field in San Diego, as his first priority will be to rehabilitate from Tommy John surgery. He’ll reportedly receive a hefty $15.5MM guarantee in hopes that he’ll be able to get back to full strength and provide the Friars with a high-quality rotation piece in 2020.
Makes sense….Pirella can at least play more than one position
Not sure I would call that “playing” a position.
Shoulda kept Spang instead of Pirela
Agreed. There was some talk about Spangy got cut over Pirela because he’s arb eligible while Pirela is still pre-arb for one more season but that doesn’t explain them cutting Asuaje over Pirela.
They’ll cut all 3 eventually. Spangenberg got cut first because of price.
Pirela should be next on the infield list
Outside that short stop that cannot hit
Guerra? At least he can field and run unlike La Cucaracha.
More time for Asuaje to play Fortnite
and more time for you to figure out how to not double post!
#gotheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeem
Gosh you are clever
Asuaje now has more time to play Fortnite
Logan Allen looks like a great pitcher and I still like Manuel Margot, but that Kimbrel trade was great for boston
Just yet another deal that shows that teams and fans shouldn’t worry so much about prospects if it means adding proven players.
Don’t tell that to Padre fans who think every prospect great because the writers say so
Of all teams that should overvalue prospects its the padres.
The teams that probably will never crack 130 mill salary should overvalue prospects as they represent cost controlled assets for years to come.
trollforlife
Why change your name West Coast Ryan
Who are you talking to?
Cmon tell everyone Red Rooster aka West Coast Ryan
No, you’re west coast ryan.
That’s good one.
It’s true one.
While you’re right, I’m still haunted by trades that seemed to share that sentiment. In 2007 Mark Teixeira was traded to the Atlanta Braves (along with left-handed reliever Ron Mahay) for catcher/first baseman Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and four prospects: shortstop Elvis Andrus, and starting pitchers Matt Harrison, Neftalí Feliz and Beau Jones. Tex was great, but was moved the following deadline to the Angels (side note, the comp pick the Angels got for letting Tex walk netted them a little known prospect named Trout)…. prospects matter. In certain situations, going win now works, but so often letting those prospects go blows up
Good reference. Teams should be putting more and more resources into things that help them develop prospects; psychiatrists, physical therapist, nutritionists, etc. The Yankees have figured this out so now we might see them with a revolving door of MLB talent.
That Tex deal was so bad because the Rangers had an amazing staff for a few years that made sure they maximized potential.
Heh, yeah, agree 100%… :/ Didnt see your post.
Padre fans think they won trade before prospect plays game in majors ignorant bunch
Came here to say this. DD was blasted for giving up 4 prospects for Kimbrel. It depleted the farm system for sure in the form of sheer depth, but using hindsight, we see how well it worked for the Sox. Freakin love Kimbrel.
This also confirms my thought that prospects are usually way too protected. So often we’ve seen big trades involving top 100 prospects and fan bases cry foul…or even teams hanging on to players they KNOW would net a great return and settle a NEED on a roster (see Buchholz, man) I love how DD just said screw it and traded “top” prospects and plugged holes (Sale, Kimbrel).
The jury is still out on Monchada and Kopech, but the bet paid off in regards to the group they sent to SD. I like Margot, but the others dont look like they’ll amount to much. Which leaves DD smelling like a rose. And a WS champ!!!
Go Sox
A quick perusal of a couple of Prospect Handbooks make your point….in 2016, Asuaje was SD’s 13th ranked prospect and GREW into a # 11 in 2017…..What DD is right about is that you never trade the guys you think are your top prospects, like #1 and #2 (maybe #3 if you’re deep), and everybody else are just coupons to take to the grocery store……(his words exactly, actually, in a NESN interview)…
And ya, I know Moncada was considered #1 by some people…..nobody that saw his completely dis-interested style of play thought so…..and that’s kind of played out…..and we all know about Kopech’s issues….There’s more to these guys than the squiggly numbers they put up….
Essentially Sterns did the same to get Yelich…..think the Brewers want a do-over?
There’s very little “impact-type” talent out there….if you can get it, go get it.
Yes, its rewarding to see Benny, X and Mookie (Devers too) get their chance and stick. Those were names that wouldn’t even entertain a discussion. They were really deep too. Guys like Espinoza that “scouted’ well, but were worth trading away for needed value.
Kimbrel will be moving on but for several years you had him. He either goes to the Braves or maybe Angels.
Allen the lower of the 4 will probably shine the brightest
Manuel Margot will be traded or one of the other two Myers or Renfroe, we don’t need five or six OF’s. I say its time for Myers to pack it up and move on.. Friars need the left side of the IF for now, mainly a bonafide 3B and at least two SP’s who are either FA’s or from a trade.
Not likely Margot. Yes between Myers Renfroe Reyes
I still think Margot is the Padres’ poster boy for over-hyped prospects.
And the Padres would have done what exactly with Kimbrel on their team over the last few years? Closing games hasn’t been the problem. I agree the trade is not what it looked like at the time, when Boston fans (who like their prospects quite a bit I might add), were upset over giving up Margot. Asuaje was never a big part of that trade, and at 155 lbs, and almost no position flexibility, him being gone works just fine for me.
How. The eff. Does Jose Pirela. STILL HAVE A 40-MAN ROSTER SPOT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
They must think he’s got some trade value? Or he’s their fallback plan for 3b in 2019
*shudders*
This has been such a funny running joke. Hopefully they pick up someone and plan to dfa him.
That’s the question everybody’s asking.
Hey clown boy. I’m still waiting for you to drop the links to where I supposedly “admitted” to being west coast ryan, said that Rosales was better than Myers according to WAR and said that Preller’s trust issues wouldn’t impact his dealings with other GM’s. Your failure to do so within the next 24 hours will be taken as “I lied.”
MLB.com. Plenty of people saw it. You even argued with PadsFans about it. Continually stalking me won’t make it any less true, you insecure little twerp.
Should I just call you WCR?
Lol how convenient that you refer to some board that doesn’t even exist anymore and refuse to drop a link cuz you know you just made it up. You’re such a joke it’s not even funny.
If you’re gonna make such awful, inaccurate, easily disprovable claims and then try to crawl back into your little hole when you are called on it of course I’m gonna drag you out of that hole.
See? You crawled back into your little hole again. Now stay there you weird little underage troll.
More time to play Fortnight, Asuaje has.
Talk like Yoda you must
making a joke when someone loses their job. stay classy pal
I can’t believe that between Spangenberg, Asuaje, and Pirela. That Pirela is the one left standing. It completely baffles me.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind the Padres picking up one of the lower tiered second basemen on the FA market and then cut Pirela too. Dozier or Lemaheiu as a bridge and mentor for Urias.
LeMaheiu low tier? You must not follow baseball too much, LeMaheiu is upper tiers
Maybe that isn’t the correct term. I guess I’m basing more off the MLBTR free agent ranking where those two plus Murphy were grouped together in the lower third of the top 50.
I’m not assuming any of those three land multi year deals. So if any want to sign for one year, SD could be a sleeper pick for them
DJ is likely getting 2-3 years. My bet would be 3/27
Except he’s horrible away from Coors
If you’re looking for defense he’s probably a good guy…… but I wouldn’t count on the offensive numbers transferring to another ballpark
Should have traded him when they had the chance. Same with Spangenburg and many more.
Had we traded them they would be all stars. Just have to keep playing the game until we hit on a couple of good ones.
mitchell and pirela went halves on splitting the bill to hire a PI to get incriminating dirty photos on preller to be able to blackmail their ways into having jobs still.
I could believe that. It’s the only reason that makes sense.
Jays will claim him.
Brewers need a second baseman. Could he be in the mix?
Hopefully!
Not if they want to win
Spring 2018 the Pads had a nice horse race for 2nd base going…..it was very entertaining at the time.
Per Jon Heyman, the breakdown of that $15.5m is $7m in 2019, $8.5m in 2020 and then $250k each for starts 21-30 in 2020.
I guess we’ll know a lot more when the dust settles this coming week. Hopefully the Padres come away with at least one No. 2 SP, a veteran 3B with a two or three yr. contract still remaining
damn the Padres made a move, unbelievable..
Who? besides a TJ maybe SP Richard
and he won’t help them until 2020..yeah great move padres..unbelievable, again
Hey why not spend $16,000,000 on someone who can’t play next year. I guess they needed to match the Hosmer deal of last year to be laughed at for 2019. Oh wait what about all those prospects we have heard about the last 3 years?
Prospects are arriving. The best will be filtering onto the roster over the next year or two .
The “oh wait” stuff is lame.
What’s lame is swallowing the hype hook, line, and sinker. Even Tatis isn’t guaranteed to be an above average player. Look at Margot in comparison to his hype after two full years.
Too many Padres fans seem to think all these prospects are just going to show up at the same time and be fully developed big leaguers. It don’t work like that.
Oh yea + Machado and Harper
LOL, geez….you know dude’s struggling when he gets designated to clear space for a cat that won’t even pitch in’19, hahaha..
Remember when Myers complained about Andy Green making them do extra field work between games? ….. How much work do you think Myers has done at third base this offseason to prepare?? Haha. The guy needs to go. Unfortunately, his trade value is waaaaay down (via performance, injury, and contract). 2019 roster will be another disaster of patchwork and rotational players. 2018 Renfroe should’ve been a starter right out of the gate, but instead, JOSE PIRELA was a starting outfielder with Margot/Myers. You would HOPE, they learned to play Renfroe as a starter all year now…. time will tell.
I want you to be wrong about 2019. Unfortunately, the pattern has been established.
No team taking on Wil Myers he’s a loser