3:32pm: Loup’s deal includes a $1.2MM guarantee in 2019 with $800K in incentives, per Heyman. The 2020 option is worth $2MM and features another $800K in incentives, or the Padres could buy him out for $200K. All told, it’s a $1.4MM pact that could max out at $4.8MM.
11:41am: The Padres have announced the signing. To make room for Loup on their 40-man roster, they moved Richards to the 60-day injured list.
10:25am: The Padres are set to sign left-handed reliever Aaron Loup, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. Loup, a Beverly Hills Sports Council client, will receive a one-year, major league contract with a club option for 2020, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.
The Padres will be the third franchise for the side-arming Loup, who has spent nearly all of his career with the Blue Jays organization since going in the ninth round of the 2009 draft. Loup’s run with Toronto finally came to an end last July when it dealt him to Philadelphia, where he spent upward of a month on the disabled list because of a left forearm strain. The 31-year-old returned toward the end of the season, though, and combined for two frames across five late-September appearances. In all, Loup totaled 39 2/3 innings between the two teams and recorded a 4.54 ERA/3.61 FIP with 9.98 K/9, 3.18 BB/9 and a 49.2 percent groundball rate.
While Loup was unspectacular in 2018, he has generally been a solid major league reliever, particularly earlier in his career. Loup has accrued 50-plus innings three different times – including in 2017 – and posted a 3.49 ERA with a matching 3.49 FIP in 322 2/3 lifetime frames, over which he has struck out 8.34 batters per nine, walked 2.76 and generated grounders at an excellent 54.3 percent clip. Along the way, Loup has limited left-handed hitters to a weak .226/.301/.318 line, though he hasn’t been nearly as successful versus righties (.266/.340/.428).
Loup’s just the third major league signing in recent months for the Padres, who have also added second baseman Ian Kinsler and injured starter Garrett Richards on guaranteed deals since last season ended. A far bigger move could be in the offing, but regardless, Loup will join a bullpen that was among the majors’ best in 2018. He’ll also give the Padres a second capable southpaw reliever to join Jose Castillo if fellow lefties Matt Strahm and Robbie Erlin end up in starting roles.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Good signing by the Padres.
Depends on what your definition of “good” is.
low risk / potential high reward.
Haha so a lefty reliever who can’t get lefties out is a potential high reward eh.
“Loup has limited left-handed hitters to a weak .226/.301/.318 line.” Read the articles.
Don’t need to read the article been watching the guy pitch for years not a reliable bullpen arm
Oh just wait for your rewards.. inconsistency, and blown leads.:
They seemed to do well with Kirby Yates, Craig Stammen, Brad Hand, Brandon Morrow, Fernando Rodney, Robert Stock, Matt Strahm, the list goes on, the Padres aren’t likely to be contending this year, signings like this are great for non contenders.
Really hope this doesn’t mean they want him in the bullpens because they intend to use Erlin in the rotation….
Erlin isn’t good outside of a couple of innings.
I agree. Which is why I said I hope this doesn’t signal an Erlin move to the rotation. I’ve seen enough of him
I don’t think it will happen. 2 lefties already locked in. Add in strahms push. That can already be three lefty’s. I don’t think carrying more then that is wise.
I don’t think so either… unfortunately Padres and “Wise” don’t always go well together. I’d imagine Strahm makes the rotation as well, possibly even Logan Allen. Lucchesi, Lauer already guaranteed spots, Strahm, Allen…. i actually like Strahm more in relief also. I think his stuff plays up better, but I’d certainly rather have Strahm than Erlin in the rotation if it came down to it. Guess we will see
Lotta lefties
Based on this move it looks like the Padres expect one of Strahm or Erlin is headed to the rotation. Pitchers just completed their first round of bullpens on Friday, so a long way to go until that decision needs to be made and the Padres may still be in the hunt for a starter.
Finally the news I’ve been waiting for!
So if this is a major league deal who do they dfa or can they officially move Richards to the 60 day?
Pirella? Finally? Or does AJ have him as the #1 third base option?
My understanding is ty France is number one and pirela doesn’t play the corner. I would have to believe the Richards move
It was sarcasm.
Camp is open, so players can officially go on the IL. Will either be Richards or Lamet.
(Crickets chirping)
He’s great at coming for that one tough lefty and beaning him. Also gives up an insane amount of blooper hits.
You underestimate how good ballsly is
He worked miracles with Phil Hughes. Made the millions the Padres are paying him into a great investment.
Funny
Ballsley’s genius shows with relievers and Hughes was a washed up starter. He turned Brad Hand and Kirby Yates into elite relievers. He turned a washed up 29 year old minor leaguer named Stock that threw hard into a 2.50 ERA reliever in the majors. Every year he creates magic with that bullpen. The Padres bullpen was the best in baseball last year and it had no big money stars.
Koamalu the best example ever was Heath Bell.
He was nothing before he came to SD and nothing after he left.
Bals got “everything” out of that guy even making him an All Star.
Haha… ya Loooooup definitely had a penchant for beaning guys in the clutch, usually after he got ahead in the count, or on the first pitch…. and you’re spot on with the bloopers comment. Never seen such a bad luck guy when it comes to bloopers and squibs finding a hole
Cecil was the exact same. I don’t know how it was possible how unlucky he got.
He is great at coming in for that one tough lefty and inducing soft contact on the ground. He also is great at stranding inherited runners. Two things most teams need their Loogy to do. I wish him luck and health.
solid signing I think for the Padres. (small side note: the link for Jose Castillo is to the wrong – INF – Jose Castillo)
This should be good for both sides. Loup has an opportunity to bring his other peripherals up to speed pitching away from The Bank and Roger’s Center.
So does this increase the likelihood that Strahm gets moved to the rotation?
good, keeps him away from Freddie Freeman
The Padres will play Atlanta more often than Toronto will.
Laugh but this is the type of player that goes to the Padres and has a great year. Then gets traded at the deadline next year and goes to a team that’s not pitcher friendly and stinks. This is why pitchers go to Dan diego.
Petco didn’t help their pitching staff last year
That’s because their starters were trash. Look up how their bullpen did last year Patriot.
The Padres pitching staff had a 4.29 ERA at home and 4.54 ERA on the road.
The Padres bullpen was the best in the NL.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&…
Thank God I do not have to see this guy ruining games anymore. Good riddance!
The taste of McCain fruit punch?
Rumors central, Bryce Harper is about to sign with the Phillies reported 10/ 310 million dollars.
Hopefully Loup is spectacular. When used as a lefty specialist he was very good. When used otherwise, he wasn’t. Seems like a good dude also.
Padres recent signing of LHRP throws NL West competition for a LOUP
No Loup for you! Yeah we won’t miss him, but glad he found a spot. Lefty specialist
Wow… this is so exciting… How can America’s finest city with the strong promise of a winning ball club not attract the games biggest stars? That fair weather lovable losers crap is on it’s way out. Frustrating as hell loving this team.