Okay, so evidently the Padres weren’t done.
The Moves
- Padres trade RHP Buddy Hernandez (taken earlier in the Rule 5 draft) to Oakland for IF Jose Flores. He’s a little old and has no big-league experience, but Flores is probably a better player than Deivi Cruz. He’ll compete with Chris Sexton and Homer Bush for the backup middle infield spot. Hernandez was an intriguing player but probably not as useful as an infielder who doesn’t have to spend the entire season on the big-league roster. This was a clever little piece of roster maneuvering on the part of the Padres. Sure is nice to have some veteran middle infielders on the roster just in case.
- Padres trade UT Cesar Crespo to Boston for SS Luis Cruz. Crispy Crespo never really got a chance with the Padres, and with the acquistion of guys like Sexton, Bush, and Flores (and even Brady Anderson and Shane Victorino), that wasn’t likely to change. So they sent him to San Diego East in exchange for a kid shortstop with upside. Why not? If you’re not gonna use the guy, get someone who might help in a few years.
- Padres sign IF Mark Loretta to a 1-year deal. As you probably know by now, I absolutely love this move. Loretta can play anywhere on the infield and is a terrific hitter (.293/.359/.390 for his career). Probably my favorite thing about this move (well, aside from the fact that Royce Clayton will not be playing the part of Deivi Cruz in 2003) is that it moves Ramon Vazquez back to shortstop, where he belongs.
Here’s what Baseball America has to say about the Pads’ moves:
And, closer to home, here’s the NC Times’ coverage: Loretta fills Padres’ second-base job. Gotta like the comparison of Victorino to the recently departed Eugene Kingsale. Replaceable talent. Learn that phrase; it’s the baseball buzzword of the new millenium…
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