Insider Hints Padres May Add Former SD Catcher, Trade Top Prospect
The San Diego Padres just received some heartbreaking news that they will be without Luis Campusano for at least two months due to a necessary thumb procedure. When you factor in the struggles that veteran Austin Nola has been enduring, this could be a huge recipe for trouble at the catcher position for the Friars.
This could not come at a worse time for San Diego. They are down 0-1 in their away series to the Los Angeles Dodgers and are already dealing with a mix of hitting and relief pitching roadblocks. Fernando Tatis Jr and Bob Melvin have spoken out multiple times with clear messages to the clubhouse while Manny Machado has taken the silent route.
Campusano's thumb surgery comes after he continued to have discomfort following a sprain he endured earlier in the year. Even though it would have been ideal for him to have received it already, he believed he was able to play through the pain at the time.
So San Diego is going to have act quick as they do not have the luxury of testing out more young guys or being okay with dropping some games while the 24-year-old recovers. Therefore, The SDUT's Kevin Acee believes they could trade for a former Padres catcher in Yasmani Grandal and part ways with a top prospect in Ethan Salas.
"With the news that Luis Campusano underwent surgery yesterday to repair a thumb ligament, a trade to acquire a catcher would seem to be a likely avenue the Padres explore. Among the trades the Padres’ brass regretted was sending Yasmani Grandal to the Dodgers as part of the Matt Kemp deal in 2014.
"Now, part of that second-guessing was that they knew they should have gotten more for Grandal. But the former Padres catcher, who can also play first base, is batting .270 with a .775 OPS for the White Sox this season and is a pending free agent. (Maybe the Padres can send a 16-year-old shortstop to Chicago.)
(Via The San Diego-Union Tribune)
Grandal has grown a lot since his time away from the Friars and his seasoned services would definitely be appreciated now.
Sending Ethan Salas away would definitely hurt some fans as he is one of their most intriguing prospects at the moment. He is only 16-years-old but suited up with the rest of the squad in Spring Training.
However, SD is trying to win a World Series now and if it means parting ways with a teenager they won't use at the majors for years, they're likely prepared to do so.
