Christmas has come early for the San Diego Padres, it appears. On Saturday afternoon, the Padres and the Cincinnati Reds completed a trade that will ship Mat Latos out of San Diego and into the National League Central. While Latos heads to Cincinnati, the Reds will send pitchers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger, catching prospect Yasmani Grandal and first baseman Yonder Alonso, reports Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
Latos went 9-14 in 2011 for the Padres, but he was able to maintain a 3.47 ERA and a 3.16/3.52 FIP/xFIP in 194 innings. In six career starts against the Rockies, Latos was 3-2 with a 3.44 ERA.
In return, the Padres receive a pitcher in Volquez who has been troubled by injuries over the last few years, but is still immensely talented and has big strikeout ability. Alonso is a 24-year-old corner outfielder and first baseman who will need to see what happens with Anthony Rizzo before he has a set position. Grandal is a 23-year-old catcher who is waiting to make his major league debut. He has a .888 career OPS. Boxberger is a 23-year-old reliever who can strikeout batters.
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