By AJ Cassavell | December 15, 2023
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Matt Carpenter's Padres tenure ended unceremoniously on Friday when he was bundled with left winger Ray Kerr in a three-player trade with Atlanta. San Diego welcomed minor league outfielder Drew Campbell.
The move puts an end to the question marks over Carpenter's future in San Diego. He struggled mightily in 2023 and had no room in the team's plans for 2024, but was owed $5.5 million after exercising his player option.
TRADE DETAILS
Padres get: BY Drew Campbell
Braves get: 1B/DH Matt Carpenter, LHP Ray Kerr, cash considerations
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What will the Padres get?
Campbell, 26, went undrafted in the Rule 5 draft this month after posting a .254/.307/.404 slash line in 78 games for Double-A Mississippi last season. The Padres need outfield help after the deal that sent Trent Grisham and Juan Soto to the Yankees, but this move doesn't really solve that. Campbell, a left-handed hitter, is primarily viewed as a strong minor league player.
More importantly, the Padres have created some financial breathing room. According to a source, they sent $1.5 million to Atlanta as part of the deal, meaning the Braves will take on $4 million of Carpenter's salary and $4.5 million of his Competitive Balance Tax hit become.
The Padres also freed up two roster spots with the departures of Kerr and Carpenter, growing their 40-man roster to 32. Even during Hot Stove season, it is rare for a team to have eight roster spots available. But San Diego will likely have a lot of work to do in the coming months, so the roster spot could come in handy.
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What are the Padres giving up?
More than they would have liked. Kerr made remarkable progress last season and seemed like the type of pitcher who could have factored into his 2024 bullpen. Instead, he was involved in a deal to save the Padres of Carpenter's salary.
Kerr posted a 4.33 ERA in 22 appearances last season. But he was particularly effective against lefties, who combined to post a miniscule .161 batting average and .547 OPS against him. With the Padres' decision to non-tender Tim Hill last month, Tom Cosgrove is suddenly San Diego's only reliable left guard.
As for Carpenter, it was unlikely that he would return to the Padres after his poor performance in 2023. The veteran was largely relegated to DH duty, batting .176 with an OPS of .641. For the Padres, it was simply a matter of finding a trade partner.
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What's next?
The Padres' desperate need for relief pitching is somehow even greater now. Josh Hader and Luis García left via free agency. Nick Martinez's team option was declined. Hill was non-tendered. Scott Barlow was transferred to Cleveland. Now Kerr is no longer there either.
Kerr was unlikely to pitch high-leverage innings. But he may have been a favorite to make the Opening Day roster, especially given the lack of left-handed backup options. Now? The Padres need to add several backup players. At the very least, you should probably throw left-handed.
Meanwhile, Carpenter's departure brings salary relief, but otherwise not much changes. The Padres were already looking for a strong left-handed hitter – the type they expected when they signed Carpenter last offseason.
Beyond that, Campbell's arrival doesn't significantly change the Padres' outfield picture. He will join a large group of players vying for a big league job. But the Padres want to add another starting outfielder this winter – possibly two.