The Cincinnati Reds made a big move to upgrade the front of their rotation by acquiring starting pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres for first basemen Yonder Alonso, starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, minor league relief pitcher Brad Boxberger and minor league catcher Yasmani Grandal. The Reds picked up a proven starter for extra pieces that the team could afford to move because of the depth it had built up.
Alonso was blocked by Joey Votto in Cincinnati and now is the favorite to start the year at first base in San Diego. Alonso becomes a nice late round sleeper pick in mixed league formats now that he finally has a full-time job. Alonso should be in the .280 range with 17-20 home runs on the season in 2012. The move causes a ripple effect in San Diego as first base prospect Anthony Rizzo now could be on the trade block with the arrival of Alonso.
For Volquez, there is not going to be much change in his value with the move to PETCO Park unless he is able to fix his control issues. Since his breakout season in 2008, Volquez has posted a walk rate of 5.8, 5.0 and 5.4 per nine innings over the last three seasons.
Boxberger gives the Padres a possible closer candidate in the wake of losing Heath Bell via free agency. Boxberger tallied 11 saves across two minor league levels in 2011 while striking out 93 hitters in 62 innings. Grandal will likely start the season at AA or AAA for the Padres. He played at two minor league levels in 2011 and for his minor league career of 402 at bats, he has a .303 batting average with 14 home runs and 69 RBI.
For the Padres, they need Volquez to pitch closer to his 2008 level and they need to be able to flip Rizzo for another solid piece in order for them to break even or come out ahead on this trade. For the Reds, they were dealing from a position of strength with the depth of their farm system and they upgraded their major league staff so for now, I think the Reds got the better end of the deal.


