The San Diego Padres are about to make a second change for a star pitcher in as many days as possible, and the team is expected to acquire right-hander Yu Darvish from the Chicago Cubs, according to sources familiar with the deal.
Darvish and catcher Victor Caratini, who appeared as the personal right-hand catcher in Chicago, will go to San Diego after the transaction, sources said.
Instead, the puppies are ready to acquire right-handers Zach Davies and four potential youngsters: outfielders Owen Caissie (18) and Ismael Mena (18), and shortst Reggie Preciado (17) and Yeison Santana (20).
Darvish, 34, is in the middle of a six-year deal with $ 126 million he signed with the Cubs before the 2018 season. After an elbow injury knocked him out of the game that year, began recovering in 2019, leading to a stellar campaign in 2020. He compiled an ERA 2.01 and 0.96 WHIP in 76 innings, finishing second in the NL Cy Young Award vote for Trevor Bauer.
Sources told ESPN on Sunday that the Padres are also finalizing an agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays for former Cy Young winner Blake Snell.
Like Darvish, this change has not been officially announced. But once they are, the two star players will join Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack to form a formidable rotation in San Diego. Right-hander Mike Clevinger is also on the team, but will miss the 2021 season after undergoing surgery at Tommy John.
For the chickens, the Darvist trade begins a restart under the new president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. This restart will include a salary exemption, as Darvish is owed $ 59 million over the next three seasons.
The team did not bid for the left player Kyle Schwarber, who also saved him money.