The Guardians introduced they’ve acquired reliever Scott Barlow from the Padres. Fellow reliever Enyel De Los Santos is again to San Diego in a one-for-one swap. Cleveland additionally introduced they’ve signed outfielder Ramón Laureano to a one-year contract to keep away from arbitration. Zack Meisel of the Athletic reviews (on X) that Laureano will make $5.15MM subsequent season.
Barlow has spent the vast majority of his profession within the AL Central. The suitable-hander reached the large leagues with the Royals in 2018. He logged 5 and a half seasons in Kansas Metropolis, the place he was one of many sport’s extra quietly efficient bullpen arms. Barlow turned in a sub-3.00 ERA over 74 1/3 innings in consecutive seasons from 2021-22. That glorious run prevention took a step again this yr, as he carried a 5.35 mark via 38 2/3 frames on the time of the commerce deadline.
The Royals swapped Barlow to San Diego final summer time. Whereas he’d been working as Kansas Metropolis’s nearer, he stepped right into a setup position in deference to Josh Hader at Petco Park. Barlow made 25 appearances for the Friars down the stretch, pitching to a 3.07 ERA. Whereas Barlow was efficient, he turned a commerce candidate but once more as rumors of payroll constraints in San Diego arose.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives Barlow for a $7.1MM wage in what’ll be his ultimate yr of arbitration management. Whereas that’s respectable worth for an efficient reliever, the Padres are reportedly aiming to chop spending (probably by as a lot as $50MM). Transferring a non-closing reliever is without doubt one of the much less impactful methods for San Diego to clear spending room, though it’s one other hit to a bullpen that additionally stands to lose Hader to free company.
It’s uncommon for the low-payroll Guardians to seek out themselves on this facet of a commerce of that nature. Cleveland tends to deal away gamers as they’re nearing free company. The Guards jumped on the chance so as to add a high-quality reliever to hitch Trevor Stephan and Sam Hentges as a leverage bridge to star nearer Emmanuel Clase.
To offset the lack of Barlow, San Diego brings again a extra inexpensive short-term bullpen piece. De Los Santos had a pleasant 2023 marketing campaign, pitching 70 occasions and dealing to a 3.29 ERA via 65 2/3 innings. The righty, 28 subsequent month, had a median 23.7% strikeout price and walked 9.5% of opposing hitters.
It was his second straight yr with an ERA within the low 3.00s. Since signing a minor league deal over the 2021-22 offseason, he has turned in a 3.18 ERA over 119 frames. De Los Santos labored in principally low-leverage conditions however had pitched his manner into the center innings throughout his second season in Terry Francona’s bullpen.
De los Santos, who spent a while within the Padres system early in his minor league profession, has between three and 4 years of MLB service. He will probably be eligible for arbitration for the following three years. Swartz forecasts him for an inexpensive $1.2MM this winter, which means the deal ought to save San Diego roughly $6MM within the quick time period.
Photos courtesy of USA As we speak Sports activities.
