Friday, June 19, 2009

The Padres make LOTS of Roster Moves Today

Friday June 19, 2009

The San Diego Padres made a number of roster moves today.

Lets start with the big ones.

1B/LF Kyle Blanks was called up.
DH/PH Cliff Floyd was placed on the 60 day DL which removes him from the 40 man roster.

SS Everth Cabrera was taken off the DL.
SS Josh Wilson was waived, and claimed by the Seattle Mariners.

C Nick Hundley was placed on the 15 day DL.
C Eliezer Alfonso was called up to replace Hundley.
AAA pitcher Arturo Lopez was waived to make room for Alfonso and was claimed by the New York Mets.

One more move will have to be made next week when Hairston is called up. Venable may be the one sent down unless a trade is made.

Kyle Blanks Called Up. Floyd to DL?

Friday June 19, 2009

This morning the San Diego Padres announced that they have called up their top hitting prospect, Kyle Blanks, from AAA Portland.

Blanks was hitting .283/.393/.485/.893 with 12 home runs in 223 ab so far this season while playing mostly at 1B. He has also had 15 starts in LF for the Beavers in preparation for a possible move to LF for the big league club. Blanks has been on fire recently, batting a ridiculous .424 over his last 10 games with a .500 obp. In June he is hitting .370/.478/.630/1.108

Blanks, a right handed batter, is expected to start in LF against left handed pitching and at DH during interleague games in Seattle and Texas. The Padres face 3 straight lefties against the series with the Oakland Athletics at Petco this weekend.

The left hand batting Floyd who was expected to provide a power hitting DH during interleague play and a big bat off the bench will likely be placed on the DL today.

The oft injured Floyd had spent most of the season so far on the DL already with shoulder and knee issues, having been recalled just 2 weeks ago. He has struggled in a pinch hitting role at the plate since his return hitting just .125 in 16 at bats over 10 games with 7 K's and just one BB.

If Blanks does well and Floyd hits the DL again, I don't expect to see Floyd back in a Padres uniform this season.

Although with just 39 players on the 40 man roster since Jose Lobaton was outrighted, there may be a trade coming. I certainly would not be averse to seeing the Padres make a trade that brings in a good starting pitcher or a big bat to protect Gonzalez in the batting order.

In other Padres news:

With the return of Everth Cabrera, Josh Wilson will likely be designated for assignment or released today.