A key part of the deal for the Padres is the potential financial savings. Wolf is due a $175,000 bonus for every start he makes up to his 30th start, in addition to pro-rated payments on a $4.75 million salary.
The Padres also have two starting pitchers due to come off the disabled list in coming weeks: Chris Young and Shawn Estes.
The Padres had deemed it likely, though not certain, that if Wolf had left them in free agency, they would have gotten a compensatory pick for the 2009 draft, an option that now goes to Houston.
Wade said. “… I think he’s a significant upgrade to our staff, not only for what he brings on his own but that other people will slot differently in our rotation when you add an experienced guy like this.”
“It also gives us an opportunity to get our foot in the door with Randy,” Wade said, “and if he pitches well enough that we want to extend the contract, all that’s done against the backdrop of what’s going to be a pretty thin pitching market.”
Retrade?
(previous to the deal) Less than two weeks before the July 31 Trade Deadline, San Diego general manager Kevin Towers is still amendable to listening to offers for the left-handed Wolf as well as right-handed pitcher Greg Maddux.
(but)…finding a suitor for pitcher Randy Wolf might not be as easy. …according to a team source, talks involving Wolf are “moving along slowly”
Chicago was a rumored destination before the Harden trade.
Maybe the Astros could flip him and get a potential reliever that just needs some “fine-tuning” at the deadline.
The Padres will place (Reineke) with Triple-A Portland. They project he could become a major league reliever if their coaches can fine-tune his delivery to promote better accuracy.
“Good heavens. Are you still trying to win?”
That Wolf was traded didn’t surprise Padres players, but several found it surprising that the Astros are investing in a playoff push,…
“He still believes in the Astros,” Wolf said of his conversation with Wade on Tuesday. “I think he still thinks there’s a shot. With a little more than two months left in the season, there’s an opportunity there he’s trying to take advantage of. He’s not giving up hope. I’m up for the challenge.”
Berkman said. “Logic would seem to say that we should be sellers and not buyers, but I think that again reflects the attitude of the front office and that we’re going to do everything we can to win games and put the best team on the field.”
In his blog, Ortiz fantasizes about a 2009 rotation of Roy Oswalt, Ben Sheets, Wandy Rodriguez, Felipe Paulino and Randy Wolf.
significantly,
For the first time since he aggravated the pinched nerve in his right arm May 7 and only the third time since the injury was diagnosed during spring training, righthander Felipe Paulino threw a bullpen session Friday.
“It felt good that I did the bullpen (Friday),” he said. “It was just five minutes of all fastballs. It felt good.”
“He had about 25 or 30 pitches in the bullpen and felt good coming out,” GM Ed Wade said of Paulino. “So he’ll probably get a day off (today) and pick it back up from there. ” Link
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