Padres Send Former Cy Young Contender To Minors

The San Diego Padres needed to create a roster spot today in order to make their signing of Robinson Cano official. They've done so with the surprising move of sending 5-year veteran Dinelson Lamet to Triple-A. 

Once a highly-regarded staple of the Padres' starting rotation, injuries have taken their toll on Lamet. The 29-year-old finished 4th in Cy Young voting in 2020, after posting a 2.09 ERA in 12 starts in the shortened season, while striking out a robust 12.1 batters per 9 innings (12.1K/9). 

UCL and forearm injuries limited Lamet to just 47.1 innings last season, only 9 starts, and a 4.40 ERA. After missing all of July and August, he returned as strictly a reliever. This season, out of the bullpen, he's continued to struggle, with a 9.72 ERA in 8.1 innings, striking out 10 but walking 7. 

It's been a disappointing year+ for Lamet, and the Friars have even discussed trading him, as noted recently by The Athletic's Dennis Lin.

The Padres have been discussing Dinelson Lamet with other teams, per sources. Lamet, who is pitching out of the bullpen, is making $4.775 million in his second-to-last arb year. San Diego would like to create some flexibility for potential reinforcements on offense.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) April 30, 2022

Lin wrote that the Padres were looking to move him in order to create "some flexibility for potential reinforcements on offense." That has now come to pass, as he's been shipped to the minors to make room for 8-time All-Star Robinson Cano.

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