Padres Acquire Flamethrower From Guardians For Scott Barlow


The Cleveland Guardians and the San Diego Padres engaged in an unexpected trade, exchanging pitchers to address their respective bullpen needs and financial considerations.

In this trade, the Guardians acquired right-handed reliever Scott Barlow from the Padres, while San Diego received right-handed pitcher Enyel De Los Santos.

Scott Barlow, with a track record of success in prior seasons, particularly in 2021 and 2022, had been a reliable reliever in the American League.

However, concerns arose due to a decline in his fastball velocity and a 4.37 ERA in the previous season.

Despite his past achievements, Barlow's arbitration cost was set at a minimum of $6.5 million, making the trade intriguing.

In contrast, Enyel De Los Santos, with a more favorable recent performance record and an anticipated lower arbitration salary, appeared to be a cost-effective option for the Padres.

Over the past two seasons, De Los Santos has been fantastic, posting a 3.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, with 123 strikeouts across 119 innings and 120 appearances.

The Guardians expressed confidence in their ability to rejuvenate Barlow's career, given their track record in developing pitching talent.

The trade brings a level of uncertainty and intrigue, as the Guardians aim to tap into Barlow's potential while managing his financial cost, while the Padres acquire De Los Santos to strengthen their bullpen and gain some cost savings in the process.

It will be interesting to see how these pitchers perform in their new environments in the upcoming season. Photo Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports