Chris Young, SP, San Diego Padres

January 16, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By David Wysocki
Edited by KFFL Staff

The San Diego Padres have gotten a bit "Young-er" .

In a swap of a total of six players, the Padres acquired three players from the Texas Rangers that carry big-time potential. The deal sent proven set up man Akinori Otsuka and SP Adam Eaton to the lone star state and brought SP Chris Young, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, and OF Terrmel Sledge to the Padres. Young was the surprise here.

In Young, the Padres received a pitcher considered by most to be just as good as Eaton whom he was essentially swapped for. The difference? Eaton is two years older at 28 and making around $3 million more. But Eaton carries the veteran tag on him which makes him automatically coveted in Texas. The park in Arlington is known to be a pitcher's graveyard with a shallow left field porch.

Young, 26, stands at a gaudy 6'10" . His career record is 15-9, including a 12-7 2005 campaign. His twelve victories tied a Rangers rookie record. He also ranked among baseball's best rookies in many major categories including strikeouts (137; second), wins (third), ERA (4.26; fourth), starts (31; fifth), and innings pitched (162.2; fifth). His 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fifth in the entire American League.

The Padres, who have revamped the team this offseason, have possibly rid themselves of a couple potential problems. Otsuka is 34 years old and had shown signs of slipping down the stretch in 2005. This is the same for Eaton who, after injuring his finger in the early mid-season, stumbled in his last few starts unable to throw anything off-speed effectively. Eaton has an injury history that consists of a number of arm injuries.

Before his injury, Eaton had pulled off eight straight wins, something the Rangers hope he can return to.

Oddly enough, Young was said to have the same kind of problems last season as far as late season struggles. The Rangers were reportedly worried about Young's self admitted fatigue toward the end of 2005.

Young will enjoy a nice left side of the infield in San Diego. SS Khalil Greene has proved he is one of the league's elite defensive shortstops and the ageless Vinny Castilla has always played a solid third. The problems lay on the right side with rookie 2B Josh Barfield and Ryan Klesko, who is basically a designated hitter playing first.

Barfield, son of former Yankees OF Jesse Barfield, has been said to have improved his defensive game mightily, a result of an attempt to shake the stigma he has always carried as an Alfonso Soriano-type, offense only guy. It has yet to be seen as he has not seen any major league time thus far.

Klesko will start the season at 1B, but if he doesn't produce at the plate he will see himself benched to Gonzalez, as Gonzalez is considered by many around baseball to be a top defender with Wally Joyner-like plate potential. This may be the best thing for the Padres as Klesko has struggled with a bad back, which has left him essentially without a real position. His mobility is almost zero.

The situation seems very good for Young. He is moving to the National League where there is no designated hitter. He is leaving a hitter friendly park in Texas to one of the league's notorious pitcher's parks in San Diego. Plus, very few in the league will have seen him pitch as he is coming off his first season, which was in the American League.

San Diego looks like a ball club that will again compete in the still-weak NL West. Young will probably see himself being SP Jake Peavy's right hand man towards the latter of the season, which could be a good thing. The Padres rotation includes Peavy, Young, Shawn Estes, and a combination of Woody Williams, Dewon Brazelton, Clay Hensley, Tim Stauffer or Chan Ho Park.

Look for Young to have a very solid season, especially in April, May, and June. He will probably tail off a bit as hitter's become more familiar with him and there's always the chance of a sophomore slump experience. One thing we know is he will strike out a lot of hitters, which makes him very attractive in fantasy. Barring injury, expect Young to finish around 15-10 with an ERA just below four. He should be on of the league's top sleepers in the mid rounds. He will probably even slip to many late rounds. He is a must have on NL-only fantasy ball clubs.

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

David Wysocki

David has been a KFFL writer since 2005. He is a San Diego native and a History and Geography student at California State University-Chico. He has a writing background and has appeared in, and helped produce, various local newsletters and magazines on sports and music. He also pitched for the No. 2 nationally ranked Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns his senior year of high school in 2002.

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

Fantasy baseball players in the news (05/24)
Fantasy football players in the news (05/24)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Dee Gordon's problems at bat (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Player Prospecting: Will Smith, Yordano Ventura, Wil Myers, more (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Roundtable: How trade talks develop (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Closer Hot Seat: Tyler Clippard, J.J. Putz (05/23)
Fantasy Baseball Diamond Market: Mark Teixeira's ill beginnings (05/23)
Fantasy NASCAR race preview: Coca-Cola 600 (05/23)
Fantasy baseball closer depth charts - AL (05/23)
Fantasy baseball closer depth charts - NL (05/23)