The San Diego Padres acquired Mike Clevinger in a multiplayer deal with the Cleveland Indians on Monday, bolstering their rotation with another bold move ahead of baseball’s trade deadline.
San Diego got Clevinger, outfielder Greg Allen and a player to be named from Cleveland for a package of young players that included outfielder Josh Naylor, right-hander Cal Quantrill and catcher Austin Hedges.
Led by Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego is going for its first playoff appearance since 2006. The acquisition of Clevinger is the Padres’ fifth trade since Saturday.
San Diego acquired veteran catchers Jason Castro and Austin Nola in a pair of deals on Sunday, making Hedges expendable. First baseman Mitch Moreland came over in a trade with Boston, and the Padres added reliever Trevor Rosenthal in a deal with Kansas City.
The 29-year-old Clevinger strengthens a rotation that has had a few stumbles lately, including Garrett Richards going two or fewer innings in consecutive starts and opening-day starter Chris Paddack struggling before bouncing back with a strong performance on Sunday at Colorado.
Clevinger went 13-4 with a 2.71 ERA in 21 starts last year. The long-haired right-hander also is contractually controlled through the 2022 season.
Cleveland is in the mix for the AL Central title, but Clevinger may have wore out his welcome when he was caught breaking COVID-19 protocols a couple weeks ago, leading to a trip to the team’s alternate training site.
Clevinger and teammate Zach Plesac left the team’s Chicago hotel, socialized outside the team’s “bubble,” missed curfew and caused a rift inside the clubhouse. Clevinger returned to Cleveland’s rotation on Wednesday, pitching six effective innings in a victory over Minnesota.
Clevinger is the third front-line starter traded away by Cleveland in the past year. Trevor Bauer was shipped off to Cincinnati at the 2019 deadline, and two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber was dealt to Texas in December.
The Indians also got infielder Gabriel Arias, left-hander Joey Cantillo and infielder Owen Miller in the Clevinger deal.
Even without Clevinger, the Indians have plenty of young pitching with ace Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale, Plesac and rookie Triston McKenzie, who has looked like a seasoned veteran in two starts.
The trade could signal more moves.
All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor’s future looms over the Cleveland franchise. He has turned down several contract extensions from the club, which has acknowledged it can’t compete with what other teams can offer him as a free agent.
Lindor is under contractual control through 2021, so the Indians have to weigh chasing a World Series title — they haven’t won one since 1948 — or dealing the popular star before he walks.
Blue Jays land Ray
Toronto acquired left-hander and former Tiger Robbie Ray in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving the Blue Jays a former All-Star who has struggled so far in 2020.
The Diamondbacks got lefty Travis Bergen in the deal. Toronto also received cash considerations as part of the trade.
The 28-year-old Ray was a 2017 All-Star and finished seventh in the NL Cy Young Award voting that year after going 15-5 with a 2.89 ERA. He’s known for his big strikeout numbers and had a career-high 235 last season.
But Ray has struggled with his command so far this year. He has a 1-4 record with a 7.84 ERA. He’s walked 31 batters in 31 innings and given up nine homers while striking out 43. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old Bergen is in his second year in the big leagues. He played for the San Francisco Giants in 2019 and had a 5.49 ERA in 21 relief appearances. He pitched for the Blue Jays once in 2020, throwing 1⅔ scoreless innings while striking out three.
If Ray can figure out his command issues, he could help the Blue Jays, who are pushing for a playoff spot in the expanded 16-team format. They have an 18-14 record and are one game behind the New York Yankees for second place in the AL East.
The Diamondbacks turned into sellers at the trade deadline after losing their last 10 of 11 games. They’re 14-21 overall and in last place in the NL West.
Reds bolster roster
The Reds acquired left-handed hitting outfielder Brian Goodwin from the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim and right-handed pitcher Archie Bradley and cash from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Cincinnati sent outfielder Josh VanMeter and outfield prospect Stuart Fairchild to the Diamondbacks for Bradley and cash and left-handed pitching prospect Packy Naughton and a player to be identified later to the Angels for Goodwin.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Goodwin, 29, batted .242 with four home runs and 17 runs batted in over 30 games with the Angels this season. He is a career .254 hitter over five seasons with Washington, Kansas City and the Angels.
Bradley was Arizona’s No. 1 draft pick and the seventh overall selection in the 2011 draft. He was 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 games with the Diamondbacks this season and is 22-25 with a 3.96 ERA in 249 games over six seasons, all with Arizona.
Dodgers deal Stripling to Jays
The Los Angeles Dodgers traded right-hander Ross Stripling to the Toronto Blue Jays for two players to be named.
Stripling went 3-1 with a 5.61 ERA in seven starts this season for Los Angeles, racking up 27 strikeouts. The 30-year-old veteran has spent his entire pro career with the Dodgers, cracking the major league roster in 2016 and earning an All-Star selection in 2018.
Stripling is headed to Toronto to rejoin longtime Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu, who left for an $80 million free-agent deal in the offseason. The Blue Jays have dramatically bolstered their pitching staff at the deadline with the additions of Stripling, Ray and Taijuan Walker.
Pillar heading to Rockies
The Colorado Rockies added outfield depth by acquiring Kevin Pillar from Boston in a trade-deadline deal.
In exchange, the Red Sox received a player to be named or cash along with international amateur signing bonus pool space.
Pillar is joining his fourth team since being traded on April 2, 2019, from the Toronto Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants. He signed a deal with Boston in February.
The 31-year-old Pillar batted .274 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 30 games for the Red Sox. He played a bulk of this season in right field, a spot occupied in Colorado by Charlie Blackmon.
Pillar figures to spend time in center field with David Dahl currently on the injured list. In 12 career games at Coors Field, Pillar has a .326 average with one homer and seven RBIs.
Pillar was originally drafted by Toronto in the 32nd round of the 2011 draft. He’s a career .261 hitter and has five seasons with double-digit steals, including 25 in 2015.
It’s the second straight day the Rockies orchestrated a trade as they remain in the postseason hunt. On Sunday, they added reliever Mychal Givens from the Baltimore Orioles for prospects and cash. Givens has allowed two runs over 13 innings this season for the Orioles. He has 19 strikeouts and two walks.
Mets acquire Frazier
The Mets acquired infielder Todd Frazier and catcher Robinson Chirinos from the Texas Rangers, and they also made a trade with Baltimore for right-hander Miguel Castro. Texas receives two players to be named, and New York also receives cash in the deal involving Chirinos.
The Orioles acquired minor league left-hander Kevin Smith and a player to be named or cash from the Mets.
The Rangers (12-21) and Mets (15-20) are both under .500, but the postseason race looks more forgiving in the National League. New York is bringing Frazier back after he hit 39 home runs for the Mets over two seasons in 2018 and 2019. He hit .241 with two homers in 31 games for Texas this year after signing with the Rangers in January.
Chirinos has hit .119 in 14 games this season and recently spent time on the injured list because of a sprained ankle.