The Padres moved into full discovery mode Sunday, allowing starting pitcher Tyson Ross to go to the Cardinals and fellow right-hander Jordan Lyles to go to the Brewers after both were claimed off trade waivers.
"It's one big step closer to the future for us," manager Andy Green said before Sunday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. "We need to get there. I've been wanting to get there in some ways for a while. I understand the timing of this. This is perfect for us in many ways."
The Padres have the worst record (43-70) in the National League and have been set on seeing minor league pitchers perform in the majors, and they needed to create space for that to happen.
Neither Ross nor Lyles were part of their long-term plans.
Still, Green said, "There's a sadness to the day."
Virtually every player is placed on waivers in August. If they are claimed, a team has 48 hours to make a trade, pull the player back or let the player go. If the player is pulled back, he cannot be traded the remainder of the season.
In this instance, the sides could not reach deals and the Padres decided it was best to move on.
"It was always fairly obvious, if we weren't in contention, this would be the time of the year to start introducing some guys to the major leagues for us," Green said. "... It's where we are in the process. There are a lot of guys we want to look at over the next few weeks."
The Brewers and Cardinals are responsible for the remainder of the pitchers' contracts (the season is about 70 percent complete). Ross is making $1,750,000, with a $200,000 bonus for every start he makes between 20 and 29 for the season (he's made 22). Lyles is making $750,000 with a $1-million option or $250,000 buyout for 2019.
The Padres recalled reliever Trey Wingenter from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, and he takes one of the 40-man roster spots vacated by Ross and Lyles. They still have two spots available on the 40-man roster and also a spot on the 25-man roster, which they will fill in the next couple days. The Padres are now almost certain to call up right-hander Brett Kennedy to start in their upcoming series in Milwaukee. Ross' spot would have come up Thursday. Kennedy last pitched Wednesday.
Not only is Kennedy 10-0 with a 2.72 ERA for El Paso, he and Wingenter are among the player who will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December. That is when teams can select certain minor leaguers (based on the age they were signed and how long they have been playing professionally) not on another organization's 40-man roster.
The Padres need to evaluate whether those players merit protecting.
Also eligible is second baseman Luis Urias, the organization's No. 4-ranked prospect, pitcher Chris Paddack (fifth), pitcher Anderson Espinoza (11th), catcher Austin Allen (25th) and pitcher Pedro Avila (29th). Among those, only Urias will be called up this season.
It is also likely the Padres see right-hander Jacob Nix soon. The organization's 14th-ranked prospect, was promoted from Double-A and threw six shutout innings in his first Triple-A start Saturday.
"This makes so much sense on so many levels _ for us and for them," Green said. "For us, if we're going to get to the future we have to start embracing the younger guy. That's what this really is. As great as Tyson has been for us over the course of the year, that opportunity cost of having him in the rotation keeps somebody else out of the major leagues, and that somebody else needs opportunity right now."
In his second stint with the Padres, the 31-year-old Ross was 6-9 with a 4.45 ERA. He was 5-5 with a 3.32 ERA through June but in his last six outings went 1-4 with an 8.26 ERA, allowing 26 runs and 34 hits (including six homers) in 28 1/3 innings.
Lyles, 27, was signed as a free agent by the Padres last August after his release by Colorado. He had a 9.39 ERA in five starts but fared better this season, especially out of the bullpen, where he had a 3.33 ERA in 24 1/3 innings. But he continued to struggle as a starter, with a 2-4 record and 4.79 ERA in eight outings. His combined ERA this season is 4.29.
"It's tough when you've invested in guys, you believe in guys, you love guys," Green said. "It's tough watching them walk out that door and go to other places. But both of them _ they're going to good opportunities."
The Brewers, who play the Padres in a three-game series beginning Tuesday, trail the Cubs by 1 { games in the National League Central and hold the top wild card spot. The Cardinals are 7 { out in the Central and four games behind the Braves for the second wild card spot.
