If you're anything like me you'd never heard of this "Carlos Quentin" until yesterday. If that's the case you may wonder what others think of him and his expected impact as the newest San Diego Padre.
Well for the most part all the media and bloggers seem to look upon this trade favorably. Everyone seems to agree that the two minor league pitchers dealt to the White Sox were no longer valuable prospects and that the trade was primarily done as a salary dump for the South Siders.
They like Quentin as an offensive threat but worry about the effect that ballpark will have on his offense and defense. He may not be a good fit for Petco Park, but not many are.
In the end the Tomatometer reads 75% fresh which may paint the picture a little more rosy than their concerns or indifference may suggest. For comparison sake this trade is as fresh as the Adventures of Tin Tin.
Apologies to RottenTomatoes.com
Padres acquire Carlos Quentin :: Friar Forecast
At an expected $7-8 million in 2012, there isn’t a lot of value to be had here, especially on a team not expected to compete.
Behind great defense and dominant pitching, the Rays are the best team in baseball - Buster Olney - ESPN
For San Diego, Quentin could be a short-term experiment. It's possible that the Padres could negotiate a very team-friendly two- or three-year deal with the slugger in the next six weeks, as it goes through the arbitration process, but it's hard to imagine San Diego would invest heavily in Quentin until it gauges how long he can stay on the field and how his power translates to Petco Park.
Trying to Make Sense of the Carlos Quentin Deal - Beyond the Box Score
I wonder if the Padres GM saw a power guy that was relatively cheap and obtainable in the short term who would help bolster the team's power. At worst, it provides them with a relatively inexpensive experiment to test their theories.
MLB -- Chicago White Sox do well in dumping Carlos Quentin - Keith Law- ESPN
The White Sox shed some salary they didn't need and got two useful minor league arms, while the Padres got one year of a player whose skills align poorly with their home ballpark.
Win Now or Build for the Future: What the Carlos Quentin Trade Means - Chicken Friars
I’ll simply say, that when healthy, he’s an average outfielder and an above-average force at the dish. Even with a drop-off in production, which is entirely possible in San Diego, Quentin should boost the anemic offense the 2011 Padres put on display
Twitter / @ScottMCBSSports: Quentin hit .254 w/ 24 HRs ...
Quentin hit .254 w/ 24 HRs, career-high 31 doubles, 77 RBI and 53 runs scored in 118 games for the White Sox in 2011. SD badly needed bat
Twitter / @DerekNBCSD
Quentin brings right-handed pop and hustle to PETCO. 2-time All-Star, fans will love his work ethic. Nice pickup by the #Padres.
Padres Don’t Give Up Much but Quentin Not a Good Fit in San Diego " MLB Dirt
Quentin does have on-base skills and power but Petco park could spell disaster for him both in the power department and the defensive department and hurt him as he hits the open free agent market next offseason.
Padres add some power with addition of Quentin - Bob Scanlan
If you are a Padres fan it’s hard not to like this deal.
Twitter / @thesacbunt:
I like this trade but I feel like it was a move by the bad Josh Byrnes.
Twitter / @RJsFro:
I like this trade. If the OF wasn't over crowded before, it sure is now though.
Twitter / @friarhood:
It's hard not to like the Quentin trade, especially if you work in the Padres sales department. #justsayin
Twitter / @ducksnorts
That being said, I like adding a RH power hitter. Quentin shouldn't be hurt much by Petco, although Ryan Ludwick might disagree.
Twitter / @sdutCanepa
Pads getting Quentin an excellent pickup. But I still worry about middle infield.
The answer to our prayers? - Chicken Friars
So, at the end of the day, I think this is a good move for the team, especially considering what we’ve given up. I don’t think that Quentin is going to be the savior of the offense, but he is certainly a boost.
Twitter / @619sports:
Local player, more upside remaining than any current #Padres corner OF & needed RH pop. Good fit.
Making Sense of the Quentin Acquisition | FanGraphs Baseball
The Padres will monitor the situation closely, and it will be interesting to see how they handle a player who, on the surface, doesn’t seem to fit anything they’re doing.
Twitter / @tomkrasovic
#Padres continue to deal pitchers for hitters, which makes sense. Quentin trade appears to signal Kyle Blanks isn't in the team's plans
Websoulsurfer: Padres GM Byrnes makes STUPID trade for Quentin - A San Diego Padres Blog
He has just made what may be the single worst trade in the history of the Padres franchise sending Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez to the Chicago White Sox for OF/DH Carlos Quentin.
What In The World Do The Padres Want With Carlos Quentin? - Baseball Nation
It's an interesting strategy, and it isn't one that a lot of teams would undertake in the Padres' position. But the Padres aren't rebuilding. They're reloading. Kind of. Considering the state of the NL West -- and the underrated collection of hitters the Padres have quietly socked away -- it might not be a bad strategy at all.