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Anthony Bass became the next guy traded in what is become a lengthy list of: Guys that pitched for the Padres a bit in 2013, showed promise at some point, but are being sent elsewhere this offseason. Others on that list are Colt Hynes, Tommy Layne, Brad Brach and Miles Mikolas. Here is the Padres' official tweet about the trade:
#Padres acquire PTBNL or cash from @astros in exchange for RHP Anthony Bass & PTBNL or cash #WinterMeetings
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) December 11, 2013
The Padres are notorious for taking cash instead of the Player To Be Named Later (PTBNL). We will have to see if this one flows against the current. According to the tweet, the Padres will also give up a PTBNL or cash in this exchange. I do not think I have seen that happened before.
As for Bass, he made his debut with the Padres in 2011. He was a 5th round pick in 2008 out of Wayne State University. He showed promise at each minor league level and earned a fairly quick promotion to the majors. He continued to show promise by putting up a 1.68 ERA in mostly relief work in 2011. In 2012, he was moved into the rotation early in the season and was a force in that role for about a month before coming back to earth. A trip to the DL came about a month after that and he hasn't seemed the same since. He shuttled back and forth between the minors and majors in 2013. He was a slight fan favorite because of that early success and the fun that could be had with his name. Many Gaslamp Ballers (including myself) have been missing and will continue to miss that.
This move opens up a spot on the 40 man roster. Perhaps because the team is planning to sign a more accomplished relief pitcher.
UPDATE: The Padres also tweeted this:
#Padres GM Josh Byrnes on Astros trade: Obviously, this is about the Rule 5 Draft tomorrow.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) December 11, 2013
Perhaps this is about the top pick in the Rule 5 draft. The Astros have that top pick and there may be someone the Padres want. The Astros would select him, include him in this trade and then that player would then occupy the newly open roster spot. I don't know who that would be, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was a lefty reliever.
Padres.com's Corey Brock speculated something similar via twitter:
The #Astros have the first pick of the Rule 5 Draft. That means they'll be picking for the #Padres. Maybe that's where you get your LOOGY?
— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) December 11, 2013
