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Gaslamp Poll: Did the Padres play their Hand right?

Place your vote and speak your mind. Did the Padres make the right move in holding on to their premium reliever?

MLB: Miami Marlins at San Diego Padres
Wait, I’m still a Padre? That’s cool, I guess.
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The trade deadline has come and gone. The Padres made a deal with the Royals in the week leading up to the deadline, but many trade candidates remained on the roster as the team clearly has the future in focus. Did the team make the right moves by holding on to these players? Did they set the price too high?

Brad Hand isn’t a premium “name” in the league, but he has universally been hailed as the most valuable reliever on the trade market with the sole exception of Zach Britton. Hand has been nothing short of dominant since the Padres acquired him before the 2016 season, and he’s excelled in every conceivable role: LOOGY, long relief, high-leverage, “garbage time”, setup man, closer, ... he’s done anything and everything the team has asked for, and he’s done it as well as anyone in baseball. With two years of team control left after this season and a modest $1.38m salary this year, he’s affordable and controllable. It can be argued that he was at a maximum value at a moment of maximum demand: his performance can’t really get better, he loses value as his salary goes up through arbitration and team control diminishes, and teams get desperate for relief help as they prepare for a playoff push. By keeping him, the team still has an elite lefty arm in their bullpen, which is great for wins but not for the tank. The team may still move him through a waiver trade, or hope to make an offseason deal like they did with Craig Kimbrel a year and a half ago.

The Padres held on to some other tradeable players. Jhoulys Chacin, Clayton Richard, and Craig Stammen were signed to one-year contracts prior to this season, and none of them should be expected to sign an extension with the team. As “rental” pitchers on cheap contracts, either could have had value to a contender looking for a back-of-the-rotation or bullpen arm. Stammen has been excellent since May. Chacin has been particularly effective lately. By holding on to them, their value to the Padres is as innings-eaters to take the ball every fifth day or a bullpen option through the end of the season. By trading them, they could have brought back even minor pieces that could have had longer-term implications.

Brad Hand is still a Padres. So are Jhoulys Chacin, Clayton Richard, Craig Stammen, Kirby Yates, and Yangervis Solarte. Do you think the Padres were wise to keep them, or should they have taken a “low-ball” value to move them? Please cast your votes and comment with your thoughts below.

Poll

Did the Padres make the right move by folding their Hand?

This poll is closed

  • 23%
    The Padres must have overvalued Brad Hand. Now was the right time to trade him.
    (139 votes)
  • 2%
    They should have traded Brad Hand, even for a weak return.
    (15 votes)
  • 73%
    Keeping Brad Hand was the right move. He’ll retain value for a nice offseason trade.
    (428 votes)
582 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Did the Padres make the right move by holding on to Jhoulys Chacin and Craig Stammen?

This poll is closed

  • 46%
    Both players are rentals having resurgent seasons. Both should have been traded for any positive return.
    (230 votes)
  • 11%
    Stammen should have been traded, keeping Chacin is the right move. The team needs an innings eater.
    (56 votes)
  • 9%
    Chacin should have been traded, keeping Stammen is the right move. A weak rotation needs steady bullpen arms.
    (48 votes)
  • 32%
    Keeping both was the right move. Their performance is smoke & mirrors and the league saw no trade value in either player.
    (160 votes)
494 votes total Vote Now