San Diego Padres acquire Alex Torres from the Tampa Bay Rays for Logan Forsythe in 4-player deal

Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsSan Diego,CA- The San Diego Padres have acquired reliever Alex Torres from the Tampa Bay Rays for Logan Forsythe in a 4-player deal according to SB Nation’s MLB Insider Chris Cotillo.

According to Cotillo the Padres and Rays will each acquire an additional prospect to go along with the exchange of Torres and Forsythe and the trade will likely be announced on Friday.

It had been reported the last few days that the Padres were receiving calls from “a number of teams” who were interested in acquiring the versatile Forsythe. The New York Yankees were reported to be the front-runners to acquire Forsythe, as when it became clear this offseason that they weren’t going to acquire Padres 3rd Baseman Chase Headley their interest in Logan Forsythe increased.

This also isn’t apparently the first time the Tampa Bay Rays have tried to acquire Logan Forsythe, as according to The Mighty 1090’s Darren Smith there were talks last summer involving a third team in a trade to send Logan Forsythe to the Tampa Bay Rays that didn’t work out.

Torres is a 26-year old left-handed reliever who was dominant with the Rays last season. Torres in his first full season in the Major Leagues went 4-2 with a 1.71 ERA in 58 innings. The addition of Torres will bolster an improved Padres bullpen that already added veteran reliever Joaquin Benoit earlier in the offseason. Torres is also under team control through 2019.

Forsythe, the 27 year-old is a veteran utility player who is capable of playing second base, third base, shortstop, left field, and right field. Forsythe in his three season’s with the Padres hit .241 with 12 HR and 57 RBI in 228 career games. Forsythe struggled to battle through multiple injuries last season as in only 75 games, Forsythe hit .214 with 6 HR and 19 RBI’s.

With the loss of Forsythe this all but guarantees Alexi Amarista‘s spot on the Padres bench this season. Also look for utility infielder Ryan Jackson to provide the Padres an ace fielder at SS and 3B off the bench as well.