Padres acquire Alex Torres & Jesse Hahn from the Rays for Logan Forsythe and prospects in 7-player deal

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego,CA- The San Diego Padres are set to acquire reliever Alex Torres and pitching prospect Jesse Hahn from the Tampa Bay Rays for Logan Forsythe, reliever Brad Boxberger, pitching prospects Matt Andriese & Matt Lollis  and infielder prospect Maxx Tissenbaum in a 7-player deal according to SB Nation’s MLB Insider Chris Cotillo.

The trade was announced by San Diego Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes this afternoon.

The Padres with the addition of Torres fill the need of left handed specialists out of the bullpen.

"“The left-handed reliever is something critical we’ve been looking for,” said Padres general manager Josh Byrnes.“Torres has the pitches and the track record where he’s shown he can get lefties and righties out,” Byrnes said. “Hopefully, he’s more than a specialist.”"

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.

Hahn, 24, is a right-handed starting pitcher prospect who some scouts say is the best arm in the Rays’ system. Hahn has a 2.38 ERA in two Minor League seasons and was ranked as the Rays’ No. 18 prospect by MLB.com.
Hahn will likely begin the season in Double-A San Antonio, after pitching in Advanced Class A with the Rays last season.

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.

Andriese a right-handed starting pitcher was the Padres 3rd rd pick in 2011 and had a solid year in Double A last season (2.53 ERA & 7.5 K/9) and was promoted to AAA Tucson at the end of last season. Lollis another right-handed starting pitcher, who was mostly used as a reliever was the Padres 15th round pick in 2009 and has bounced up and down the Minors since. Boxberger a right-handed reliever who Padres acquired in the Matt Lato’s trade, failed to have consistent success for the Padres out of the bullpen the last few seasons.

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.