On Thursday, the Boston Red Sox made their fourth trade in eight days, by acquiring rising All-Star pitcher Drew Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza. The Red Sox now add Pomeranz to a pitching staff that after David Price, Steven Wright and Rick Porcello, leaves many question marks.
#RedSox today acquired All-Star LHP Drew Pomeranz from San Diego in exchange for minor league RHP Anderson Espinoza. pic.twitter.com/aYXolS5dFx
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 15, 2016
Pomeranz, 27, is now on to his fifth organization in his young MLB career. Pomeranz was drafted by the Cleveland Indians fifth overall in 2010, before being traded to the Colorado Rockies in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal. He was later dealt to the Oakland Athletics and then the San Diego Padres. Pomeranz has spent time as a reliever, but this year took a big step forward and not only earned a starting role, but excelled in it. Pomeranz is 8-7 with a 2.47 ERA in 17 starts and has a career best 10.1 K/9 innings.
Espinoza, 18, is one of the most highly regarded prospects not only in the Red Sox system, but in the minor leagues. Espinoza thoroughly dominated the Dominican and Gulf Coast Leagues and in his first full season in Low-A Greenville was 5-8 with a 4.38 ERA. Espinoza has been compared to a young Pedro Martinez, thanks to his fastball that tops out at 100 MPH despite his 6-foot, 170 pound frame, and terrific curveball.
Pomeranz will now give the Red Sox a reliable fourth starter, who is a having an All-Star season, and is under team control for another 2 ½ years. Espinoza now joins a terrific group of young pitchers in the San Diego system, including recently acquired Chris Paddack (in the Fernando Rodney trade) and Logan Allen, who came over from the Red Sox in the Craig Kimbrel trade.
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