Positive Signs for San Diego Padres with Carlos Quentin Deal

The San Diego Padres made another big name move during this busy offseason, acquiring Carlos Quentin from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for two pitching prospects Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez.

This is an overall win for both teams. It's pretty clear that this was a salary dump for the White Sox. But for the Padres, I think this is a win for several reasons.

Regardless of the fact that it was Quentin, the deal shows that the Padres' organization is willing to trade for major league players. It is because of the organization depth that they have developed over the past two seasons that made this deal possible.

In 2010, Castro would have been a top five prospect in the organization, and a player like Hernandez would have been less desirable to give up.

Now, they are merely two young pitchers who have slid down the Padres' prospect list. To get a middle-of-the-order hitter for two pitchers with average, relief-pitcher stuff is a great deal for the Padres.

Now to the deal itself, Quentin is a good pickup. He is relatively cheap for this season, and it's especially positive if the Padres can work out a reasonable extension with him.

In fact, I am not sure they would have made the deal if they did not anticipate signing Quentin for longer than a one year rental.  This is obviously a wait and see.

The main problem with the Padres lineup in 2011 was that there was no player that scared you when he came to the plate. There was not one guy that could pop a three-run homer when you needed it late in a game.

I am not saying Quentin is Albert Pujols, but I think the two-time All-Star can be a serviceable power threat in the lineup.

Now Bud Black can sandwich him in between Chase Headley and Yonder Alonso, plug speedster Cameron Maybin into the leadoff spot, and if veterans Jason Bartlett and Orlando Hudson can have some bounce back success, then I believe that is a lineup that can compete in a normally offensively-challenged NL West. 

Worst case scenario for the Padres is that the team stinks in 2012, and Quentin becomes a valuable trade chip at the July 31st deadline for a team that needs a bat.

Unfortunately, this deal eliminates any small chance Yonder Alonso had to play left field, in an attempt to keep Anthony Rizzo at first base. Furthermore, it appears to be the end of the short Rizzo era in San Diego. I do think he will be a fantastic player, and hopefully the Padres can get a high-value middle infield prospect and starting pitching prospect in return for him, both of whom are close to major league ready.

Josh Byrnes' work is not finished this off-season yet, but so far he has continued to impress me as the Padres new GM.