Yasmani Grandal to Dodgers: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction

The San Diego Padres traded catcher Yasmani Grandal to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, as part of the deal that sent slugging outfielder Matt Kemp to San Diego.

Bob Nightingale of USA Today first reported the news:

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 The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their makeover Thursday morning by agreeing on a deal that will send outfielder Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres, a high-ranking official with direct knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

The official spoke only on the condition of anonymity since the trade has yet to be announced. The official announcement has been delayed because the Commissioner's office must approve the trade, and the players must pass their physicals.

Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz will be sent to the Padres in a package deal for catcher Yasmani Grandal, pitcher Joe Wieland and at least one prospect.

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Grandal, 26, had been rumored to be on the block earlier this offseason, and even though San Diego lacks firepower in its batting order, the front office evidently felt confident in its return value from this transaction.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller had publicly praised Grandal's skill set before dealing him away, via U-T San Diego's Dennis Lin:

Indeed, finding a catcher with Grandal's upside and innate power hitting ability is rare, so Los Angeles has to be thrilled to bring him aboard despite the cost such a move incurred.

One area where Grandal can improve is in holding baserunners better, though. In 76 games behind the plate this last season, Grandal allowed 49 stolen bases and threw out just seven runners for a meager 12.5 percent success rate.

Radio personality Lee Hacksaw Hamilton felt the Padres could have held onto Grandal if he was in a different fielding position:

Rene Rivera, the man who split time with Grandal in 2014, caught 33 runners stealing compared to 58 stolen bases under his watch (36.8 percent). That disparity, along with a top catcher prospect in Austin Hedges looming, afforded San Diego the luxury of shipping Grandal elsewhere.

The Padres don't have a lot of overall depth, and Preller must find a way to add bats if the club is going to compete in the foreseeable future.

The Dodgers will have to hope Grandal continues his promising development and becomes a more complete player. As great of a hitter as he is, lackluster defense may prevent Grandal from being an everyday MLB starter as a catcher, so an alternative role in the field may be best.