Padres pull a fast one on Cubs' Hendry
The Padres have sent catcher Rob Bowen and minor league OF Kyler Burke to the Cubs in return for catcher Michael Barrett and cash (possibly more than $1M).
This is no blockbuster trade–we're swapping mediocrity for mediocrity here–but the Padres appear to be on the better side of the deal, at least for now.
Rob Bowen has provided San Diego with league average defense and minimal impact at the plate. He's riding a .268/.371/.439 line so far this season over 30 games, with 2 HR and 11 RBI.
Michael Barrett, who's been grabbing headlines with his recent dugout scuffles, is not known as a strong defensive catcher either, though he does have more experience and a decidedly better bat. In 2007, he's posted a .256/.307/.427 line over 57 games, augmented by his 10 HR and 29 RBI.
A straight up Bowen-for-Barrett trade would have made the Kevin Towers and the Padres the obvious beneficiaries in the deal, however let's not forget Burke.
Kyler Burke is an left-handed batting outfielder who can play RF and CF. He's currently on the roster of the Class A Fort Wayne Wizards. Over 45 games last season, Burke posted a line of .209/.313/.294, very similar to what he's done this season in 62 games: .211/.305/.268. According to MLB Trade Rumors, 19 year old Burke was drafted 35th overall out of high school last year based on his huge power potential and athleticism. Despite having not yet demonstrated this potential, Burke has been considered a top 10 Padres prospect and apparently has an "enormous ceiling" with a strong right field arm.
Burke is unproven, but if he pans out Hendry might actually wind up looking like the intelligent negotiator in this deal. For the time being though, we can thank Towers for making moves in the direction of another post-season berth. Let's just hope that Barrett has left his confrontational leanings back in Chicago, and chooses instead to convert that energy into more HRs and RBIs.
