Padres acquire pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Jose Torres from Athletics
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres announced today they have acquired left-handed pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Jose Torres and a player to be named later or cash considerations from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for infielder Yonder Alonso and left-handed pitcher Marc Rzepczynski. Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller made the announcements.
Pomeranz, 27, went 5-6 with a 3.66 ERA (35 ER, 86.0 IP), three saves and 82 strikeouts against 31 walks in 53 games pitched, nine starts, for Oakland in 2015. In his 44 relief appearances for the A's this past season he went 3-3 with a 2.61 ERA (12 ER, 41.1 IP) and 46 strikeouts against 14 walks. The left-hander was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians as a first-round selection (fifth overall) in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Mississippi and later traded to the Colorado Rockies on August 16, 2011 as the player to be named later in a five-player deal in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. Pomeranz was acquired by the A's on December 10, 2013 in a three-player trade with the Rockies in exchange for LHP Brett Anderson. Over parts of five Major League seasons with the Rockies (2011-13) and Athletics (2014-15), he has gone 14-24 with a 4.07 ERA (132 ER, 291.2 IP) and 261 strikeouts against 127 walks in 107 games, 49 starts.
Torres, 22, went 4-5 with a 2.56 ERA (22 ER, 77.1 IP), eight saves and 84 strikeouts against 24 walks over 47 relief appearances in 2015, spending the majority of the season with Single-A Beloit. A native of Venezuela, Torres was originally signed by Oakland as a non-drafted free agent in July 2010. The 2015 season was his first full campaign pitching solely in relief. Over parts of five minor league seasons in the A's organization (2011-15), he has gone 11-19 with a 3.47 ERA (108 ER, 280.0 IP) and 233 strikeouts against 114 walks in 99 games pitched, 39 games started.
Alonso, 28, hit .282 (100-354) with 18 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 31 RBI and 50 runs scored in 103 games for San Diego in 2015. The left-handed hitter was originally signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a first-round selection (seventh overall) in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami before being acquired by the Padres from the Reds in a five-player trade on December 17, 2011. Over parts of six Major League seasons with the Reds (2010-11) and Padres (2011-15) he has hit .273 (443-1621) with 93 doubles, two triples, 32 home runs, 183 RBI and 169 runs scored in 508 games played.
Rzepczynski, 30, combined to go 2-4 with a 5.66 ERA (22 ER, 35.0 IP) and 41 strikeouts against 14 walks over 72 relief outings between the Cleveland Indians and Padres in 2015. The left-hander was acquired by the Padres on July 31, 2015 from Cleveland in exchange for outfielder Abraham Almonte. Originally signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a fifth-round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, he has gone 11-24 with a 3.96 ERA (152 ER, 345.1 IP) and 327 strikeouts against 146 walks in 349 games, 23 starts, over parts of seven Major League seasons with the Blue Jays (2009-11), St. Louis Cardinals (2011-13), Indians (2013-15) and Padres (2015).