Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Blanks is on his way out of San Diego, but the first baseman/outfielder will be returning to Triple-A rather than head to another organization. Rumblings had cropped up in recent days that the San Diego Padres and Oakland A’s have been discussing a potential deal involving Blanks, but there do not appear to be any new indications that the two sides are any closer to completing a deal. Marty Caswell of 1090 Sports Radio relayed word on Tuesday from manager Bud Black that the team had optioned Blanks back to the minor leagues in order to create room on the active roster to activate Carlos Quentin from the disabled list.
San Diego could still move Blanks, of course, so this move wouldn’t prevent them from making a trade.
Blanks had just recently been called up by the Padres, collecting two hits in five games before this move. He’d been swinging the bat well at Triple-A before the callup, batting .265/.364/.651 with nine home runs in 99 PA. The 27 year old has seen time with the Padres over parts of the past six seasons but has yet to produce much when given the opportunity. Collectively he’s a .228/.310/.401 hitter in just over 800 plate appearances for his career.
MLB Daily Dish’s Chris Cotillo first reported rumors that the Padres and A’s had been discussing a deal around Blanks, later adding that outfielder Jake Goebbert could be the potential return for San Diego. Goebbert is hitting .257/.371/.505 in 132 PA at Triple-A. Most of his playing time has come in the outfield corners. He’s likely nothing more than depth replacement long term who would be assigned to Triple-A, as it’s tough to imagine Goebbert would offer an upgrade over the team’s current outfield mix – especially with Quentin now healthy again.
Presumably Oakland could use Blanks as depth in both the outfield and at first base. The option does exist that they could send him down to the minors as well, where he’d provide an additional power option for depth alongside Michael Taylor.
Quentin has been out with a bone bruise in his left knee and has yet to appear in a game this season. He also missed the final 54 games of the 2013 season for the Padres.