Drew Pomeranz
When the San Diego Padres dealt for Drew Pomeranz this winter, it didn’t cost them much. For Yonder Alonso and lefty reliever Marc Rzepczynski, the Padres got a young left-hander with plenty of team control left.
Pomeranz was a key prospect in the blockbuster deal that sent Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez to the Cleveland Indians several years ago, but he failed to flourish with the Rockies or, later, the Athletics. He had such a rough time with the A’s that after one particularly bad outing, he broke his hand while taking out his frustration on a chair in the locker room. Suffice it to say, Pomeranz’s turnaround has been a long time coming.
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The lefty finally appears to be living up to his potential, owning a 6-7 record on a very bad Padres team, but also posting a 3.00 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 81 innings.
Just like with Liriano, there are two primary concerns with a Pomeranz deal. One is whether the Orioles would have enough to acquire him. He’s worth far more than he was when the A’s dealt him, and the fact that he won’t be a free agent until 2018 makes him more expensive than most other names on this list. The Orioles have expressed interested in him, and the Padres certainly have no reason to hold on to their players, but it’s hard to envision what a deal between the two sides would entail.
The second concern revolves around Pomeranz’s reliability. He has a fairly lengthy injury history, and has never pitched more than 100 innings at the major league level. He also has a tendency not to go deep into games, which has contributed to his low innings totals. While he could help the O’s in terms of the rotation, there’s a very real concern that he could tax the bullpen in return.
Next: Red Sox Trade Deadline Preview
The Orioles are rumored to be most interested in Pomeranz and Liriano, but Hill is an equally good option for a small-market team without an overstocked farm system. Regardless of which one they choose, Baltimore must make a move here if they hope to stay in contention.