The Padres traded starting pitcher Trevor Cahill and relievers Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter to the Kansas City Royals on Monday, in exchange for two left-handers and a minor league infield prospect.
San Diego received veteran pitchers Travis Wood and Matt Strahm as well as 18-year-old infielder Esteury Ruiz.
Ruiz appears to be the main piece of the trade that Friars general manager AJ Preller coveted.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Ruiz has been tearing up the Arizona Fall League and owns slashes of .419/.440/.779 in 26 games this season.
Standing six-foot tall, Ruiz bats and throws right-handed and is also a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts.
In 2016 for the Dominican Summer League Royals, Ruiz hit .313 (68-for-217) with 18 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 26 RBI, 44 runs scored and 13 stolen bases in 56 games, playing primarily at second base.
Strahm is out for the year after having undergone knee surgery for a torn patellar tendon earlier in July.
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Preller said Monday he is hoping for Strahm to be ready for spring training in February.
Strahm was originally slated as a starter for KC this past off-season but after the Royals made some moves of their own, Royals manager Ned Yost decided to move Strahm to the pen.
Wood has also fluctuated in various roles over his career.
The 30-year-old has spent most of his big league career in the Midwest with the Reds, Cubs and Royals organizations.
Wood was an all-star for Chicago in 2013 and helped the Cubs win the World Series last season by appearing in 77 contests and posting a 2.95 ERA out of the bullpen.
The Padres also promoted infielder Dusty Coleman from Triple-A El Paso and recalled right-handed pitcher Jose Ruiz from Single-A Lake Elsinore to help out their big league club.
There could still be more current Padres on the move in the next few days.
The Major League Baseball trade deadline is next Monday, July 31 at 1 p.m. PT.
