On Friday the Padres made official what we already knew.
They formally announced right-handed pitcher Garrett Richards is officially on board on a 2-year, $15.5 million contract. Richards is expected to miss the entire 2019 season recovering from elbow reconstruction surgery so this is really like a one-year, $15.5 million deal for 2020 for a guy who, if he comes back healthy and pitches like he did pre-injury, would be worth every bit of that.
The surprise is the roster move that comes with it.
Infielder Carlos Asuaje was designated for assignment so Richards could be placed on the 40-man roster. After showing potential in his rookie year in 2017 Asuaje's numbers dipped dramatically last year. He slashed .196/.286/.280 and spent most of the second half of the season in the minor leagues.
Super prospect Luis Urias has the starting 2nd base job in a vice grip but still it's interesting the Padres would part with an infielder. The Padres have a surplus of outfielders but are thin on the infield.
When the MLB Winter Meetings start on Monday they need to address the entire left side, which very likely means finding a 3rd baseman (Wil Myers needs to go back to left field before someone gets hurt) and buying time at shortstop until Fernando Tatis Jr. is ready.
