Tradin’ A.J. Preller and the Padres are looking for a shortstop

By Craig CalcaterraApr 7, 2015, 2:30 PM EDT
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It’s been nearly 48 hours since the last Padres trade, so you have to assume Padres’ GM A.J. Preller is getting a bit antsy to make a deal. And he may make one soon:

At present Alexi Amarista and Clint Barmes are manning shortstop for the Friars (Barmes got the Opening Day start) but neither of those guys seem poised to give San Diego any kind of decent production.

Given that we’re on Day 2 of the season and given that shortstop is perhaps the thinnest position in all of baseball at the moment, there aren’t a lot of obvious candidates for a deal. Still, there are some often-discussed salary dump guys like Elvis Andrus out there, and the Cubs have Addison Russell waiting in the wings behind Starlin Castro, so it’s possible a deal could be made.

Blake Snell becomes client of Boras Corporation

Blake Snell
Bob Levey/Getty Images
By Bill BaerMay 26, 2020, 6:55 PM EDT
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Ken Rosenthal and Josh Tolentino of The Athletic report that Rays starter Blake Snell has switched agencies, going from Apex Baseball to Boras Corporation. Snell is currently signed to a five-year, $50 million contract and will be under contract through 2023.

Snell found himself in hot water two weeks ago when he said on his Twitch stream that he wouldn’t risk his life to play baseball during a pandemic while receiving significantly reduced pay. Some described Snell as tone deaf for saying, “I gotta get my money. I’m not playing unless I get mine, okay?”

Boras represents many of baseball’s highest-paid players, including Gerrit Cole and Bryce Harper. Snell is not likely to win over any of the people he recently irritated by appearing to go after more money by hiring the highest-profile agent. What often goes unsaid is that players have a very limited window in which to use their elite athletic skills to make money.

Snell won the 2018 AL Cy Young Award, going 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA and a 221/64 K/BB ratio over 180 2/3 innings. He did not have nearly the same success last year, going 6-8 with a 4.29 ERA and a 147/40 K/BB ratio in 107 innings.