The San Diego Padres set their 40-man roster on Thursday evening, protecting several players from next month’s Rule V Draft. Here is a recap of the moves the Padres made:
Traded: OF Reymond Fuentes to Kansas City for LHP Kyle Bartsch.
Added to 40-man roster: INF/OF Alex Dickerson, RHP Tayron Guerrero, INF Taylor Lindsey.
Designated for assignment: RHP Blaine Boyer, OF Yeison Asencio.
The Padres dealt former first rounder Reymond Fuentes to Kansas City for LHP Kyle Bartsch. Fuentes played in the big leagues in 2013, but spent all of 2014 in the minors. The Padres have a plethora of outfielders on the 40-man roster, so it is no surprise to see him dealt. He will get a fresh start in Kansas City. Bartsch projects a left-handed specialist.
The Padres added three of their top-20 prospects in Dickerson, Guerrero and Lindsay. Dickerson was acquired from Pittsburgh last spring and spent most of the season on the disabled list. He played in just 41 minor league games last season, but did hit .317 between three levels. He can play first base and the outfield.
Guerrero is a hard throwing reliever who can light up the radar gun. He certainly would have been a hot commodity in the Rule V Draft, but instead he will have a chance to crack the Padres bullpen in 2015.
Lindsay was acquired last July in the Huston Street deal, and he was a preseason Baseball America Yop-100 prospect. He hit just .238 last season in AAA.
To clear room on the 40-man roster, the Padres designated reliver Blaine Boyer and minor league outfielder Yeison Asencio for assignment.
Boyer pitched well in San Diego last season, as he posted a 3.57 ERA in 32 games for the Friars last season. He was eligible for arbitration this off-season.
Asencio had a solid season in the minors last season, swatting 15 homers between Double-A and Triple-A. It seems likely that the Padres will try to retain him, if he clears waivers.