<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Source: Dan Straily heading to Padres in a deal that involves catcher.</p>— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/status/714602681223028736">March 28, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Most likely Derek Norris I would think. Big deal.
Erik Kratz; 35 years old, been around the block. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Source: Padres are trading Erik Kratz to Houston for Dan Straily. <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich">@EvanDrellich</a> first mentioned Straily in deal.</p>— Dennis Lin (@sdutdennislin) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdutdennislin/status/714605726933598209">March 29, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ew. At least it's something. That Fowler trade hasn't exactly panned out as planned. Still not terrible because Valbuena gave us decent production last year.
Kratz's career stats: Spoiler <script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=br&url=%2Fplayers%2Fk%2Fkratzer01.shtml&div=div_batting_standard"></script>
so is the thinking here that we get something for Straily, keep this Kratz dude until Stassi is back and don't start the clock early on Pena or Heineman? Guess they want someone with more experience backing up Castro. This must be a short-term 2-3 weeks kind of move.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> officially acquire C Erik Kratz from the Padres in exchange for RHP Dan Straily. Kratz has been added to the Astros 40-man roster.</p>— Houston Astros (@astros) <a href="https://twitter.com/astros/status/714608081703997441">March 29, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Both the Padres and Astros were about to lose a player for nothing. This solves that.</p>— Dennis Lin (@sdutdennislin) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdutdennislin/status/714607994114277376">March 29, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It was a "Straily isn't going to make the team and we can use him to find someone temporarily useful" move. On another note.....
feels like the Padres won this one. Straily only has youth, upside and back of the rotation starter material going for him. Dat beard tho. Kratz, has, well, a name that makes me want to itch myself.
Kratz just needs to stick until Max Stassi is ready to return, which was initially projected as 4-6 weeks from the middle of March (End of April, maybe early May). At that point, Kratz is expendable. I do not know what the status is of Pena and Heineman is as far as "starting the clock" on these guys, but this trade allows the Astros to refrain from doing that. Anyone want to speculate on the odds of Kratz still being on this team on the Fourth of July? I suspect he will not be. Or even probably by Memorial day for that matter.
Edit: Reds have claimed him. ——— Padres' Straily on waivers. Out of options, recently acquired from Astros. SD could keep him if he slips through unclaimed — Ken Rosenthal
