FanGraphs: Padres Get ‘Best Prospect’ in 40-Man Roster Deals

Teen pitcher has swing-and-miss stuff; Padres also add infield flexibility

By Justin Lafferty

Ignacio Feliz

After a flurry of deals on Tuesday to get the 40-man roster in order, FanGraphs declared that the Padres emerged with some prime talent and flexibility.

In trading Walker Lockett to the Cleveland Indians, the Padres acquired 19-year-old Ignacio Feliz. FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen is high on the projectable pitcher.

“I think Feliz, who turned 19 in October, was the best prospect traded today,” Longenhagen wrote. “He’s a very athletic conversion arm who can spin a good breaking ball. He was 88–92 with natural cut during the summer and should grow into more velocity. He’ll probably begin 2019 in extended spring training.”

Back in July, Longenhagen wrote that Feliz was “one of the best on-mound athletes I’ve seen in the AZL.”

Feliz fanned 54 batters in 45 innings for the Indians’ two Arizona Rookie League teams this season.

The Padres also gained some key infield depth with the trade of Colten Brewer to the Red Sox, receiving second baseman Esteban Quiroz in return. Longenhagen called Quiroz, the leadoff hitter for Team Mexico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, “the most intriguing prospect traded today.”

After spending seven seasons in the Mexican League, the Red Sox selected his contract on Nov. 21, 2017. In 24 games with the AA Portland Sea Dogs, he hit at a .299 clip with a 1.011 OPS. Quiroz was sidelined for three and a half months with an abdominal strain.

“Here in Arizona, Quiroz looked pretty good,” Longenhagen wrote. “He’s a stocky and strong 5-foot-6, and he has average, all-fields power. … He’s patient and makes good decisions at the plate. He’s also fine at second base (below-average arm, below-average runner, above-average athlete, average hands) and played a lot of other positions while in Mexico. He’ll either need to be viable at other positions or just hit enough to play second base every day. It appears he has a chance to do the latter.”

The Padres obtained some upper-level depth at the hot corner, sending Rowan Wick to the Cubs in exchange for Jason Vosler.

Across two levels in 2018 (AA and AAA), Vosler hit .251, bashing 23 home runs. He hit .263 for the AAA Iowa Cubs after a June promotion.

“Vosler is an extreme fly ball hitter (over 50%) with huge platoon splits,” Longenhagen wrote. “He might be just a 30 bat, but Vosler can play third and first and he crushes lefties; I think he’s a corner bench bat or platoon player.”