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TRADEABLE COMMODITIES, minor league edition by Jason Martinez sdpadrefan.com posted 5/21/08 While the Padres' farm system is still relatively thin with 'can't-miss prospects', they do have some good depth and could look to move a few young players in the right trade. In my opinion, there are two untouchables: Chase Headley and Mat Latos. You don't trade your best position prospect and you don't trade your best pitching prospect unless you're really close to making a serious World Series run. Remember Derrek Lee for Kevin Brown? The Padres were one dominant pitcher away from reaching the World Series so they traded their best position prospect to get him. There is a chance that the Padres wouldn't want to move many minor league players at all because of a possible upcoming youth movement. However, there are a few guys that have some value and could bring back something in a trade: 1. Kyle Blanks, 1B (AA): At 270 lbs, the 21 year-old is likely going to be limited to first base and designated hitter throughout his career. He is blocked by Adrian Gonzalez, who is only 26 years old and signed to a long-term contract with the Padres, so if Blanks is going to play in the big leagues, it will probably be on another team. A career .296 hitter in the minors, he finally flashed his power potential last season, when he hit 24 homers for Lake Elsinore. I don't think he'll bring back much in a trade straight up, but if packaged with another good prospect, he could be moved in the right deal. 2. Will Venable, OF (AAA): It looks like the 25 year-old outfielder could get a chance with the Padres later in the year and has an outside chance of winning a starting spot in the Padres outfield next season. A more likely scenario has the Padres making a trade for an outfielder, which would make Venable expendable. 3. Drew Miller, RHP (Hi A): The Padres likely aren't shopping one of the best arms in their system, but guess who teams are going to ask about in any potential trade involving minor leaguers. First, they'll ask about Latos. Kevin Towers will say no. So then they'll ask about the next best arm in the system, Drew Miller. Teams are looking for upside and this 22 year-old has plenty of it, even if his career numbers aren't very impressive. 4. Steve Garrison, LHP (AA): The Padres will have a need for a pitcher like Garrison in the future as they look to fill the back-end of their rotation again in 2008. However, they have plenty of other options that could fill that role in Josh Geer, Will Inman, Wade LeBlanc, and Cesar Ramos. Really, any of those guys could be traded but I'm assuming that two of these five will end up filling rotation spots by next season, if not sooner. Garrison's value might be at its peak, based on the 7 inning no-hitter he threw earlier in the year. 5. Colt Morton, C (AA): The 26 year-old has a ton of power and he didn't look overmatched at the plate in his short stint with the Padres, hitting the ball hard on a few occasions. However, Manager Bud Black's decision to use him as little as possible behind the plate might be an indicator that he does not have a future with the team. If defense is his problem, the American League might be the perfect destination for Morton, where he could be used as a DH and part-time catcher. |