The biggest trade of baseball’s offseason thus far sent the San
Diego Padres’ best pitcher away to the Cincinnati Reds one week
ago, delivering in return prospects and a reclamation project of a
starter.

The trade brings the Tucson Padres an everyday catcher and might
signal the trade of their most popular player. 

Here’s a hot stove look at how the deal shapes the Triple-A
club:

A new backstop. The trade of San Diego ace Mat Latos netted 2008
All-Star starting pitcher Edinson Volquez and three prospects:
first baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal and reliever
Brad Boxberger.

Volquez and Alonso will certainly start the season in San Diego,
while Boxberger could pitch out of the big club’s bullpen. 

Read more about the Padres in Saturday’s Arizona Daily Star.

BASEBALL

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have acquired catcher Luis Martinez from the San Diego Padres for minor league pitcher Ryan Kelly.

Martinez batted .203 (12 for 59) in 22 games for San Diego with one homer and 10 RBIs. He homered for his first big league hit on July 27 against Arizona. A 12th round draft pick in 2007, Martinez hit .323 at Triple-A Tucson in 58 games. He had one home run and 28 RBIs.

The Rangers added Martinez to the 40-man roster on Wednesday.

Kelly was 3-6 with a 3.95 ERA and nine saves in 40 appearances for Class-A Myrtle Beach last season. The 26-year-old right-hander will be assigned to Double-A San Antonio.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Briefly: The Indians have agreed to a minor league contract with versatile free-agent infielder Andy LaRoche and invited him to spring training. He’ll have a chance to win the club’s utility infield job. … The Milwaukee Brewers have signed infielder Cesar Izturis and left-hander Juan Perez to minor-league contracts with invitations to spring training. The Brewers also invited catcher Anderson De La Rosa, left-hander Jed Bradley and right-hander Taylor Jungmann to spring training. … The Kansas City Royals have signed reliever Jose Mijares to a 1-year contract, giving manager Ned Yost another left-handed option late in games. The team announced the deal Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed.

A person familiar with the situation says the Chicago Cubs and outfielder Reed Johnson are closing in on a one-year contract. The Associated Press reported Johnson will be signed pending a physical. … … Creditors of the Los Angeles Dodgers are joining the team in urging a federal district judge not to halt implementation of a bankruptcy court order authorizing the Dodgers to begin a process for selling television rights to future games. In a filing Wednesday, the committee said there’s no guarantee that a sale of the team without the TV rights will result in Dodgers creditors being paid in full.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have acquired catcher Luis Martinez from the San Diego Padres for minor league pitcher Ryan Kelly.

Martinez batted .203 (12 for 59) in 22 games for San Diego with one homer and 10 RBI. He homered for his first big league hit on July 27 against Arizona. A 12th round draft pick in 2007, Martinez hit .323 at Triple-A Tuscon in 58 games. He had one home run and 28 RBI.

The Rangers added Martinez to the 40-man roster on Wednesday.

Kelly was 3-6 with a 3.95 ERA and nine saves in 40 appearances for Class-A Myrtle Beach last season. The 26-year-old right-hander was drafted by the Pirates in the 26th round in 2006.

Kelly will be assigned to Double-A San Antonio.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers acquired catcher Luis Martinez from the San Diego Padres for minor-league pitcher Ryan Kelly on Wednesday.

Martinez hit .203 (12-for-59) in 22 games for San Diego with one homer and 10 RBIs. He homered for his first big league hit July 27 against Arizona. A 12th-round draft pick in 2007, Martinez hit .323 at triple-A Tucson in 58 games. He had one home run and 28 RBIs.

The Rangers have added Martinez to the 40-man roster.

Kelly was 3-6 with a 3.95 ERA and nine saves in 40 appearances for single-A Myrtle Beach last season. The 26-year-old right-hander was drafted by the Pirates in the 26th round in 2006.

Kelly will be assigned to double-A San Antonio.