One of the top pitchers available is off the market.
The Cleveland Indians have agreed to trade right-hander Mike Clevinger to the San Diego Padres, according to multiple reports Monday. The move came hours before the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.
The Indians were set to receive six players in return, including catcher Austin Hedges, right-hander Cal Quantrill and outfielder Josh Naylor, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported. The others were prospects in shortstop Gabriel Arias, left-hander Joey Cantillo and shortstop Owen Miller, ESPN reported. Arias was rated as the Padres' No. 7 prospect, Cantillo was rated at No. 9 in their system and Miller checked in at No. 11, according to MLB.com.
Clevinger, 29, had made just four starts and has a 3.18 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 22 2/3 innings this season. He fell out of favor in Cleveland when he violated team COVID-19 safety protocols and went out with teammate Zach Plesac in Chicago on Aug. 8. Clevinger was forced to quarantine and was then optioned to the team’s alternate site before he was reinstated into the rotation on Aug. 26.
Clevinger had reportedly become the target of several contending teams, including the Yankees and division rival White Sox, but the Padres emerged as the favorites Sunday night.
The Indians are tied with the White Sox atop the AL Central but still have a wealth of young arms led by Cy Young contender Shane Bieber, Carlos Carrasco and Aaron Civale.
Hedges, 28, has struggled this season, hitting .158 with a .591 OPS in 29 games. Quantrill, 25, had appeared in 10 games for the Padres, posting a 2.60 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Naylor, 23, was hitting .278 with one homer and a .732 OPS in 38 appearances across 18 games for San Diego this year.
The Padres have been among the busiest teams ahead of the MLB trade deadline and now add a top tier arm to their rotation in addition to the acquisitions of first baseman Mitch Moreland and reliever Trevor Rosenthal.