Hi screech! I'm live on the scene at the winters meeting from my couch with the fallout of the deal that sends Jed Gyorko to St Louis for Jon Jay.
Good deal for the Padres solely for the fact that they get out from under the $19 million owed to Gyorko over the next three years. Also opens the door for former first round pick Corey Spangenberg to helm second base full time. Spangenberg's combination of speed, defense, and contact approach at the plate lead to a 2 WAR season over 108 games.
Jay also seemingly fills a platoonspot in center. He's a contact oriented hitter who has a career 287 hitter and 350 plus on base with adequate, maybe better defense.
Jay is pretty much a stop gap but the Padres needed a lefty bat and the fact Jay can play respectable defense in center is a plus, as they now have a decent platoon between Jay and Upton, Melvin.
It's clearly a salary dump but a productive one at least.
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