Cincinnati Reds dig deep to acquire San Diego Padres right-hander Mat Latos -MLB Update
It looks like that the Cincinnati Reds have finally acquired their top starting relief pitcher, right-hander Mat Latos, but it certainly did not come cheap as the team dug deep in order to get the player from the San Diego Padres on Saturday, December 17,
2011.
The price tag attached to Latos was definitely not for the faint hearted as the Reds had to give up four of their players, including two top prospects in order to appeal to the Padres and land their hands on the 24-year-old.
Latos went 9-14 last season with a 3.74 ERA which had him in the leading rank amongst the National League along with the 185 strikeouts.
"Our offseason objective was to try to upgrade our rotation and add a top-of-the-rotation starter, and Mat Latos, of the potential players available, he's still young at [24] and he's a power pitcher we think will pitch well in our park," Reds general manager
Walt Jocketty said on a conference call with reporters. "He's definitely a top-of-the rotation guy who will slot in well behind [Johnny] Cueto and, in time, will develop into a No. 1 starter."
Latos has nearly three seasons of experience in the Major League Baseball (MLB), all being with the San Diego Padres.
The Reds gave up first baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal and right-handers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger.
Jocketty admitted that acquiring the young pitcher was not easy and as smooth as he previously hoped which had him working for more than two straight weeks in the negotiation process. The players that they had drafted and now let go off were also very important
for the organisation according to the GM who also had to call each player and let them know of the stressing situation, being it all for the interest of the team.
Dealing in the MLB always requires patience and compromise, which general manager Jocketty certainly proved he had as one of the hardest working teams this offseason general manager in order to improve for a better next season with well planned out changes
in every possible aspect.
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