Teams that don’t spend much on payroll like the Cleveland Guardians are always on the lookout for cheap, underrated talent around the league.
Since they can’t or don’t want to spend like the powerful elite, the Guardians have developed a great eye for talented players who are one or two adjustments away from truly clicking.
Other times, they are just looking for an inexpensive, but valuable contributor.
They are eager to see if the newly-acquired Pedro Avila can help them, but at the very least, he provides depth to the staff.
“We have made a trade with the San Diego Padres for RHP Pedro Avila,” the team announced via Twitter.
We have made a trade with the San Diego Padres for RHP Pedro Avila.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/mmBBXpeqUu
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 17, 2024
The Guardians are sending cash considerations to the Padres in exchange for the Venezuelan 27-year-old right-hander.
He pitched sparingly in 2019 (5.1 innings), 2021 (4 IP), and 2022 (4 IP), but the Padres used him much more often last year with great results.
In 50.1 frames, he posted a 3.22 ERA and struck out 54 hitters.
He was a swingman, starting six games and entering as a reliever in eight.
This year, however, he was off to a miserable start, with a 9.00 ERA in eight innings.
The Guardians are willing to give him a chance and didn’t have to relinquish much to get him from the Padres.
Injuries have affected Cleveland’s staff significantly, and Avila has the potential to help in the rotation and in the bullpen.
He is a versatile piece to have around and has proven he can get MLB hitters out over the course of multiple seasons.
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