PEORIA, Ariz. – The Padres continued their stockpiling of pitchers on Wednesday when they obtained right-hander Eulogio “Frankie” De La Cruz from the Florida Marlins for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
De La Cruz, who turned 25 earlier this month, was with the Marlins and had pitched well this spring, posting a 3.38 ERA in four games.
De La Cruz, according to general manager Kevin Towers, throws 96 mph and has hit 98 mph in the past. He’s out of options so he must remain on the Padres roster.
De La Cruz has a 13.21 in two Major League stints (12 games), first with the Tigers in 2007 and then the Marlins last season. De La Cruz spent most of last season at Triple-A Albuquerque going 13-8 with a 4.34 ERA as a starter.
De La Cruz, a native of the Dominican Republic, signed with the Tigers as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He has been used as a starter and reliever in the past.
He has a career Minor League record of 33-30 with a 3.80 ERA in 237 appearances, 60 of which were starts.
On Monday, the Padres signed right-hander Shawn Hill, released last week by the Nationals, to a Minor League deal. The team also received Minor League reliever Luke Gregerson from the Cardinals as the player to be named later in the off-season deal for shortstop Khalil Greene.
Gregerson will throw Thursday in a Minor League game and Hill will appear in a Cactus League game Friday in Phoenix against the A’s. Both players have a chance to make the team as relievers.
It’s was initially known Wednesday if the Padres were looking at De La Cruz as a starter or a reliever.
Cheers, Corey
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juliasrants
March 25, 2009
Well – they say you can never have too many pitchers! lol!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
SDFriarFan
March 25, 2009
I had the chance to see De La Cruz frequently here in ABQ, and I have to say…he was absolutely DOMINANT at times. He was used as a starter even, at times, and I think he had a no hitter through six or seven during one of those starts. This pickup has some real upside!
swingingfriar19
March 25, 2009
You can’t argue with acquiring a guy that can throw harder than anyone else in the bullpen while being only 25. It makes it even harder to argue with the pick up considering it only cost us cash.
That’s good news for our bullpen in back to back days with Gregorson coming from the Cardinals yesterday. Keep it up!
Kaybee
March 26, 2009
I think this is a pretty good move. We need arms, so any guy who can pitch well is going to get a look for the pitching staff.
http://kaybee.mlblogs.com