The San Diego Padres made their biggest splash before Tuesday’s trade deadline, landing Juan Soto and Josh Bell with the Washington Nationals. However, this was not the only trade the club made. The Padres also acquired 20-year-old Brandon Drury from the Cincinnati Reds for shortstop prospect Victor Acosta, the teams announced.
Drury, 29, enjoyed a breakout season with the Reds, slashing .274/.335/.520 with those 20 home runs in 92 games this year. He was Cincinnati’s third baseman, though he won’t surpass Manny Machado at the hot corner in San Diego. Drury has played plenty of second base and outfield in his career and figures to be an extremely useful man for the Padres.
Manager Bob Melvin could use a regular lineup that looks something like this with Bell, Drury and Soto now on the roster:
- SS Jake Cronenworth
- RF Juan Soto
- 3B Manny Machado
- 1B Josh Bell
- 2B Brandon Drury
- LF Jurickson Profar
- DH Wil Myers
- C Austin Nola
- CF Trent Grisham
Fernando Tatis Jr. recently started hitting practice and will soon be back at shortstop, pushing Cronenworth to second base and Drury to a real super utility role. Drury will be free after the season.
MLB.com ranked Acosta as the No. 6 prospect in the farm system behind San Diego’s Soto. The write-up says they “could develop into a diamond star medium if all goes well.” Acosta, 18, is hitting .243/.346/.360 with two home runs in 32 games of rookie ball this season.
Drury is the fourth notable player traded by the Reds at the deadline, joining Luis Castillo (traded to the Mariners), Tyler Mahle (traded to Twins), and Tyler Naquin (are traded to the Mets).
