Matt Carpenter, Ray Kerr traded by Padres to Braves

The Padres sent Matt Carpenter or Ray Kerr to the Braves in a trade.

Friday was the end of Matt Carpenter’s time with the Padres. He was traded to Atlanta with lefty pitcher Ray Kerr in an unceremonious deal. Drew Campbell, a minor league outfielder, was sent to San Diego.

It’s no longer unclear what Carpenter will do in San Diego after this move. He had a terrible year in 2023 and wasn’t part of the team’s strategy for 2024, but he was still due $5.5 million because he exercised his player option.

As soon as Cruz was let go, Carpenter lost his job and didn’t get an at-bat for a month. He finished via a.176 average and five RBI in just 188 at-bats, but he was always polite and ready, which earned him praise from Bob Melvin, who was his manager at the time.

When Carp chose to play in 2024 and paid the $5.5 million option, the Friars almost certainly found a way to get out of his deal. Campbell can play any of the three outfield spots, and the Padres might use him as a backup player.

San Diego sent Carpenter and a lefty reliever Ray Kerr to the Atlanta Braves on Friday in exchange for outfielder Drew Campbell in the minor leagues. Kerr has good stuff, but he pitched just 32 innings in two seasons, mostly as a reliever.

Campbell was picked by the Braves in the 23rd round of the 2019 draft out of Louisville. He made it to Double-A last year. He has only hit 22 home runs within 852 professional at-bats, so he hasn’t hit very well, but his defense is top-notch.

This deal is more about the money than building up the team’s squad. The Padres get an extra two million dollars without having to pay the luxury tax. They need to use every penny to fill holes on their squad.

On Friday, the Atlanta Braves got outfielder Drew Campbell from the San Diego Padres in exchange for first baseman Matt Carpenter, left-hander Ray Kerr, as well as $1.5 million.

Three-time All-Star with St. Louis, Carpenter, who is 38 years old, got his career back on track with the New York Yankees in 2022.

He used the short porch in right field to hit.305 with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs. From May 26 to August 8, when he broke his right foot on a foul ball, he played for the Yankees. When he came back for the playoffs, he hit.012 and struck out nine times.

Carpenter agreed to play for the Padres for two years and $12 million, with a player option for 2024 worth $5.5 million. From July 1 to August 31, he only had 50 at-bats, but he hit.176 in five home runs and 31 RBIs. Carpenter couldn’t play after September 10 because of swelling in his right arm.

The San Diego Padres sent Matt Carpenter (DH/INF) and Ray Kerr (LHP) to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Drew Campbell (OF).

In the deal, the Padres additionally provided money. The deal was made public on social media by both teams on Friday.

San Diego will save money because they won’t have to pay Carpenter $5.5 million for the 2024 season. At this point, no one knows how much money the Padres have sent to Atlanta to get Carpenter.

Carpenter had a terrible year in 2024, hitting.176 with an OPS of.641. The Padres are also losing Kerr, a young lefty who crushed Triple-A last year.

In 36 Triple-A games, Kerr pitched 36 innings of relief and had a 2.25 ERA. Kerr has pitched 32 innings in 29 MLB games between 2022 and 2023, with an earned run average of 5.06.

In exchange for Kerr, the Braves take the chance on an upcoming left-handed pitcher. The Padres make room on their 40-man squad.

Campbell hit.254 in 78 Double-A contests last year, with nine hits and 30 RBIs. He is 26 years old and was an All-Star in High-A in 2022. The Padres will hope he can continue to move up in the lower leagues.

They may or may not keep Carpenter, but this trade reminds me of the one they made in the Los Angeles Angels earlier this summer to get David Fletcher and Max Stassi. They then traded Stassi and released Fletcher.