The Oakland A’s have made the first trade since the transaction freeze has been lifted, sending Jorge Mateo to the San Diego Padres.
One of the sure signs that Major League Baseball has returned involves transactions occurring once again. Several teams have signed players to minor league deals to bolster their 60 man rosters, but there had yet to be any trades. That is, until Tuesday afternoon, when the Oakland A’s and San Diego Padres got together.
In the first deal since the transaction freeze was listed, the A’s are sending Jorge Mateo to the Padres. San Diego will, in turn, send back the ever popular Player to be Named Later.
Here’s how you know baseball is back: We’ve got a trade — and a player to be named later!
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 30, 2020
The San Diego Padres are acquiring middle infielder Jorge Mateo from the Oakland A’s for a PTBNL, sources tell me and @kileymcd.
This trade marks the end of Mateo’s disappointing tenure in Oakland. The one time top prospect failed to reach the majors with the A’s, and since he was out of options, had to make the major league roster or be released.
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It would have seemed that, with the expanded rosters and rules governing extra innings, that Mateo would have been safe. He appeared to have a role on the roster, one that could have potentially grown as the season progressed. The battle for second base was hardly settled by the time that spring training was suspended.
Mateo had seemingly earned the right to compete for the job. He had a breakout season in AAA last year, producing a .289/.330/.504 batting line in 566 plate appearances while hitting 29 doubles, 14 triples, 19 homers, and stealing 24 bases. That type of production is certainly intriguing, especially at a position that is wide open.
Instead, Mateo will compete for playing time at second with another team. The Padres’ own situation at second is rather unsettled, with another former A’s infielder, Jurickson Profar, currently penciled in as the starter. Opportunity awaits Profar once again, but he will need to make a positive impression on a new franchise to claim it.
Jorge Mateo’s disappointing tenure with the Oakland A’s is at an end, as he has been sent to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. Maybe this move will help jumpstart his career.