This Team Makes Me Drink

Over the next week or two, I'll be writing a series of articles that'll focus on projecting the 2017 Padres roster. I'll start with the catchers. In 2016, the Padres have primarily used Derek Norris and Christian Bethancourt behind the plate. Top prospect Austin Hedges, who is in the midst of a very strong season at Triple A El Paso, will likely join the roster in September as a call-up. Norris, the subject of frequent trade rumors throughout the season, was not moved at the deadline, and while he remains a prime August trade candidate, for now, he will remain with the Padres for the rest of the season. Norris has made significant defensive strides this season, and according to Baseball Prospectus, has been a top 10 catcher in terms of defensive runs saved. Offensively, however, Norris has been absolutely abysmal. As of Sunday, Norris' batting average has dropped 10 points below the Mendoza Line, and his Fangraphs wRC+ is 61, nearly 40 points below league averag...

Well.... After one (1!!!!) start with the Marlins, Colin Rea is heading back to the Padres, in return for minor league pitcher Luis Castillo. To say the least, this is an unprecedented and bizarre turn of events. Rea made his first start for the Marlins on Saturday, going less than four innings before having to leave with an elbow injury. He's been placed on the 15-day disabled list with an elbow sprain. According to Jeff Passan,  the Marlins were "absolutely livid"  and felt as if "they had received damaged goods" after Rea's injury. Which, for the record, is a  totally  BS excuse. Colin Rea has, up to this point, been a durable starter with no major injury history. It's also a standard practice for traded players to undergo a physical with their new teams in order for the deal to be consummated- ESPECIALLY in significant trades, like the one the Padres made to send Andrew Cashner and Rea to the Marlins. According to Padres beat writer Bil...