The Oakland A’s made a trade on Tuesday. Remember trades? They’re back! In this one, the A’s sent infield prospect Jorge Mateo to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later.
The details on Mateo are well-chronicled. He’s got amazing physical tools, from his top-of-the-scale speed to a strong throwing arm, but he hasn’t yet been able to translate his extreme athleticism into consistent production on the field. Two full seasons of Triple-A have produced below-average batting lines, and even subpar success rates on stolen bases, which should be his top skill given his wheels.