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The San Diego Padres would consider trading left-handed starting pitcher Clayton Richard, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
#Padres would consider moving Clayton Richard, sources say. But not eligible for FA until after '14, so no urgency to move.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 3, 2012
Morosi adds that the Padres are in no rush to deal Richard because he isn’t set to reach free agency until after the 2014 season.
The Padres own a current overall record of 31-50, placing them in 4th place in the National League West and 14 ½ games behind the division-leading San Francisco Giants.
For this reason, the club is expected to sell this summer. Several of the team’s high-profile veteran players, such as Chase Headley, Huston Street and Carlos Quentin, have had their names tossed around in rumors.
Richard has also been one of San Diego’s top performers in 2012. Over his 17 starts spanning 113 2/3 innings, the 28-year-old has maintained an ERA and WHIP of 3.64 and 1.205 with 5.2 SO/9 and 2.2 BB/9. He owns career marks of 4.09 and 1.400, and he’s been even better since joining the Padres (3.80, 1.372 over 80 starts).
Richard is making $2.705 million this year and will be arbitration eligible two more times before he hits the free agent market following the 2014 season.
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Should the Padres trade Richard this summer or hold onto him?
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