Padres Deal Barfield to Cleveland for Kouzmanoff, Brown

On the same day the San Diego Padres hired Bud Black as their new manager, they traded second baseman Josh Barfield to the Cleveland Indians for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and right-hander Andrew Brown. Despite coming off a strong rookie campaign, Barfield was deemed easier to replace at second than the gaping black hole that has existed at third in San Diego over the past few years.

Barfield, son of former big-league outfielder Jesse Barfield, is a good gaps hitter who doesn’t get on base a lot, but who runs well. His overall game calls to mind that of Arizona second baseman Orlando Hudson, with better basestealing skills and less of a glove. Barfield is well suited to the bottom of the order — seventh or lower — with room to move higher if his plate discipline improves.

The Padres, meantime, hope that Kouzmanoff solves the third base problem that has existed since Sean Burroughs failed to develop into the long-term answer that everyone had envisioned just a few years ago. After suffering through veteran castaways Joe Randa and Vinny Castilla, the Padres have decided to take a chance on another youngster.

Kouzmanoff is an absolute hitting machine — in over 1500 minor-league at-bats, he’s batted a tidy .333/.396/.561. The Indians had been using him at first base in the Arizona Fall League, but that was because his path to third was blocked in Cleveland by perpetual prospect Andy Marte.

Brown is a hard thrower with an injury history. He’s more project than prospect, and just the kind of arm Padres GM Kevin Towers likes to acquire in the hope of catching lightning in a bottle.

Reaction from around the web:

• Ducksnorts — This is me, going into more detail at my Padres blog.
• Let’s Go Tribe — Ryan is happy with the deal, compares Kouzmanoff to Shea Hillenbrand.
• Tribe Report — Rick Lopez likes the deal for both sides.
• Baseball Think Factory — Chris Dial thinks the trade could help both clubs, but sees risks on each side. According to his projections, the Hillenbrand comp looks about right.
• Baseball America — Chris Kline likes this one for the Indians, saying that they “made a major move without giving up a whole lot in return.”

Overall assessment? I’d love to stir things up by saying one team fleeced the other, but I don’t see it. Looks like a win/win to me. Boring!