The San Diego Padres have acquired left-handed pitcher Jay Groome from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for first baseman Eric Hosmer, infielder Max Ferguson, outfielder Corey Rosier and cash considerations, president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller announced on Aug. 2.
The San Diego Padres have acquired infielder/outfielder Brandon Drury from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for infielder Victor Acosta, Preller also announced.
Drury, 29, is batting .274 (96-for-350) with career highs in OPS (.855), home runs (20) and runs scored (62), as well as 22 doubles, two triples and 59 RBI in 92 games played this season. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound right-handed hitter led the Reds this season in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases (182) and SLG (.520), and has hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games played since Game 2 of Cincinnati’s July 7 doubleheader (.304 AVG, 11 extra-base hits and 14 RBI). The Grants Pass, Ore. native made 62 appearances at third base (54 starts), 20 at second base (16 starts), 12 as the DH (all starts), nine at first base (five starts), two at shortstop (no starts) and one in right field (no starts).
Originally signed as a 13th-round selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Drury has hit .253 (491-for-1937) with a .303 OBP, .737 OPS, 124 doubles, six triples, 71 home runs, 249 RBI and 223 runs scored in 599 career games between the Arizona Diamondbacks (2015-17), New York Yankees (2018), Toronto Blue Jays (2018-20), New York Mets (2021), and Cincinnati (2022).
Groome has posted a 4-5 record with a 3.59 ERA (37 ER, 92.2 IP), .219 opponents AVG and 96 strikeouts in 19 games (17 starts) between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worchester this season. Entering the 2022 season, the 23-year-old was ranked as the 11th overall prospect in the Red Sox system by MLB.com.
Standing at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, Groome was MLB Pipeline’s No. 1-rated prospect in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft prior to being selected 12th overall by Boston out of Barnegat High School (N.J.). In 60 career minor league games, Groome has collected a 12-22 record with a 4.46 ERA (127 ER, 256.0 IP) and 318 strikeouts.
