The Padres are buying catcher Freddy Fermin from the Royals, in keeping with a report from Espn’s Jeff Passan. Proper-handers Ryan Bergert and Stephen kolek are headed to Kansas Metropolis in trade for Fermin.

Fermin, 30, heads to San Diego after components of 4 seasons with the Royals. After a three-game cup of espresso in 2022, Fermin debuted in a extra substantial manner the next yr when he appeared in 70 video games as a complement to Salvador Perez behind the plate. Fermin did fairly effectively for himself in that rookie marketing campaign, as he slashed .281/.321/.461 with a 108 wRC+ with sturdy grades for his protection behind the plate. It was sufficient to earn him a bigger position with the membership, and he started to take extra begins behind the dish whereas Perez more and more spent his time at DH or first base.

Fermin went on to look in 111 video games final yr and put collectively a strong sufficient season. Whereas his offense took a step again amid elevated taking part in time, he nonetheless managed a wRC+ of 92 and earned sturdy marks for his blocking and throwing arm behind the plate. Issues have taken a flip for the more severe this yr, nevertheless. Fermin has been lackluster on the dish with a .255/.309/.339 (78 wRC+) slash line, and his defensive metrics have taken a step again as effectively. He’s been value simply 0.4 fWAR in 67 video games, however even that considerably meager efficiency outpaces the Padres’ present catching tandem. Elias Diaz (67 wRC+) and Martin Maldonado (62 wRC+) have each been even much less spectacular than Fermin behind the plate this yr, and Maldonado particularly has paired that weak offense with a number of the worst catcher protection in the complete sport regardless of his repute as an elite sport caller.

Extra to come back.