For the third straight day, the Nationals have traded away a player on the bubble for a minor-leaguer, picking up RHP Erik Davis from the San Diego Padres.
Davis was drafted in the 13th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft from Stanford and fits the description of the overachiever, similar to Josh Wilkie. John Sickels described him:
Davis has average and average breaking stuff, but mixes in a very good changeup. He mixes his pitches, throws strikes, and so far has pitched well at every level, including eight outings in AA and AAA in 2010.
The 24-year-old (turns 25 in October) Davis also started 19 games at High-A Lake Elsinore, posting a 3.82 ERA, which is quite good in a league (California) where the average ERA was 4.57 in 2010. Overall, he threw 143⅓ innings with a WHIP of 1.270, a BB/9 rate of 3.0 and an 8.4 K rate.
Like Alex Caldera, Davis could be slotted in either Potomac or Harrisburg, and is perhaps indicative that several older farmhands are likely to be released.