The deal will send Blanks to the Athletics for two minor leaguers.
The Oakland Athletics have acquired first baseman/outfielder Kyle Blanks from the San Diego Padres in exchange for outfielder Jake Goebbert and a player to be named later, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick and Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune. We first reported that a deal was in the works earlier in the week, and it became official today.
Blanks, who was optioned to Triple-A by the Padres on Tuesday in what seems to be just a paper move, will immediately join the Athletics' major league club and will serve as the right-handed hitting half of a first base platoon with Brandon Moss. The 27-year old only made ten plate appearances in the big leagues for the Padres this season, notching two singles and scoring a run in that span.
In 239 major league games over the last six seasons with San Diego, Blanks is a lifetime .228 hitter with 28 HR and 98 RBI. He has shown good power numbers throughout his time in the minors, and has potential to break out with a change of scenery in Oakland.
Goebbert, 26, was originally acquired by the A's from the Astros in exchange for left-hander Travis Blackley last year. He was hitting .257 with 6 HR and 25 RBI in 31 games for Triple-A Sacramento, and is expected to join the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in El Paso. A lifetime .278 hitter in six minor league seasons, Goebbert did not rank among the best 30 prospects in the Athletics' system heading into this season.