The Miami Marlins acquired infielder/outfielder Graham Pauley from the San Diego Padres on Tuesday as part of the package that sent left-handed closer Tanner Scott to SD. In addition to Pauley, the Marlins landed pitching prospects Robby Snelling and Adam Mazur and second baseman Jay Beshears. Per MLB Pipeline, Pauley was the Friars' No. 5 prospect. The 23-year-old former 13th-round selection in 2022 out of Duke made his big-league debut this year but only played in 13 games, struggling to the tune of a .125 average (4-for-32) with two homers, five RBI, no walks and 15 strikeouts. He wasn't much better at Triple-A El Paso, slashing just .228/.342/.390 with eight home runs and 41 RBI in 70 games played. The young left-handed slugger should have a better shot at playing time in Miami at the end of this year and going into 2025, and his best attributes are his contact-oriented approach and plate discipline.
The San Diego Padres optioned infielder Graham Pauley to Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday and recalled catcher Brett Sullivan from El Paso in a corresponding move. Tyler Wade has taken most of the playing time in San Diego at the hot corner to open the season with Manny Machado still recovering from last year's elbow surgery, as the 23-year-old Pauley has been afforded only 15 plate appearances. In those 15 trips to the plate, the former 13th-round selection in 2022 out of Duke has just two hits, although one of them went for a home run. Meanwhile, he hasn't drawn a walk and has struck out seven times in his first seven MLB games. Sending Pauley down will allow him to get regular at-bats on the farm for when he's needed next in San Diego. Sullivan will give the Friars more catching depth for the time being behind Luis Campusano and Kyle Higashioka.
San Diego Padres infielder Graham Pauley's name is on a bus list with players that are definitely going to Korea for the team's two-game opening series against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers on March 20-21. Regular third baseman Manny Machado (elbow) is going to be eased in at designated hitter early in the year after having offseason surgery, so the 23-year-old Pauley could see occasional starts for the Friars at the hot corner early on. Pauley is getting the opportunity after hitting .308/.393/.539 with 23 homers, 94 RBI and 22 steals in 127 games with Single-A Lake Elsinore, High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio last year. The team's No. 11 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, should be on the radar of fantasy managers in NL-only leagues.
