Reds acquire RHP Mat Latos from Padres

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty today announced the acquisition of RHP Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres in exchange for IF/OF Yonder Alonso, RHP Brad Boxberger, C Yasmani Grandal and RHP Edinson Volquez.

Latos, 23, last season for the Padres went 9-14 with a 3.47 ERA in 31 starts and a career-high 194.1 innings. He ranked among the National League leaders in ERA (18th), strikeouts (14th, 185 in 194.1ip), opponents' batting average (9th, .233) and strikeouts per 9 innings ratio (9th, 8.57). In his last 17 starts of the season, Latos posted a 2.94 ERA and held opposing righthanded batters to a .156 average, the best mark in the Major Leagues over that span.

 "Mat is a big, strong young pitcher with electric stuff," Jocketty said of the 6-6, 224-pound righthander. "We consider him to be a potential number one starter who, contractually, we have under control for four more years. To acquire a pitcher who is ready to fit into the top of a rotation, you have to give up talent."

In 2011, Latos ranked sixth in the National League and T12th in the majors by holding righthanded batters to a .204 average. In his 31 appearances he made 20 quality starts, tied for the lead on the Padres' staff and just 1 shy of his career high. Three times Latos was the starting pitcher when the Padres snapped what at the time were season-long losing streaks.

 In 72 Major League appearances, all starts, Latos has produced a 3.37 career ERA. In 2010, he tied a Major League record by allowing 2 runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts.

Volquez (20gs, 5-7, 5.71) and Alonso (47g, .330, 5hr, 13rbi) played for the Reds last season. Boxberger (55g, 2-4-11, 2.03) pitched at Class AAA Louisville and Class AA Carolina, while Grandal (105g, .305, 14hr, 68rbi) played at Class A Bakersfield, Carolina and Louisville. Volquez is eligible for arbitration for the second time.