The Ms also picked up Natanael Mateo.

You win the beer, PMC. However, Dan only made the bet because he lives 2500+ miles from both the San Diego and Seattle fan bases, so good luck collecting.

Vinay has beer opportunities, so there is no San Diego or Seattle bias. Especially the latter since SABR will be there next year.

Mmmm, beer.

If anyone can think of some insightful analysis for this trade, I'll buy you a beer when I see you.

It's a shot at a free beer, so here's the best I can do. In the Winn for Torrealba/Foppert trade analysis you wrote:

I tell you, my masculine areas are all aquiver with this year's deadline deals. If we get a Tike Redman-Eric Bruntlett or Robert Eenhoorn-Randy Knorr blockbuster, I might have to take a cold shower.

Miguel Olivo's most similar batter? Randy Knorr! His #5? Yorvit Torrealba.

More evidence of intelligent design I tell ya.

Actually, Olivo's most similar through age 25 has some pretty decent names on there -- Joe Oliver, Eary Battey, John Stearns, Eddie Taubansee, Jody Davis. Granted, I suspect his age 26 most-sim list is gonna be not so rosy, but of the two Miguel O's, I think I'd go for Olivo.

Will the Pads or M's even bother changing the last names on Olivo's and Ojeda's uniforms? Would anyone notice?

I suspect that Natanael Mateo is the real pickup here for the Mariners. It's a matter of trading an awful catcher who might find a way to repair his shattered psyche for an awful catcher with no upside and a nifty single-A relief prospect with a live arm. Frankly, I'm surprised that the Padres gave up so much for the astounding head case (with a boatload of hitting talent) that is Miguel Olivo; it's a high-risk, high-reward sort of move.

NBarnes gives some reason for the Mariners to make the trade. I have a hard time finding much of a reason for the Padres to make this trade, though. Olivo is a marginal upgrade over Ojeda, but Ojeda's so bad that a marginal upgrade is barely noticeable. I guess you're talking about a third-string catcher, though - both Ross and Fick figure to play ahead of Olivo.

Will the Pads or M's even bother changing the last names on Olivo's and Ojeda's uniforms? Would anyone notice?

Yes, they would, because Ojeda's uniform says "Portland" on the front.

Miguel Olivo's most similar batter? Randy Knorr! His #5? Yorvit Torrealba.

Heh, I didn't look it up even, I swear!

Unfortunately, when I wrote this one up, the AP services weren't mentioning the throw-in of value.

The Padres' reason to make this move is obivous to me; they think they can fix Olivo. Olivio is clearly capable of a 270/320/490 line in the majors, if only he can figure out where he left his batting stroke. He's done it before, with the White Sox, but hasn't done it since being traded to the Mariners. If the Padres do manage to fix Olivo, then the trade is grand larceny. They've traded a 24 year-old AA relief pitcher and a lousy catcher for a 25-year-old major league catcher that's slugging almost .500.

On the other hand, if they don't manage to fix Olivo, then they traded a 24-year-old AA relief prospect who, I've heard, throws at 95 regularly for one of the worst hitters in major league baseball this season who, additionally, is a legendary head case (though not in a way that embaresses the team in public or funks up your clubhouse, just in a way that he stops being able to hit the little white ball with a stick at a better than semi-pro level).

Like I said, high-risk, high-reward. The Padres probably can't fix Olivo. On the other hand, Mateo probably won't amount to anything, either.

Olivio is clearly capable of a 270/320/490 line in the majors, if only he can figure out where he left his batting stroke. He's done it before, with the White Sox, but hasn't done it since being traded to the Mariners. If the Padres do manage to fix Olivo, then the trade is grand larceny. They've traded a 24 year-old AA relief pitcher and a lousy catcher for a 25-year-old major league catcher that's slugging almost .500.

Well, he did it over 141 at-bats last year, playing home games in one the best parks to hit in in the majors. Olivo just turned 27 two weeks ago (so it's his age 26 season). At best, I think he's the right-handed half of a catching platoon, because he has bashed lefties (that fueled his good numbers with the White Sox last year: splits, although they aren't broken down between his Sox and Mariners stints last year).

Olivo's bb-ref page

minor league stats

Olivo's 2002 at Class AA Birmingham is a long time ago now.