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          Keith Law Blog

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          Breaking down the Ian Kennedy trade

          • Keith Law, ESPN Senior WriterJul 31, 2013, 06:20 PM ET
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            • Senior baseball analyst for Insider
            • Was special asst. to Blue Jays GM
            • Wrote for Baseball Prospectus
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          Details of the trade

          San Diego Padres get: RHP Ian Kennedy

          Arizona Diamondbacks get: LHP Joe Thatcher, RHP Matt Stites, competitive balance draft pick

          Ian Kennedy's 2011 season -- in which he finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting -- was a mirage, in large part the result of being a severe fly-ball pitcher in front of one of the game's best defensive outfields that year. Guys who are that prone to putting the ball in the air will eventually give up more home runs, and Kennedy has, 46 bombs in his 332 innings over the past year and a half.