MLB 2017: One X-factor for each team

San Diego Padres: SP Jered Weaver

The Padres have pieced together a starting rotation with a bunch of one-year deals for veterans with recognizable names this offseason. After multiple rumors attaching them to him, they finally signed Weaver in mid-February.

Weaver spent his first 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, with 150 wins and a 3.55 ERA over 322 starts. But a dramatic drop in his strikeout rate over the last two seasons (5.1 in 2015, 5.2 in 2016) has brought a ballooning of his ERA (5.06 in 2016). As expected, Weaver’s average fastball velocity fell to just 84 MPH in 2016, with a two-seamer (82.3 MPH average) that based on FanGraphs’ data seems like a slightly juiced-up version of his changeup (77.4 MPH average). With such little variation in velocity, it’s no wonder hitters have teed off on Weaver as if it’s batting practice at times over the last couple seasons.

Weaver could find things a little easier in the National League, but Sporting News’ Ballpark Power Index actually has his new home park in San Diego as more hitter-friendly than Angel Stadium. If push comes to shove, Padres general manager A.J. Preller may be hoping Weaver pitches well enough to be appealing to contending teams at the trade deadline.