General Manager Randy Smith had already traded away Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff. The next phase of the Padres’ fire sale landed on this date — July 26 — in 1993 when veteran pitchers Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris were sent to the Colorado Rockies.
The return fetched arguably the best young defensive catcher in the game in Brad Ausmus, reliever Doug Bochtler and a player to be named later who wound up more valuable to the Padres than anyone else received in the swap:
Andy Ashby.
The 26-year-old right-hander debuted with the Padres days later with six runs allowed in six innings.