I wonder how Cat Latos is doing these days.

Who is he? Mat Latos is a starting pitcher who will be heading into his 8th big league season this year, although he's currently a free agent. Latos came up with the San Diego Padres before being traded to the Reds when he seemed to be on the cusp of breaking out. His best season to date was in 2013, his second with the Reds.


How did he get here? The Reds have been in a slow but steady full rebuild process in the last year to two years, and Latos was one of the casualties. Miami picked him up in a trade for Anthony DeSclafani, one of five rookie starters to hold down a regular rotation spot for the Reds in 2015. After a lackluster stint with the Marlins, Latos actually made appearances for both L.A. area teams down the stretch.

Repeat offender? Yes

Other versions of this card: Here's Mat as a Dodger, later in the season. And here's the source photo for this card:

Embed from Getty Images

Airbrushed Score: 7

Comments: Los Rojos indeed.

Is Photoshop the Botox for baseball cards?

Who is he? Mat Latos is a young right-handed starting pitcher. More importantly, he owns a cat named Cat Latos. The more famous of the two single-T big league Mats (the other being Gamel), Latos had a 21 game winning streak that spanned portions of the 2012 and 2013 seasons.


How did he get here? Latos came up with the Padres and excited people. He must have excited the Reds, because they gave up four players for him, including some young talent like Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal. And, uh, they also got Edinson Volquez.

Repeat offender? No

Other versions of this card? No

Airbrushed Score: 3

Comments: Well, if it wasn't for the fact that Bowman's release date that year was only a couple of months after the beginning of spring training, I'd be a little suspicious. But when you look at the background of this card, perhaps it's not the player who is Photoshopped than it is the background. I mean, what kind of dreamscape is Latos pitching in front of? The Reds spring uni starts to look more and more legit when you see it that way, while his pitching motion seems more and more posed. Weird stuff. Bowman is more Photoshop than natural, I tell you.