Quote from BoosterSD on September 16, 2021, 8:22 pm

So, I'm probably sure this is almost sacrilege and I will get crucified for this; however if Tatis needs to be at SS to drive the team, then is Crone a trade piece. I know, I know.........

We have Frazier under control one more year and that his best position,

Kim can cover SS and 2B,

And Abrams can easily slide to 2B, probably a lot easier than going to CF.

What can we get for an All Star level LHH SS? Maybe that young OFer we need and good young SP?

Quote from Randy Manese on September 17, 2021, 1:58 am

To comment on the above two posts, my statement that Williams failed in rehab is exactly what Fenn indicated, i.e., he failed to change or alter the course of action the Padres were going to take with him by his poor performance at El Paso.  Give this trade overwhelmingly to Seattle who got Brash, a pitcher with a real future by the way he's pitched at Hi A and AA this year.

Concerning Cronenworth, a team has to decide who are their core players that they can depend on almost daily to give them the performance they need over a 162 game schedule.  Beyond the big money guys, Tatis and Machado, Cronenworth is that man.  His versatility combined with his reliability make him too valuable to trade even though he is not even arbitration eligible.  Because he plays the game with such intensity, he wears down from time to time and goes into mini-slumps - too bad the Padres couldn't afford to rest him more because of all the other injuries or sub-performance of other key hitters in the lineup.   In my opinion, no way he gets traded as he is one of the pillars of what could make this team great (barring injury!).

Quote from fenn68 on September 17, 2021, 4:53 am

Have to consider Cronenworth at 1B in the future … better possibility with a DH … Hosmer either DH or off the roster. INF of Machado - Tatis - Frazier / Kim - Cronenworth should be compelling. Since Frazier is controlled for only one year … 2B becomes a spot for Abrams in 2023. From what we have seen, Cronenworth will be an excellent defensive 1B (clearly better than Hosmer) and has the bat to be a 1B.

From a different perspective, doubt dealing Cronenworth would get equal ML impact for 2022 in the return … maybe excellent prospects but not All-Star (low cost) quality player.

 

Quote from fenn68 on September 17, 2021, 5:15 am

Looking at the 2022 potential roster before any adds (and considering FA out) … and considering the potential DH, Padres should be seeking OF/DH as the prime target(s) to avoid a gaping hole in the line-up. As it is …. Profar -Grisham - Myers - ??????

Can work with the catching / INF as it exists … RP needs to be addressed but as in the past doesn’t need a “high profile” solution.

So, where could the trade chips come from? Campusano should be the most compelling (elite prospect for a proven veteran is the normal formula). Wonder if the Padres would try to move a ML SP? Sounds like a big gamble considering the current injury state but if healthy next ST: Musgrove, Clevinger, Snell, Darvish, Lamet, Paddack with Weathers, Gore, Knehr, Morejon, and Gore on the door step. Would anyone bite on Darvish … clears some salary (same idea with Hosmer) and the additional payroll space could be used for a FA signing.

Quote from Randy Manese on September 17, 2021, 11:27 am

Padres currently have 51 (expected to be 52 when Velasquez is brought up from El Paso) of which 33 (soon to be 34) are pitchers.  Expect they want to get down to the mid to low 30's from this group so they can add Rule 5 eligibles or make other moves that might affect the 40 man roster.

First cut is the easiest as all 6 FA eligibles will be allowed to walk - my list is Arrieta, Detwiler, Hudson, Marisnick, Pham and Velasquez, which takes us down to 46.  For me, next group to go would include Camarena, I Castillo, Kela, O'Grady, Ramirez and Rivas - this brings us down to 40, with the possibility/probability of Anderson, Diaz and Norwood joining this group and the 40-man roster now at 37.

We now look at injured guys and older guys who have options as likely candidates:  Altavilla, Guerra, Lawson, Melancon, Ona, Stammen, Strahm and Wingenter.  Others that are on the bubble might include Baez, J Castillo, Crismatt and Johnson.  Those 12, all of which aren't expected to depart the roster, would bring us down to 25 if they all did.  More than likely the majority will stay so that tentative range of the mid to low 30's can be reached to protect our many Rule 5 eligibles, such as Gore and Valenzuela.  Other pitchers that could be added are Adrian Martinez and Steven Wilson, while other position players under consideration may be Esteury Ruiz, Eguy Rosario, Agustin Ruiz, Gilberto Vizcarra, Jonny Homza, and Tirso Ornelas.  I'm hoping that Allen Cordoba also gets added to the 40 man - he deserves a chance.

The rebuilding of the farm system has begun with this year's draft and good showing of international free agents signed over the last couple of years.  Expect massive turnovers at the AAA and AA levels as these prospects, as well as those injured for all or part of this year, come back in 2022.  Instructs in October should be VERY interesting!

Quote from Randy Manese on September 17, 2021, 11:39 am

Correction: switch O'Grady to the FA category, making 7 FA's for the Padres after the 2021 World Series ends.

Quote from fenn68 on September 17, 2021, 12:52 pm

Filling out the winter 40 man will be an interesting challenge ... maybe a bit different than the past decade.

1. IF the Padres believe they will contend in 2022 .... then the 40 man roster should have a number of legit "call-up" options sitting in the upper minors who have a good chance to be adequate at the ML level. Given the current returning pitching menu ... and their injury history ... need some pitching in AAA.
2. What to do with players that don't have a 2022 minor league option ... and are unlikely to secure a 26 man roster slot but are legit "fringe" ML (e.g. Diaz). DFA them now (saving a spot for an arm with options or a Rule 5 protect)?
3. Expectations for players on the 60 day being ready for spring training or candidates for the 60 day IL out of ST? Could make room for a non-roster add to cover a need.
4. Personally a number of prospects I would not want to lose ... just not sure how many of them are really of interest to other teams ... to both select and to keep on their 26 man in 2022. I would think pitchers are the highest risk to be taken and may shape who is protected.
5. Then consider the "trade season" happens usually after the 40 man is set ... will they keep a player considered a fringe trade chip (at the expense of a protect) for use in a trade at the winter meetings?

Padres need initially to have confidence they have a 26 man opening day roster with probably insurance in the OF/INF/C and a multiple SP/RP for 2022 use. That could squeeze down the Rule 5 protect to those who may help in 2022 and put at risk those who are maybe further away.

Quote from fenn68 on September 17, 2021, 1:39 pm

My thought trimming down from 52 (I added Velasquez by putting someone on the 60 day IL):

FA/DFA: Arrieta; Detwiler; Hudson; Melancon; Pham; Marisnick; Velasquez; Camarena; Norwood; Ramirez; Rivas; Castillo; O'Grady; Guerra; Kela; Altavilla; that is -16 ... to get the roster down to 36 and room for four Rule 5 protects: Gore; Wilson; Martinez; and Valenzuela.

Now if there are other Rule 5 protects (and there probably are) the next bubble group should be Diaz, Ona, Wingenter, Lawson, Anderson with Diaz the only of that group out of options.

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on September 17, 2021, 1:51 pm

One of the most important Series of the season…..and we have Velazquez/Darvish/Arrieta going.
Stranger things have happened but my confidence level could be higher.