Quote from Randy Manese on November 15, 2022, 7:56 am

Salas will turn 17 on 1 June, which is just before the Arizona Complex League starts up and where I think he will be assigned.  Given his reported advanced hitting profile, could even end up as the youngest player in the California League before the 2023 season ends.  How he performs both at the plate and handling his catching tasks will determine how quickly he moves up the organization but predict he will be another of the fast risers despite the position he plays.

King will turn 19 this December and should be a solid player but not in the same mold as Salas.  Padres do have two very good defensive catchers in Seagle and Valenzuela but both have struggled with the bat.  Seagle's career BA is barely over .200.  Valenzuela had a very good 2021 at LE but had a hard time in 2022 at Ft Wayne, hitting just .209.  Look for him to bounce back a little in 2023 but will likely never be counted upon to provide much offense in any lineup.  Could split time with Homza at San Antonio this year or repeat Ft Wayne and likely paired with Juan Zabala.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on November 15, 2022, 8:04 am

Quote from Randy Manese on November 15, 2022, 7:56 am

Salas will turn 17 on 1 June, which is just before the Arizona Complex League starts up and where I think he will be assigned.  Given his reported advanced hitting profile, could even end up as the youngest player in the California League before the 2023 season ends.  How he performs both at the plate and handling his catching tasks will determine how quickly he moves up the organization but predict he will be another of the fast risers despite the position he plays.

King will turn 19 this December and should be a solid player but not in the same mold as Salas.  Padres do have two very good defensive catchers in Seagle and Valenzuela but both have struggled with the bat.  Seagle's career BA is barely over .200.  Valenzuela had a very good 2021 at LE but had a hard time in 2022 at Ft Wayne, hitting just .209.  Look for him to bounce back a little in 2023 but will likely never be counted upon to provide much offense in any lineup.  Could split time with Homza at San Antonio this year or repeat Ft Wayne and likely paired with Juan Zabala.

How does Juan Zabala scout.? I know he is a former LAD spec.. and hits well for a C..and is older but is he someone that can be at least Sullivan type protection (depth) for San Diego?

Quote from fenn68 on November 15, 2022, 8:32 am

I find Zabala's 2022 a bit of a head scratcher.  He had more AB in 2022 than his three previous seasons combined with LAD. With the LAD he struggled to be a .200 hitter. So basically before 2022 he could not hit enough to allow  LAD to play regularly.

2022 he hit in low A ... maybe too low a placement but clearly deserved based on his past. Now age 23. I would not hold out hope that he becomes a factor in the catching derby in the coming years.

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Seagle is supposed to be great defensively and may hang in AAA (despite the bat) just for emergency call up. Valenzuela may hold that role in AA with at least some hope he can hit better. Neither is on may radar as back-up ML baring a real issue at the ML level.

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I have not seen any scouting on them but some early reports the Padres have a couple of highly regarded Latin catchers either in AZ or DSL ... no idea on the projection.

Quote from fenn68 on November 15, 2022, 8:52 am

On Rule 5 ... 40 man roster.

6 open slots

4-5 low hanging fruit that can be DFA later (Sullivan, Dixon, Batten, Kerr, and maybe Alfaro) depending on FA signings or trades that add to the 40 man.

So, maybe 10 slots in play ... maybe 4 MLB type FA will be signed ... maybe a waiver claim .... maybe a non-roster for roster player trade ... so a lot of ways Preller can go but for now adding maybe 5 seems workable.

Now do they have 5 they think are at risk of losing? Do they have 5 they think can help in 2023? Do they have any they really see as a high probability ML player? I look at the list and could something lower than 5 protected.

Since RP seem to be the prime targets in Rule 5 and this year the cost of RP seems to be soaring ... good chance the protects will lean towards RP such as Lugo and maybe a long shot (Mundo, Lopez). That would also open a bit of room to entertain trades out of the current RP mix.

Quote from BoosterSD on November 15, 2022, 9:32 am

As we look for back end starting rotation help. Maybe a couple of names we could look at are Matthew Boyd and Dylan Bundy.

Boyd, based on health, and working with Niebla, could he get back to his DET numbers, when he was the talk of the league.

Bundy, while he had a mid 4 ERA in MIN, he still threw 140 innings last season, and has usually been fairly reliable. IF the price is right, could be a decent #5 guy.

Quote from fenn68 on November 15, 2022, 9:34 am

Seattle is putting Jesse Winkler on the market to a) make room on the 40 man; b) clear $8.5MM. Note that he had knee surgery at the end of the season and was ticketed for neck surgery this winter.

Had a bad season in 2022 in SEA after some outstanding years ... but in hitter's paradise CINN. Horrible fielder but potentially a LHH DH with power.

Given that profile ... should not get a lot of traction except maybe for a couple of mid-range prospects who are non-roster. Under contract, so a chance SEA just releases him (if no takers) and some team can sign him for league minimum.

Would the Padres be in on him if he was released? Would the Padres be in on him if SEA ate some of the contract? His 2022 was not "good" but just pretty average ... LHH with power.

 

Quote from fenn68 on November 15, 2022, 9:44 am

Quote from BoosterSD on November 15, 2022, 9:32 am

As we look for back end starting rotation help. Maybe a couple of names we could look at are Matthew Boyd and Dylan Bundy.

Boyd, based on health, and working with Niebla, could he get back to his DET numbers, when he was the talk of the league.

Bundy, while he had a mid 4 ERA in MIN, he still threw 140 innings last season, and has usually been fairly reliable. IF the price is right, could be a decent #5 guy.

In their cases ... might just be a case of the contract demands. Both have been around for along time and overall not that great stats.

I guess the pivotal question is whether the Padres sign a legit 4th SP. IF yes, are those two (at their cost) really any better than the best out of Groome, Avila, Morejon, Knehr as the #5 at league minimum?

Quote from BoosterSD on November 15, 2022, 9:57 am

Quote from fenn68 on November 15, 2022, 9:34 am

Seattle is putting Jesse Winkler on the market to a) make room on the 40 man; b) clear $8.5MM. Note that he had knee surgery at the end of the season and was ticketed for neck surgery this winter.

Had a bad season in 2022 in SEA after some outstanding years ... but in hitter's paradise CINN. Horrible fielder but potentially a LHH DH with power.

Given that profile ... should not get a lot of traction except maybe for a couple of mid-range prospects who are non-roster. Under contract, so a chance SEA just releases him (if no takers) and some team can sign him for league minimum.

Would the Padres be in on him if he was released? Would the Padres be in on him if SEA ate some of the contract? His 2022 was not "good" but just pretty average ... LHH with power.

 

I think that he is very similar to Drury. Took advantage of hitting in the friendlier confines of the NL Central. I would expect that his results in SD would be similar to those in SEA. Both bigger parks, close to the power limiting coastal air.

I think he is ticketed for $8.5M in salary for 2023, seems like there would be better bats for that money. But so far, contracts have been higher than thought, so maybe. Would be leery with the two surgeries in two off seasons in regards to health.

Quote from BoosterSD on November 15, 2022, 10:01 am

Quote from fenn68 on November 15, 2022, 9:44 am

In their cases ... might just be a case of the contract demands. Both have been around for along time and overall not that great stats.I guess the pivotal question is whether the Padres sign a legit 4th SP. IF yes, are those two (at their cost) really any better than the best out of Groome, Avila, Morejon, Knehr as the #5 at league minimum?

I would guess that Bundy could be counted on more innings that most of the MiL guys that you mentioned, saving the bull pen some innings. His results could be a little better in SD, due to pitching half of his games in Petco.

Probably a decent option if he would come in for $5M or less.

I would still prefer Davies over either of them though.