Quote from BoosterSD on December 9, 2022, 5:43 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 9, 2022, 2:38 am

Looks like Senga is a real possibility.

I’m seeing Senga and Gallo rumors gaining traction.

Preller loves his TEX guys. Wonder if Andrus comes in as a bench guy??

Quote from fenn68 on December 9, 2022, 6:45 am

Don’t know if this a conscious factor by Preller in signing players or just coincidence but (except for Tatis) he has assembled a line-up that seems to stay healthy and play every day. Cronenworth - Kim - Bogearts - Machado - Soto - Grisham all played 150 or more games in 2022. Catchers Nola / Campusano split time anyway and Tatis plays every day if he is healthy.

Makes me think … given the current eight are already one of the top line-ups … how may Preller approach any additional adds for the 9th starter and bench upgrades.

1. Given the lack of depth after the first I eight … the 9th should be in the same mode as the others and a player they expect to be healthy and go to the post every game

2. With a lack of bench and Tatis being the primarily injury risk … the 9th everyday hitter should be an OF that can cover a corner … no need to focus on a DH/INF since Bogaerts - Kim - Cronenworth can cover SS.

3. DH may be the easiest to back fill on this line-up if the new 9th hitter has to move to the OF … mediocre bats at a low cost (maybe boosted by platooning). Also, likely Melvin will still want DH as a rotational slot to “rest” players while keeping their bats in the line-up, So even the mediocre bench bats need to play INF/OF as needed.

So, the nine man line-up is built to play almost every game which in-turn reduces the need for higher priced bench pieces who will not play. Also, consider the higher priced bench pieces may not even want to sign with SD if they see very limited playing time which in turn lowers their future value in the hit FA again.

So the key is a ninth hitter who has a history of being healthy … a good hitter (no need to be great) … ability to play the OF … at the lowest price of a collection of reasonable equal alternatives.

 

Quote from fenn68 on December 9, 2022, 7:04 am

Unlike the offense … SP needs to be the #1 priority with only 3 established SP to cover 5 or 6 SP slots and knowing SP have a higher risk of injury than position players (unless you are Tatis). Going with the platitude of  “good pitching beats good hitting” … Padres are vulnerable in those games where the #4-6 are starting or #1-3 are matched with an elite SP.

It still takes winning games over 162 enough to make the playoffs … can’t make losing 50% a risk scenario. Maybe in the playoffs less an issue IF the top 3 are healthy but history has not been kind to the Padres in that area.

Bottom line is if the Padres made only one more move … for me it has to be a very good SP (#3 or higher quality) … need to push the money / effort to lock that down.

Might need be ready to pivot if Senga does not sign and get the next best option. Also, would try to sign another Teheran type as insurance in AAA.

Quote from BoosterSD on December 9, 2022, 7:10 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 9, 2022, 6:45 am

So the key is a ninth hitter who has a history of being healthy … a good hitter (no need to be great) … ability to play the OF … at the lowest price of a collection of reasonable equal alternatives.

 

Ben Gamel.

Quote from fenn68 on December 9, 2022, 7:26 am

If the only option for the 9th hitter is

Myers … 2 year / $16MM

Profar … 3 years / $27MM

Both can cover OF/1B/DH so meet the versatility needs … both have a track record with the Padres and apparently a very good clubhouse presence (especially Profar). Both are basically “average” hitters which is all that is really needed.

Side: heard that Profar really would like to return to SD but Padres do need to navigate the Boras factor.

Note that the suggested contract are just my wild proposal … Profar is seeking more AAV … but comparable hitters seem to be in excess of $10MM AAV. So in sense I have those two proposed on a bargain contract.

Personally, would be a hard call between the two … would guess Preller goes for Profar.

Quote from BoosterSD on December 9, 2022, 7:42 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 9, 2022, 7:26 am

If the only option for the 9th hitter is

Myers … 2 year / $16MM

Profar … 3 years / $27MM

Personally, would be a hard call between the two … would guess Preller goes for Profar.

If I had to choose between the two, I guess Profar would be the better choice. I like Myers, and I think he has better power and he is fun to watch play.

However, Profar is a SH, can in an emergency play all 8 positions, is younger, and stays healthier than Myers. And this is probably subjective, has better ABs than Myers. So IF the difference is $1-2M per season, Profar is probably the better choice.

And yes, with the inflated contracts of this offseason, Profar is probably "worth" $9-11M per season. Cant believe I just typed this!

Quote from Henry Silvestre on December 9, 2022, 7:44 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 9, 2022, 7:26 am

If the only option for the 9th hitter is

Myers … 2 year / $16MM

Profar … 3 years / $27MM

Both can cover OF/1B/DH so meet the versatility needs … both have a track record with the Padres and apparently a very good clubhouse presence (especially Profar). Both are basically “average” hitters which is all that is really needed.

Side: heard that Profar really would like to return to SD but Padres do need to navigate the Boras factor.

Note that the suggested contract are just my wild proposal … Profar is seeking more AAV … but comparable hitters seem to be in excess of $10MM AAV. So in sense I have those two proposed on a bargain contract.

Personally, would be a hard call between the two … would guess Preller goes for Profar.

I prefer Drury to both of those 2... and besides Brandon was our best hitter in the NLCS.. so I value that a lot.. But ideally a Lefty (Brantley) would be my guy... Profar's bat not super ..Myers bat too inconsistent.. Brantley is a steady eddie

Quote from Henry Silvestre on December 9, 2022, 7:46 am

Also since we are all in.. SENGA is almost a "must" sign

Quote from BoosterSD on December 9, 2022, 7:52 am

Pitching wise, I am still going say that Davies would be a great sign by SD. He posts every 5 days, stays healthy, and keeps the team in the game. Which is all we really need.

Sign Senga ($22.5M per season), Davies ($7M), Profar ($10M per season), and Gamel ($3M). Thats an additional $42.5M for this season, where SD is ALL IN!!

Position players then would be Soto, Grisham, Tatis, Machado, Bogaerts, Kim, Crone, Nola starting 8, bench of Profar, Gamel, Campusano, Azocar, and Batten or Rosario.

Pitching Staff, Darvish, Musgrove, Snell, Senga, Martinez, and Davies. RP Hader, Suarez, Garcia, Pomeranz, Morejon, Lopez, Hill. With Groome, Weathers, and Knehr and the others in AAA as insurance.