Quote from BoosterSD on August 17, 2023, 9:38 am

Quote from Stergios on August 17, 2023, 8:39 am

Quote from fenn68 on August 17, 2023, 3:17 am

Something to start considering is Merrill's role in 2024 with the ML club. Up until his .300 hitting production in AA I would have set him as a potential late 2024 call-up. Now, remembering Tatis jumped successfully for AA, could we see a role for Merrill to start 2024 with the ML club?

He should be more productive (plus have a future) than Carpenter, Gamel, Choi, or any of the other LHH options that have been trotted out in 2023. Add that he can legit play middle INF if not DHing. Get him playing ... greater production and a league minimum cost would seem smart ... plus might alter the approach to Kim (last season before FA).

IF IF IF ... the stars rebound ... Kim / Campusano keep hitting ... and just one bat (Merrill) would effectively lengthen the line-up 1-9 (and can carry Grisham for defense). Then just add some better veteran bench pieces ... low cost and the offense should be fine. That set-up then sends the focus (and spending) at pitching.

Don't see any other hitters ready for 2024 within the system ... one I would rely on as bench pieces. Pitching is always hard to judge the jump to the ML ... but maybe Irate and /or Mazur are close enough to help fill out he staff (RP / #5-6 SP). Probably should consider Avila in some role (out of minor league options) ... I had written him off but his 2023 has suggested he too should get a look.

I’m thinking that we should try to make Merrill into a Crone/Kim-type player, a guy who can play all over.  And with his speed, I try him out in the OF as well.  Is that being unrealistic?

Ive said the same thing with Abrams and have said it before with Merrill. We are loaded with SS, especially now with Bogaerts big contract, that Merrill does need to switch to CF and/or should be trade bait for either a position of need. IMO that would be either a very good young SP with control or a young power hitting 1B. Both are the most glaring needs for 2024.

Quote from fenn68 on August 17, 2023, 10:37 am

Quote from BoosterSD on August 17, 2023, 9:38 am

Quote from Stergios on August 17, 2023, 8:39 am

Quote from fenn68 on August 17, 2023, 3:17 am

Something to start considering is Merrill's role in 2024 with the ML club. Up until his .300 hitting production in AA I would have set him as a potential late 2024 call-up. Now, remembering Tatis jumped successfully for AA, could we see a role for Merrill to start 2024 with the ML club?

He should be more productive (plus have a future) than Carpenter, Gamel, Choi, or any of the other LHH options that have been trotted out in 2023. Add that he can legit play middle INF if not DHing. Get him playing ... greater production and a league minimum cost would seem smart ... plus might alter the approach to Kim (last season before FA).

IF IF IF ... the stars rebound ... Kim / Campusano keep hitting ... and just one bat (Merrill) would effectively lengthen the line-up 1-9 (and can carry Grisham for defense). Then just add some better veteran bench pieces ... low cost and the offense should be fine. That set-up then sends the focus (and spending) at pitching.

Don't see any other hitters ready for 2024 within the system ... one I would rely on as bench pieces. Pitching is always hard to judge the jump to the ML ... but maybe Irate and /or Mazur are close enough to help fill out he staff (RP / #5-6 SP). Probably should consider Avila in some role (out of minor league options) ... I had written him off but his 2023 has suggested he too should get a look.

I’m thinking that we should try to make Merrill into a Crone/Kim-type player, a guy who can play all over.  And with his speed, I try him out in the OF as well.  Is that being unrealistic?

Ive said the same thing with Abrams and have said it before with Merrill. We are loaded with SS, especially now with Bogaerts big contract, that Merrill does need to switch to CF and/or should be trade bait for either a position of need. IMO that would be either a very good young SP with control or a young power hitting 1B. Both are the most glaring needs for 2024.

With Soto likely in his last season in 2024 (FA) and Grisham a FA after 2025 ... and Merrill the only near term bat that likely will impact those years (and potentially 2024 as super utility / DH) ... think trading him would hurt both 2024 and the next 5 years. Don' see getting the same value in return (teams rarely trade low cost / long control / high ceiling prospects) so like would only get an expensive / short term plug.

It will be awhile before what we get out of Marsee, Pauley, Zavala, Head, Bush (think 2026+) so think they would be better off beginning with Merrill as the super sub / DH then let him have LF in 2025 (not worried about the power) OR, don't forget Kim is a FA after 2024 he gets 2B. If neither Soto nor Kim are re-signed (and they already need a 9th productive bat) ... Merrill will be more critical given the options of use that anyone they could get in a deal.

Of course Merrill better be good ...

Quote from BoosterSD on August 17, 2023, 12:09 pm

It is unfortunate that we no longer see trades of top prospect for top prospect when teams have a surplus and needs that another team's prospect fulfills. Because this could really help SD fill a need of either a SP or 1B.

Of course, if Merrill can handle CF, that fixes a couple of issues as well.

Quote from MrPadre19 on August 17, 2023, 1:32 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on August 17, 2023, 7:59 am

Quote from BoosterSD on August 14, 2023, 10:46 am

Okay, once again I will drink some Kool Aid, and think that SD can use this home stand for a season turn around. 10 games at home v. BAL (3), AZ (4), and MIA (3).

If they can go 9-1 or 8-2, I will believe they have fire in their guts. Anything less, and I will confirm that my recent assessment of this team is correct and some one might need to pay for this abomination of a season with their job. And not just a sacrificial hitting coach this time!!!

OK, we took 2 of 3 from BAL, one of the best teams in MLB. And the one loss in my 9-1, was in my thoughts to BAL. So now it is time to pull their collective heads out of their arses and take care of business and sweep AZ and MIA.

IF they do that, then they are in a fairly nice spot to burn through September hot, and ATL Brave this to a WS Championship.

Double edged sword tonight.

Hill vs. Gallen again.

On one hand it seems like a horrible match up...and it is,but if Gallen is on and he throws a shutout or holds us to 1 or 2 it may not matter who we have going.

I don't want to lose ANY games,esp. to a team ahead of us,but I guess if Gallen is going to beat us I'd rather it be against Hill than Snell.

Now that being said,let's go out and win anyway.

If we can score 4 or more,even if it's against their  Pen,we can.

As long as Hill doesn't completely implode.

 

Quote from 3fingersplit on August 17, 2023, 2:08 pm

When the padres pulled up Jackson Wolf to pitch that one game it was done at the request of the pirates so they knew what they were getting in the rich Hill trade. Rich Hill is this year’s version of Jake Arriata and I expect zero from him tonight.

I would have rather kept Wolf and let him develop and until this team quits trading away young controllable arms for over the hill pitchers or part of these stupid 2.3 or 4 for 1 trades they will never get to where we all want them to be.

How many pitchers have the Dodgers pulled up this year to make their major league debut ?

draft and develop your young players and quit trading them for somebody’s average player that are due to be a free agent at the end of the season

Quote from Jeremy Hill on August 17, 2023, 2:41 pm

Merrill is in LF tonight. It certainly seems like they're prepping him for a sort of super utility role. He can bounce all over and help keep everyone fresh when he makes it to the big leagues. Maybe he can start out as sort of a new age Ben Zobrist.

Quote from sportwarrior on August 17, 2023, 3:17 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on August 17, 2023, 2:41 pm

Merrill is in LF tonight. It certainly seems like they're prepping him for a sort of super utility role. He can bounce all over and help keep everyone fresh when he makes it to the big leagues. Maybe he can start out as sort of a new age Ben Zobrist.

Of all the kids I've seen the last few years in our system, Merrill feels like one that could truly handle positional shifts with ease. He's super athletic and an absolute gamer. Merrill was one of the most impressive players in camp this spring, too. He looks like he belongs on any field he steps onto.

Quote from MrPadre19 on August 17, 2023, 4:41 pm

I could see Merrill in LF opening day 2025 if Soto is gone.

Or at SS with X at 1B and Crone at 2B if Kim is gone.

Is there much chance that both Kim and Soto are gone?

I guess it could happen pretty easily…especially if we sign Ohtani!

Let’s just hope neither are traded at the deadline next season cause that would mean we are in sell mode in 24’

 

Quote from fenn68 on August 17, 2023, 5:32 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on August 17, 2023, 4:41 pm

I could see Merrill in LF opening day 2025 if Soto is gone.

Or at SS with X at 1B and Crone at 2B if Kim is gone.

Is there much chance that both Kim and Soto are gone?

I guess it could happen pretty easily…especially if we sign Ohtani!

Let’s just hope neither are traded at the deadline next season cause that would mean we are in sell mode in 24’

 

Since I still see some financial limits to the Padres spending in the future given the spending locked in for years to come ... going to be a real challenge with who to target (modified by who will sign) ... all of Snell, Hader, Soto, and Kim will demand a big AAV / long term deal. Othani is in a class of his own. Then consider the first four would only represent bring back the same team that has a losing record.

Since I am not now (and have not been) a fan of Soto ... his likely demand of likely $30-35MM for 15 years will get paid by someone (but not the Padres) plus it seems the Padres are not his desired end spot. I would focus on Snell (even though I generally worry about long deals for pitchers) and will demand about $22-25MM for 5 years. Kim (is he real) would push the $20MM / 7 year mark especially if a team needs a SS (but I could see the Padres in the mix for a quality fan favorite). Hader is probably gone seeking a $20MM per for 5 years ... big price fore Evan an elite closer.

Othani's contract projection is just in a new universe ... no idea how that plays out with any team. Have to throw in the pitcher from Japan and the OF from Korea that could be large money FA signings before getting to any significant FA stateside.

$20 MM here ... $20MM there and eventually that becomes real money!