Quote from MrPadre19 on December 4, 2024, 5:04 am

Quote from ultratvfan on December 3, 2024, 5:56 pm

The Dodgers owe over $1B in deferred payments to 7 players: Ohtani, Betts, Snell, Freeman, Smith, Edman and Hernandez. They are going to have big problem when they have to pay all this money out.

Will they though?

Unfortunately they know what they're doing.They probably have the money in the Bank earning interest and they will "save" $150 million.

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on December 5, 2024, 9:11 am

Normally would not consider the Padres as one to make a Rule 5 claim of a position player BUT this year may be the exception.

1. Consider they have only 33 on the 40 man roster (32 if/when they move Musgrove to the 60 day IL) ... so way more room than needed ... do not envision them signing 8 FA to the 40 man roster.
2. The 40 man only has 12 of the 13 position players needed to complete a 26 active roster ... plus nothing clear cut non-roster ready to be added. Even among those 12 .. Ornelas, Lockridge, Rosario, and Wade are not compelling candidates for the final 26 man.
3. A Rule 5 pick can be returned if not going to make the 26 man, so a minimal net cost if he does not.

So, a fair gamble if someone of interest drops to the Padres pick ... and IF they like someone a bit more can always make that post pick trade (for a non-consequential non-roster prospect) to get them from a club ahead in the picking order (pre-arranged).

On MLBPipelines list of  "interesting" potential exposed players from each team ... there a couple OF that might be worth the look and see gamble ... bulk as usual are pitchers. Pretty sure there are others that Preller may see as potential.

Minimal risk / cost ... have the need and space ... buys time / insurance as they seek other (better) options.

One that caught my eye:

Twins: Kala’i Rosario, OF (No. 19)
Rosario was the Twins’ final pick in the shortened 2020 Draft, taken out of the Hawaii high school ranks. He earned Midwest League MVP honors in 2023 and showed off his power that year in the Arizona Fall League. He missed two months this past season with an elbow injury and wasn’t as productive in Double-A when he came back, but got back on track with a return engagement in the AFL. It’s a corner outfield profile with plenty of raw power that he’s shown he can get to when he’s in a groove.

Quote from fenn68 on December 6, 2024, 2:20 pm

Padres re-sign MASON MCCOY to a minor league contract ... should serve as the EP starting SS and "emergency" SS back-up for the Padres in case of injury. Not a hitter but a good glove.

Quote from fenn68 on December 7, 2024, 11:17 am

Wonder if an added issue of the future of Eric Kutsenda may be impacting decisions this winter.

Kutsenda is the "Chairman" and "INTERIM CONTROL PERSON" since November, 2023. Key is "interim" and some are speculating that a new control person will be in place before the 2025 season. Remember the Siedler family are the owners and we really don't know how they see their future (or involvement) with the Padres operations.

No idea who gets that position and the responsibility / authority in establishing such things as budget. If it is a baseball person does Preller get new oversight / directions? If a non-baseball business type, would Greupner get different marching orders on finances / business operations. If it is a "caretaker" do both Preller and Greener get greater control?

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on December 7, 2024, 2:27 pm

Adames to the Giants for 7 years and 182m.

Quote from Alex Tamayo on December 7, 2024, 4:37 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on December 7, 2024, 2:27 pm

Adames to the Giants for 7 years and 182m.

So, I would guess, they are less likely to sign Kim, right?

Quote from BoosterSD on December 7, 2024, 5:52 pm

Well, BAL has signed O'Neill for 3 years and $49.5M an average of $16.5 per season. I do think this helps set the range for Profars contract. Both have been fairly average until last season, and while Profar had better BA and OBP O'Neill had more HRs.

If I was Preller I would try and stretch it out to 4 or even 5 years, as Profars positional flexibility would allow to transition to supersub as he gets older.

Hoping for a little SD discount and realizing that he is better in SD than anywhere else, it gets done for 5 years and $55M.

Quote from ultratvfan on December 7, 2024, 11:03 pm

Hyeseong Kim, one of the top hitters in the KBO, was posted by his team, the Kiwoom Heroes, on Wednesday. Thursday marks the beginning of a 30-day window for the 25-year-old second baseman to sign with an MLB team, with a deadline of 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 3 to reach an agreement. Beginning Thursday, any team willing to pay to the Heroes the corresponding release fee and any applicable supplemental fees may negotiate with Kim.

https://www.mlb.com/news/hyeseong-kim-posting-for-american-teams

Maybe he could be signed to play SS for the Padres.

Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2024, 3:04 am

Sure looks as though the cost of "average" players is really going up. Gary Sanchez (C) signs with BALT for $8.5MM. O'Neill gets 3 years, $16.5MM AAV with an opt out after 2025. Bieber who will miss a big part of 2025 gets a big AAV deal in Cleveland.

Are "average" players ... when you consider a need for C, LF,  1B/DH, SP ... collectively out of the Padres range? At current prices that group could cost $25-30MM for slightly below average talent. With the Padres already (post ARB) over the CBT threshold and no indication they want to move much higher ... not sure what Preller can do beyond gambling on some players that just fall through the cracks (like Solano, Peralta in 2024) and end up signing make good minor league deals (end up around the $1-2MM range). Maybe trades to make more payroll space (Suarez, Peralta, Arraez) but even that does not open that much room (about $28MM) for what would become a need for maybe 5 adds at that point.

Preller is a patient man ... so we may see him just try to wait out the market ... probably not overly concerned with the minor differences among the less than average options he has to consider ... and just shoot for the bargain contracts. Keep in mind that the current core team is strong. Offense: Tatis; Merrill; Machado; Bogaerts; Cronenworth; Arraez; Campusano is playoff quality so the remaining two slots are not "critical". SP (Cease, King, Darvish) is a strong top 3 ... and if in January they sign Sasaki they can gamble on the 5th SP (Waldron, Vasquez). RP is probably fine as is.

One unknown is Preller view on internal prospects and whether they can adequately fill some of the holes. Can the Padres live with Ornelas / Lockridge in LF? Can Capusano / Sullivan hold the C until Salas or Valenzuela are ready for a call-up? Can Rosario hit as maybe part-time DH? Can Niebla get another SP out of Baez, Bergert, Cruz, or Morejon? Not likely all will work out but gambling on one or two realigns whatever money is available to add 1 or 2 better players for the other needs.

I don't think it takes much to have the Padres a playoff contender in 2025 ... and once in the playoffs winning it all is possible. If Preller believes that ... maybe defer any "big move" until the trade deadline?