Quote from Stergios on April 19, 2024, 1:08 pm

Quote from fenn68 on April 19, 2024, 10:50 am

A bit under the radar … after his first two appearances, Kolek has be outstanding:

7 games … 8.2 innings … 3BB/11K … 1.04 ERA / 0.92 WHIP (ignore the one critical HR).

Looks as though the Padres hit the jackpot on the Rule 5 selection. I think he may last … now he was a mediocre SP but mid-year 2023 moved to the pen and was incredibly good … guess the Padres noted that (along with his stuff) and made the pick. Good scouting.

Hmmmm…I wonder whether they’ll consider moving him back into the rotation in the future should he stick around.

Quote from fenn68 on April 19, 2024, 2:03 pm

Quote from Stergios on April 19, 2024, 1:08 pm

Quote from fenn68 on April 19, 2024, 10:50 am

A bit under the radar … after his first two appearances, Kolek has be outstanding:

7 games … 8.2 innings … 3BB/11K … 1.04 ERA / 0.92 WHIP (ignore the one critical HR).

Looks as though the Padres hit the jackpot on the Rule 5 selection. I think he may last … now he was a mediocre SP but mid-year 2023 moved to the pen and was incredibly good … guess the Padres noted that (along with his stuff) and made the pick. Good scouting.

Hmmmm…I wonder whether they’ll consider moving him back into the rotation in the future should he stick around.

Probably not … RP may be his niche … 1-2 inning spurts may maximize his stuff. At 27 and with the current 5 SP around at least through 2025 backed by the likes of Snelling, Mazur, Bergert, Lesko … his future value (and probably success) is in relief.

More important is that he is contributing as a RP now (and controlled for 6 years) … no reason to mess with that.

Quote from fenn68 on April 23, 2024, 11:39 am

With the disclaimer "it is early" ... early returns on the pitchers gone via FA vs. the adds via trade/FA looks amazingly favorable for the Padres:

Out: Lugo ($15MM) ... 31 innings ... 2.03 ERA / In: Cease ($8MM) ... 29.2 innings / 1.82 ERA

Out: Wacha ($16MM) ... 24 innings ... 3.75 ERA / In: King ($3.15MM) ... 27 innings / 3.33 ERA

Out: Martinez ($14MM) ... 17 innings ... 4.76 ERA / In: De Los Santos ($1.16MM) ...9.1 innings / 0.96 ERA

Out: Hader ($19MM) ... 9.2 innings ... 8.38 ERA / In: Matsui ($3.35MM) ... 11 innings / 1.64 ERA

Out: Snell ($32MM) .. 11.2 innings ... 11.57 ERA / In: Brito (minimum) ... 12 innings / 5.25 ERA

Not only are the added performing better than the departures ... they are doing it for $80MM LESS. Have to give Preller a lot of credit to pull off five trade-offs in one winter under the pressure of having to reduce payroll.

Quote from sportwarrior on April 23, 2024, 12:46 pm

Garrett Cooper is about to be DFA'd by the Cubs. Maybe a potential cheap band-aid for our imminent hole at DH?

Quote from fenn68 on April 23, 2024, 12:55 pm

Quote from sportwarrior on April 23, 2024, 12:46 pm

Garrett Cooper is about to be DFA'd by the Cubs. Maybe a potential cheap band-aid for our imminent hole at DH?

I think they have made their DH move with Solano (when he is added) … Solano can hit so no problem with that.

Quote from sportwarrior on April 23, 2024, 2:19 pm

Quote from fenn68 on April 23, 2024, 12:55 pm

Quote from sportwarrior on April 23, 2024, 12:46 pm

Garrett Cooper is about to be DFA'd by the Cubs. Maybe a potential cheap band-aid for our imminent hole at DH?

I think they have made their DH move with Solano (when he is added) … Solano can hit so no problem with that.

I view Solano more as an immanent replacement for Wade on the bench. Cooper would allow Pauley to continue to marinate in AAA.

Quote from fenn68 on April 23, 2024, 3:01 pm

I guessing … when Manny returns from maternity leave … Batten is optioned.

When Manny returns to 3B … Solano is added for DH and Pauley is optioned to AAA to get AB every day. (Unless Pauley gets really hot in the next week and Rosario gets optioned).

DH becomes a RHH Solano probably most of the time with selected use of LHH Wade in the right situation. Since in the near term Manny will not go to full time 3B and still get DH time … Padres need legit 3B options.

I guess I could make a case for both Solano and Cooper (Rosario then gets optioned). One is DH and the other is available to cover rest days / minor injuries of regulars while still having a ML hitter in the mix.

——————-

I know the Cubs DFA Cooper and if awarded the claim would only cost about $1.5MM … works for the Padres … BUT a good chance others will be in on claiming Cooper at that price … so not sure what it will take in a trade to secure him.

Quote from fenn68 on April 23, 2024, 3:09 pm

Clearly at some point Campusano will be backed off a bit from catching duties … probably ticketed for a max of 110-120 games behind the plate.

As it stands Higashioka fills the remaining 42-52 games … and if the Padres are OK with their DH choices Campy just sits / rests (important in the hot July-Aug) to be fresh for the playoff run / post-season. However if the DH slot is lacking and they need Campy’s bat at DH … do they have an emergency catcher in case of injury during a game (but before a quick call-up of Sullivan?) or don’t care and just swing back Campy and void the DH for that game?

Quote from sportwarrior on April 23, 2024, 4:37 pm

It's worth noting that Wade's splits are extremely unimpressive... This year he has a .571 OPS vs RHP and only a career .613 OPS vs RHP. Solano (.703 career OPS vs RHP, .766 OPS vs RHP in 2023) and Cooper (.757 career, .807 2024) both have splits that easily exceed Wade's. I get the traditional desire to carry a LHH on the bench, but I hope management realizes that when the performance is that bad, it's not worth it.