Quote from Randy Manese on March 19, 2024, 7:47 pm

Could be, but it also might be Vasquez, Morejon and/or Estrada since they likely will "activate"  Waldron also before the SF series. Looks  like Avila is being given one last chance to make an impression or DFA'd; his only advantage at this point is that he can pitch multiple innings while Estrada and Kolek are more 1 inning guys.

Quote from fenn68 on March 20, 2024, 2:44 am

Best chance is that Cease and Waldron are added to the 26 after the series with Estrada and Morejon being optioned. Avila becomes the wild card but might survive being DFA if they option Vasquez so he can work as a SP in the minors. Avila might bump Kolek but guessing that if they wanted Avila over Kolek they would have done that now ... not going to learn much in the next coupe of days.

Since the fact that the Padres made the three IL moves and the two MiL options official ... fair to assume that they have to make the calls on Avila and Kolek right after the two games. Optioning Vasquez perseveres both for awhile ,, and as I recall he could be re-called in 10 days ... most of which are eaten up before the SF series, so potentially back in the first week. That saves Avila / Kolek in case of an injury to one of the pitchers. Also gives more time for Preller to maybe work a minor deal in the gap until the SF series.

Since I am fascinated by Kolek's incredible second half of 2023 after he was converted from a SP to a RP in AAA (plus some good report on his stuff) I am rooting for him to be that "surprise" player that comes out of obscurity to be a key factor in the season. I see a good chance of his survival ...at least until we see more of him during the regular season. Less so on Avila but in 2023 he was very good in the long relief role ... not good as a SP ... so if the Padres still see that in him (RP) ... optioning Vasquez to work as a SP (first call-up) makes sense while preserving everyone as a Padre ... for now.

Quote from fenn68 on March 20, 2024, 2:59 am

Quote from BoosterSD on March 19, 2024, 6:58 pm

Pauley is being signed to the ML team, and added to the 40 man according to MLBTR. So if Shildt holds true, should see Pauley as the dominant 3B until Machado returns to the field.

Then depending on his hitting, finish the year as DH and then work on his 1B skills for 2025 in the offseason.

That sound right ... probable depends on his bat being at least adequate (better than Wade / Rosario) for now. Saw the note from Cassavell that although Machado is working in the field he is not throwing (different that I heard earlier ... so?) and that may signal a longer need for a 3B that I was thinking.

If they sign Pham (and not sure they will) the Machado scenario may shift the target to Rosario to be optioned. However if Machado needs to be the DH for an extended period ... and if the Padres really believe in Pauley''s future as the DH ... adding Pham would be as the regular LF and sending Profar to the bench (for maybe $4MM).Maybe that is not the best use of that $4MM and the Padres are better off "saving" the room under the CBT for mid-season / trade deadline moves.

Quote from fenn68 on March 20, 2024, 10:02 am

Random though on Patino.

The IL placement may serve to allow the Padres to keep him in the system for 2024. Consider that Patino will be on the IL until after the other 29 teams have set their rosters both the 26 and 40.

So, very good chance the other teams will not that soon claim Patino if put on waivers by the Padres … allowing the Padres to sign him to a minor league deal once he clears (Patino was quoted as being really please to back in the Padres’ organization). Remember Padres claimed Patino off waivers in the first place … will appear to be coming off injury … and would have to bump someone off the 26 man who was just selected. Patino probably does not have the cache to warrant that.

Long shot bet that may be a plus for the Padres. Patino is still only 24 with the plus FB and secondary pitches that made him the #24 MLBPipeline prospect in 2020. Maybe a bit less on the FB but still mid-90s. Command may still be his issue but at 24 never know if that falls into place.

Good timing on this IL stint!

Quote from fenn68 on March 21, 2024, 8:39 am

With Korea out of the way and a week before the SF opener … reflecting on the very low cost recent FA signings … the Padres need (assumed need) for one more bat in the line-up … and Pham - Martinez - Belt still out there … will Preller find any of them willing to sign with the Padres at the Padres budget level price?

Still a bit fuzzy on Manny’s timing on a return to 3B full-time … and all three FA are basically DH at this point. Pham could go to LF but a bad LF so not likely to bump Profar out of LF to DH. Maybe that is a reason to hold up on signing any of them and just give it time and take the last man standing sometime in April? That should be a significant bargain.

If the price is right probably would go in this order:

1. Martinez: last year v. RHP delivered a 132 wRC+ and v LHP delivered a 143 wRC+ … basically hit everyone.

2. Belt: last year v RHP delivered a 146 wRC+ BUT v LHP basically did not play and in limited PA only hit a 64 wRC+. He would present a problem in a critical situation if the opposition brings in a LHP when you consider the Padres’ bench is not laden with strong RHH to pinch hit or to even start vs. a LHP. Nevertheless, there are more quality RH SP around than LH SP so Belt’s prowess vs RHP might just win them games beyond the downside of him v LHP.

3. Pham: v RHP 109 wRC+; v LHP 111 wRC+ … so balanced but lower net than either Martinez or Belt.

Martinez is a Boras guy … so likely is really holding out for more than the Padres have to offer … but time is ticking and maybe a creative contract can get him in.

If the Padres “hold” until Manny is locked into a return to 3B … looking as though Wade has the inside track (maybe with Rosario) then that duo becomes the DH … maybe augmented by Pauley.  Boy, a lot is dependent on what the Padres really forecast for the future of Machado.

————————

Listened to an interview with Preller who, as expected, did not say anything about adds other than always looking to improve the club by either FA or trade. Stock response.

What did sneak in was … even though Marsee had been optioned to the minors … was Preller including him in the comment as a call-up that could help the offense in LF or CF. The fact that Marsee was still in the front of his mind might give a hint on Preller’s view of Marsee and/or a clue that an outside add is not imminent.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 21, 2024, 8:59 am

If there was ever a must win game two of the season it was today.

After losing game 1 due to a glove malfunction losing today,after taking a 5-0 lead,against the dodgers,would have been as deflating as a game 2 could be.

Obviously it wasn’t really a “must win…..but imagine that plane ride home at 0-2 with the way both of those games would have gone if we had lost today.

Yikes

 

 

Quote from sportwarrior on March 21, 2024, 1:41 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 21, 2024, 8:59 am

If there was ever a must win game two of the season it was today.

After losing game 1 due to a glove malfunction losing today,after taking a 5-0 lead,against the dodgers,would have been as deflating as a game 2 could be.

Obviously it wasn’t really a “must win…..but imagine that plane ride home at 0-2 with the way both of those games would have gone if we had lost today.

Yikes

 

 

It sure felt like it was a must win, especially after going up 5 runs in the first. Losing a game after chasing Yamamoto would just give a boost to the Dodgers' runaway national narrative as the apparent 2024 champions. Combine a loss like that with a loss like yesterday's and you're looking at one of the longest regular season plane rides in sports history.  For a team that's desperate to make a statement and leave last year's disappointment behind, that could have been a huge dose of poison for team morale.

Instead, we walk away having played what might be looked at as the most insane and exciting game of the season. It cannot be stressed enough how important Manny's 3 run shot and Suarez's 9th were to getting us on the plane with great vibes.

Quote from sportwarrior on March 23, 2024, 1:05 pm

FWIW, Preller namedropped Roki Sasaki as a future pursuit at Saint Peter's memorial. I suppose it goes without saying that all kinds of teams are going to be in on a guy like that, but still noteworthy that he publicly acknowledged it.

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2024, 1:12 pm

Quote from sportwarrior on March 23, 2024, 1:05 pm

FWIW, Preller namedropped Roki Sasaki as a future pursuit at Saint Peter's memorial. I suppose it goes without saying that all kinds of teams are going to be in on a guy like that, but still noteworthy that he publicly acknowledged it.

Good ... they should have the money if not exceeding the CBT to go with the highest bid ... all in as with Salas and DeVries. Hopefully the Padres have the connections to have laid the groundwork for a signing.