Quote from fenn68 on October 4, 2025, 5:07 pm

The fan unknown is the budget limits (and clearly there will be one) ... and that makes the priority of moves an interesting debate.

Stepping back and what was right and wrong with 2025 and how that is impacted by FA ... I guess could make the argument that maybe upgrading offense is the priority over pitching. Padres were for most of the season in the bottom 3rd in runs scored and very low in hitting with RISP.

On the other hand, the pen was lights out (only Suarez gone) and somehow the SP hung in with both King and Darvish missing 1/2 their starts and Cease no effective.

Have to set priorties (and make some gambles) ... although I have had King as my #1 re-sign ... what if in 2026 the Padres go

SP: Pivetta, Musgrove, Darvish, Vasquez, and covert Miller to SP

RP: Morejon (L); Adam; Estrada; Morgan still would make a core end of game group that is compelling plus poised to make impact should be Rodriguez, Reynolds, Marinaccio, Hawking, Pena .... and Preller's unknowns.

Divert King's $20MM plus to boosting the offense with impact bat (or two)?

Have the feeling if they go that route the roster can get them to the playoffs and set up at the trade deadline moves as needed to be playoff ready.

On the other hand, Padres made the playoffs playing the first 4 months of the season with zero productivity out of the 7-8-9 spots in the line-up ... and you can never have enough pitching ... and that makes a case for signing King and scramble with mix and match for the 9th hitter / bench with low cost options.

Which way to go?

Quote from MrPadre19 on October 4, 2025, 5:18 pm

Re-sign King let everyone else go.

Leave Miller in Pen for ‘26 convert him this time next year…..Pivetta has opt out after ‘26 and Yu may not be around.

Try to add an impact 1B/DH somehow,some way.

Add a couple RH bench bats….like the idea of Iglesias/France

King/Musgrove/Pivetta/Darvish/Vasquez

Pen stays dominant

Full season with Laureano/Fermin and hopefully healthy Tatis/Merrill plus an added power bat (not sure who/how but).

Should once again be a Playoff favorite

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on October 4, 2025, 6:26 pm

If they sign France (R) and pair him with Sheets (L) you have two 1B/DH ... then sign Iglesias to be the defensive back-up for 3B-SS-2B ... keep Johnson to be the defensive back-up for LF-CF-RF ... keep Campusano as back-up C.

Also, in certain situations Cronenworth has shown he can hand SS or 1B.

That leaves one open spot ... but a lot of flexibility as to their defensive positions. So if Preller finds the right bat ... he could go with a someone not a DH/1B type and set-up more rotation in the DH/1B roles and "resting" some starters.

Another possibility surrounds catcher. Fermin is likely to go 120 starts +/-. IF Preller can land a defensive catcher (with some hit) (someone like McCann) to play maybe 40 games ... that could release Campusano to a DH, maybe 1B, role as a RHH. Key is Campusano's bat ... if he can ... needs to play more than a 40 game back-up catcher.

Note that the bullpen should be again deep without Suarez ... Reynolds, Marinaccio, and Waldron are without options ... on the bubble anyway to make the 26 man ... might they become decent trade chips for "serviceable" bench upgrades?

Fun guessing Preller's approach.

Quote from BoosterSD on October 4, 2025, 6:59 pm

France has been declining since his two great season in SEA in 21 and 22. Not sure he is the answer.

Please dont get me started on Campusano, no way you can count on him as the back up C, cant hit ML pitching and not a good catcher defensively. No way he is a useful piece on a playoff caliber team like the Padres.

As much as some have pushed for it, Miller needs to stay in the bullpen as the closer.

I do think that Darvish will retire, I think he sees his decline and is too proud to hang on. His money should allow SD to make a real run at bringing back King.

King, Musgrove, Pivetta, and Vasquez are a good starting 4. Sears, Waldron, and the Preller surprise should be enough to get us through the year.

Our starting OF is set with Laureano, Merrill, and Tatis. Johnson is a fine backup, just need a nice 5th, Kelenic could be a good gamble. Maybe Jankowski?? Although it rarely seems that Preller brings back someone he trades.

Our starting INF is set if you believe Sheets can handle 1B, with Crone, Bogaerts, and Machado. I really like the idea of Iglesias coming back, think France should be a last resort. Although maybe being in a deep line up helps France bounce back like Sheets, although it rarely seems that Preller brings back someone he trades.

C, love what Fermin has done this season since the trade. Have no problem with him as the lead C. I dont think he will play more than an 100-105 games at C, so a real back up C will be needed.

And as always, Preller will catch us all of guard and do something that no one sees and we will march towards the playoffs again in 2026.

Quote from Randy Manese on October 4, 2025, 9:20 pm

I understand that any discussion of Campusano may be polarizing, however, in 2023 and 2024, when he had over 150 AB's, his offensive production was better than Diaz, Maldonado, Heyward, Gurriel, Joe, Wade, Lockridge, Brooks, Oscar Gonzalez and McCoy was in 2025 in his worst year in the majors (.227) and all these players had  more plate appearances than Campusano was given an opportunity to get this year.

I agree that he is not a strong defense catcher, however, both Maldonado and Diaz slipped noticeably this year and were a black hole in the line-up offensively until Fermin was acquired to remedy the situation.  Further, if you watched any of the El Paso games this year, you would have judged Campusano's catching stats as at least average, i.e., what he did behind the plate rarely, if ever, cost them a ball game.  Lastly, the Padres did okay in 2024 with Higgy splitting the catching chores with Campusano, who started the year as the #1 - it was only after Campusano jammed his left thumb that Higgy started to get more playing time and had his career year.  Remember, Campy even caught Cease's no-hitter!

So, with Fermin likely to catch around 120 games and the ABS challenge to come into play in 2026, there is little need to scour the market for a higher-priced catcher when you already have one who familiar with our pitchers and is not going to command much more than 1.5M in arbitration.  We'll probably still sign one or more catchers to minor league deals, but I'm going to keep an open mind and give a home-grown player another chance to show that what he did in El Paso in 2025 and what he has done previously in the majors offensively is no fluke as long as he comes in healthy and in shape physically as well as mentally prepared.

 

Quote from BoosterSD on October 4, 2025, 9:45 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on October 4, 2025, 9:20 pm

So, with Fermin likely to catch around 120 games and the ABS challenge to come into play in 2026, there is little need to scour the market for a higher-priced catcher when you already have one who familiar with our pitchers and is not going to command much more than 1.5M in arbitration.  We'll probably still sign one or more catchers to minor league deals, but I'm going to keep an open mind and give a home-grown player another chance to show that what he did in El Paso in 2025 and what he has done previously in the majors offensively is no fluke as long as he comes in healthy and in shape physically as well as mentally prepared.

 

As a Padre fan, I hope you are right and I am wrong. And I understand that he is going to be inexpensive salary wise, I just think he is the prototypical KT era prospect that we got all excited about and then turned into a fantastic 4A player.

Quote from fenn68 on October 5, 2025, 2:09 am

IF they sign King (my first choice) the returning core of this team should be playoff contender with a top line pitching staff and 8 strong hitters ... that is better than most other teams.

At that point still want upgrades for the 9th hitter / bench BUT Preller has (we suspect) a roadblock with budget ... players available ... players preferring SD over other offers if the player sees the role as a limited part-timer. That suggests players in the mix for upgrades will most likely have flaws (otherwise would not be available cheaply).

Then consider the current 26 man (after the core 8) are Campusano, Wagner, McCoy, Johnson, and Ornelas ... all have significant shortcomings but unlikely capable of replacing all five with upgrades within budget limits and available alternatives. However, baring injury, the core 8 are the types that could (should) play at least 150 games each ... so do they need much as bench upgrade?

Money - real alternatives lead me to think Campusano (good catchers are just hard to find cheaply and even with Campy back they will be still looking for a AAA back-up) and Johnson would seem to have the inside track ... hopefully sign Iglesias for INF and down to two upgrades (supplanting Ornelas, McCoy, and Wagner) ... and that may be with players off the scrap heap and still be better ML quality over those three.

If they are limited to upgrades in the $1-3MM salary range as a part-time back ups ...would except a lot of veterans signed to make good minor league deals that get sorted in ST. That worked in getting Sheets, Solano, and D.Peralta ... not so much with Hayward, Gurriel, etc. Plus remember if this team is already good enough to be a contender ... the trade deadline would put some cheap "rentals" in play ... so don't really need to over pay now.

So, for me, sign King and Iglesias ... then work the fringes for upgrades this winter ... save some budget for mid-season targeted upgrades as needed.

 

Quote from fenn68 on October 5, 2025, 2:23 am

Pitchers get hurt ... in this era having a pitcher go the full season (32 +/- starts) is the rarity ... and as we have seen with the Padres over the past few seasons.

Looking at 2026 ... if they go with Pivetta - King - Musgrove - Darvish - Vasquez ... who is called-up for injury (probably should be thinking at least two options)?

Sears is poised for being one. I guess Waldron (out of minor league options) is still around. No hot shot prospects banging on the door ... so should be considering Hoeing - O.Cruz both on the roster and the long shot mid-season options in Lizarraga - Mendez - ???. Thin group.

Expect some veteran bounce back candidates signed to minor league deals (those Jun 1 opt out types). Would not expect during the season the Padres tying to convert any of the ML RP to starting ... most seem "short" options not "long".

This could be an achilles heal IF multiple SP occurs early in the season. Any real dark horse near in the system?

Quote from WindsorUK on October 5, 2025, 5:58 am

Having Sheets as our full time 1B will go a long way in beefing up that spot.

Making that full time transition shouldn't be hard for Gavin( hell, the history of MLB is littered with guys who were defensive liabilities but could still hit moved to 1B)

Anyone care to guess what kind of off season training it'll take to make that transition a smooth one? I assume he'll get more hip mobility training( we could ALL use that!). And he'll certainly try to get some extra stretch in his glutes and hamstrings. Anything else to make him more agile around the bag, ergo better defensively?