Quote from Jeremy Hill on November 25, 2025, 8:53 am

Quote from fenn68 on November 24, 2025, 11:54 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on November 24, 2025, 10:15 pm

So Stammen is bringing in one of his old coaches in Randy Knorr to be his bench coach and one of his old teammates in Stephen Souza Jr to be his hitting coach. Knorr has a lot of coaching experience. Souza apparently spent this past season as a special "hitting development" advisor for the Rays. He doesn't seem to have any major league coaching experience. Acee says they're also close to hiring a new 3B coach and that Brian Esposito and most of the rest of the staff will remain with the organization. I don't know how I feel about Souza. I guess if you were picking an organization for a guy to learn in The Rays would be near the top of the list. I'm just not sure about going with someone so young and inexperienced. He's only 3 years past his playing days.

I guess this is when they say because of his age he can relate better to the players.

Considering the core of the returning offense are veterans less about coaching form and more about approach to the opponent plus spotting when players deviated from their form.

never found hitting coaches that much in control of players… maybe that is why they are the ones that get fired first … plus are the easiest scapegoats of the team is not hitting.

It does seem like a lot of guys have private hitting coaches and labs that they work with these days. I do think that the impact of hitting coaches is generally overstated. When a team is hitting well they're loved when a team is hitting poorly they're hated. Victor Rodriguez was the perfect example of that these past 2 seasons. I don't think his hitting philosophy changed at all between seasons. Ultimately it's on the players to perform.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on November 26, 2025, 11:11 am

Looks like Shildt took a minor league developmental position with the Orioles and also took a radio job with MLB Network.

Quote from lafnboy13 on November 26, 2025, 11:55 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on November 26, 2025, 11:11 am

Looks like Shildt took a minor league developmental position with the Orioles and also took a radio job with MLB Network.

I'm not surprised he took a job but to take this this quickly raises questions.

Quote from BoosterSD on November 26, 2025, 1:42 pm

Quote from lafnboy13 on November 26, 2025, 11:55 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on November 26, 2025, 11:11 am

Looks like Shildt took a minor league developmental position with the Orioles and also took a radio job with MLB Network.

I'm not surprised he took a job but to take this this quickly raises questions.

Perhaps its more a regimented job, as far as time is concerned. You are not doing player development to 10pm every night, not as much travel, and home almost every night. I understand.

Quote from lafnboy13 on November 26, 2025, 4:41 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on November 26, 2025, 1:42 pm

Quote from lafnboy13 on November 26, 2025, 11:55 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on November 26, 2025, 11:11 am

Looks like Shildt took a minor league developmental position with the Orioles and also took a radio job with MLB Network.

I'm not surprised he took a job but to take this this quickly raises questions.

Perhaps its more a regimented job, as far as time is concerned. You are not doing player development to 10pm every night, not as much travel, and home almost every night. I understand.

Good points.

Quote from lafnboy13 on November 26, 2025, 5:03 pm

Cease to Toronto 7/210 with 4/yr deferred

Quote from Randy Manese on November 26, 2025, 8:29 pm

Salaries of SP's are ridiculous, especially when you have someone as erratic as Cease from year to year or even worse from start to start.  Great talent but don't think he'll ever get out of his head to be the dominant pitcher he should be every time out.  Happy for him but no way Padres would pay that kind of money for any SP even if we could - too many random events happen to pitchers to be worth that amount of money for that long a period.

Quote from MrPadre19 on November 27, 2025, 1:30 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on November 26, 2025, 8:29 pm

Salaries of SP's are ridiculous, especially when you have someone as erratic as Cease from year to year or even worse from start to start.  Great talent but don't think he'll ever get out of his head to be the dominant pitcher he should be every time out.  Happy for him but no way Padres would pay that kind of money for any SP even if we could - too many random events happen to pitchers to be worth that amount of money for that long a period.

He got this due to his durability and “potential” to show a shutout every time out.

Unfortunately for us last year he just couldn’t put hitters away and pretty much crashed out in the 4th-5th innings most times out.

He could win the CY next year…or he could be an average SP.

Either way that deal could look ugly in 4-5 years.

 

Quote from fenn68 on December 1, 2025, 2:50 am

Winter Meeting start next Monday ... that should start generating some trades and FA signings ... hopefully with the Padres making some moves.

I would like to be surprised but for now working under the assumption that they may only be adding about $20MM to payroll (keep it similar to last season) and likely without any long term commitments (given the potential sale). Yet, a pretty clear need to bolster the SP and at least a 9th hitter (maybe a 10th if a platoon is envisioned). That suggest 3-4 adds maybe in the $5-7MM range ... with other bench upgrades near league minimum.

SP is gong to be the priority with at this point Pivetta, Musgrove (with question mark on effectiveness returning from TJ), and Vasquez (bottom rotation type) the front runners. After that a lot of unknowns with Sears, Hart, Waldron ... long shot surprise from a prospect ... or the speculated conversion of a RP to SP. For a 162 game season .. that is a high risk profile just to get quality ML innings let alone quality depth.

A thought ... given Preller's history of going with NPM/KBO arms such as Martinez, Hart, Suarez ... currently projected returning arms (who should be lower end cost) might be appealing ... consider:

1. Cody Ponce (32), RHP ... 3 years in NPB and last season in KBO where he pitched 181 innings (strong stats). Fangraphs has him projected at 148 innings / 3.70 ERA with a 2.8 WAR (think that is high) but still only think he will sign for 2 years / $16MM ($8MM AAV). That innings / ERA combo would do a lot to stabilize the rotation.
2. Anthony Kay (31), LHP ... last two seasons in NPB going 133 and 135 innings (good stats). Projected for 111 innings / 3.81 ERA 1.7 WAR. Projected sign for 1 year / $5MM.
3. Foster Griffin (30), LHP ... 3 years in NPB going 121, 116, and 78 innings (good stats). Projected 102 innings / 3.88 ERA, 1.9 WAR. Projected sign for 1 year / $5MM.

All gambles to be sure but if the Padres signed two ... and the projections hold ... they get two middle of the rotation arms at a low end cost and add SP depth for the season to cover injuries / performance. Would potentially allow them to keep Miller / Morejon in the pen (I am a bit concerned that Adam will not be ready to start the season) and maybe dangle some of the other RP candidates in trades. Plus if adding two only costs $10-13MM, they have $7-10MM to use on that 9th/10th bat for the offense depth.

I can see Sears being optioned (his last one I think), Waldron released (out of options), and Hart to the pen as the long LHRP .. maybe making Peralta or Matsui trade chips purely as a payroll move freeing up a bit more for the new adds. Preller rarely locks in on one target ... especially at this level ... so, to get his price, may just wait out the market to near ST to finalize his roster.