Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2025, 8:03 am

Dennis Lin writes that the Padres are considering putting Pivetta on the market ... to open another $19MM+ to deploy on filling other holes. Pivetta will opt out after 2026 so selling high on one year.

Hard to navigate while looking to add SP BUT if guess if they commit to converting Miller and Morejon to SP to go with Musgrove and Vasquez that "new" $19MM added to the estimated $20MM COULD be deployed to add a quality replacement pitcher (maybe on a longer term deal) and still add money to land a "bigger" 9th hitter.

Then add that Pivetta ... even for one year ... should result in a the Padres landing a very good prospect(s) that may help in 2026 but be low cost and controllable for years.

If they went that route ... considering reports are that King is not getting mega offers (bit lower on dollars and short on years) ... a return of King in a deal with a "lower" 2026 with incentives and player/club options could develop.

Gut reaction was no but after thinking ... maybe. Keep in mind that Pivetta 2025 was Pivetta's best season (can he repeat?), will be gone after the year, and he is expensive.

Quote from BoosterSD on December 8, 2025, 9:04 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2025, 8:03 am

Gut reaction was no but after thinking ... maybe. Keep in mind that Pivetta 2025 was Pivetta's best season (can he repeat?), will be gone after the year, and he is expensive.

I think you have mentioned this before, and honestly the idea has merit with all the reasons you mention. Can he repeat last season? Hopefully. Will opt out after the 2026 season? Almost 100%.

So yes, if you could a nice return, sign King, and spend on a hittter ( a reduced salary Castellanos), then I would pull the trigger on a move.

Quote from brent wolff on December 8, 2025, 11:59 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2025, 8:03 am

Dennis Lin writes that the Padres are considering putting Pivetta on the market ... to open another $19MM+ to deploy on filling other holes. Pivetta will opt out after 2026 so selling high on one year.

Hard to navigate while looking to add SP BUT if guess if they commit to converting Miller and Morejon to SP to go with Musgrove and Vasquez that "new" $19MM added to the estimated $20MM COULD be deployed to add a quality replacement pitcher (maybe on a longer term deal) and still add money to land a "bigger" 9th hitter.

Then add that Pivetta ... even for one year ... should result in a the Padres landing a very good prospect(s) that may help in 2026 but be low cost and controllable for years.

If they went that route ... considering reports are that King is not getting mega offers (bit lower on dollars and short on years) ... a return of King in a deal with a "lower" 2026 with incentives and player/club options could develop.

Gut reaction was no but after thinking ... maybe. Keep in mind that Pivetta 2025 was Pivetta's best season (can he repeat?), will be gone after the year, and he is expensive.

I would still be surprised if the Pads trade Pivetta, yes it makes some sense to do so and never, say never with AJP as GM, but it would have to be a really nice haul in return for Pivetta to be traded in my opinion.  Lin also brought up the Cronenworth could be moved and as gutsy of a player as Jake is, I could see him being traded more so than Pivetta.  If Croney could land a starter, then theoretically Arraez could be resigned to play 2B.  It certainly will be interesting to see what moves AJP, Stein and group make.  Worst thing is, it will probably take until much closer to the reporting dates for a lot of this to happen since we are shopping mainly in the bargain bin since we have so much big money already allocated.  Go Pads!

Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2025, 12:48 pm

Quote from brent wolff on December 8, 2025, 11:59 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2025, 8:03 am

Dennis Lin writes that the Padres are considering putting Pivetta on the market ... to open another $19MM+ to deploy on filling other holes. Pivetta will opt out after 2026 so selling high on one year.

Hard to navigate while looking to add SP BUT if guess if they commit to converting Miller and Morejon to SP to go with Musgrove and Vasquez that "new" $19MM added to the estimated $20MM COULD be deployed to add a quality replacement pitcher (maybe on a longer term deal) and still add money to land a "bigger" 9th hitter.

Then add that Pivetta ... even for one year ... should result in a the Padres landing a very good prospect(s) that may help in 2026 but be low cost and controllable for years.

If they went that route ... considering reports are that King is not getting mega offers (bit lower on dollars and short on years) ... a return of King in a deal with a "lower" 2026 with incentives and player/club options could develop.

Gut reaction was no but after thinking ... maybe. Keep in mind that Pivetta 2025 was Pivetta's best season (can he repeat?), will be gone after the year, and he is expensive.

I would still be surprised if the Pads trade Pivetta, yes it makes some sense to do so and never, say never with AJP as GM, but it would have to be a really nice haul in return for Pivetta to be traded in my opinion.  Lin also brought up the Cronenworth could be moved and as gutsy of a player as Jake is, I could see him being traded more so than Pivetta.  If Croney could land a starter, then theoretically Arraez could be resigned to play 2B.  It certainly will be interesting to see what moves AJP, Stein and group make.  Worst thing is, it will probably take until much closer to the reporting dates for a lot of this to happen since we are shopping mainly in the bargain bin since we have so much big money already allocated.  Go Pads!

If they deal Cronenworth it most likely to clear his 5 year / $60MM remaining on his contract ... so the acquiring team taking on the contract would likely be a contender who would give a prospect(s) for the future.

From the Padres view that may be OK for the $12MM additional payroll space in 2026 (and going forward) IF they can land a lower cost / shorter contract to fill 2B then deploy the "savings" with what they already have for a more impactful 1B/DH bat or if the get Castellanos at league minimum end up with a bigger pot for a higher quality SP.

Trade partners? Houston, Seattle, and KC are seeking a 2B ... Houston specifically a LHH 2B.

Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2025, 1:02 pm

The Padres announced Monday that they’ve signed right-hander Daison Acostato a one-year, major league contract. Their 40-man roster is now up to 37 players.

27 year old veteran MiL RP ... good (but not great) 2025. Looks like a pure depth move (maybe suggesting the potential for movement with the Padres' current RP crop) ... he can be optioned.

Never know what the Padres scouts see in any obscure minor league player (especially RP) but he apparently has enough to to earn a ML contract.

Quote from BoosterSD on December 8, 2025, 1:25 pm

Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2025, 12:48 pm

Trade partners? Houston, Seattle, and KC are seeking a 2B ... Houston specifically a LHH 2B.

How about this for a potential landing spot for Crone, COL. I know there are a lot of items that would make this difficult to happen such as interdivision trades do not happen often. However, there are some factors that could allow this to happen. New FO personnel, both Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes have both worked in the SD FO. COL needs to make somethings happen as their fans are growing restless with the ownership. While the obviously have other needs, reading on MLBTR that DePodesta and Byrnes could look to add a veteran INF to help ease the transition for many of their approaching MiL players. They dont have a great option at 2B, or 1B for that matter and Crone can play both. Additionally they dont have a lot of money on the books. And finally, Crone crushes the ball in COL, to the tune of .333/.418/.593, with an OPS of 1.010.

Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2025, 2:08 pm

Padres manager Craig Stammen says that the club is planning to keep Mason Miller, Adrián Morejón and David Morgan in the bullpen, per Alden González of ESPN. “It’s a risky proposition health-wise and performance-wise,” Stammen said, of the proposing of stretching them out.

Well that comment ... at this point ... is a bit surprising. I guess if that is the plan ... a number of other RP could be on the market (it is a crowded pen).

This does lead us to return to the search of multiple SP upgrades and should reduce the odds of a Pivetta trade. On the other hand, this may increase the odds of a Cronenworth deal to clear salary to drop on some FA SP.

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on December 8, 2025, 6:42 pm

Stammen's full quote comes across less definite.  Here's the full quote.

“As far as starting, I think we’re still having those conversations, but leaning towards those guys staying in current roles and just being valuable assets that we deploy through different parts of the game. … (Changing their roles) is a risky proposition, health-wise and just performance-wise. I think using those guys strategically in the bullpen is probably what’s best for us. It’s best for them also. I think that’s what they want to do, and that’s a big piece of this, too. The player knows what he really wants to do and what he’s going to be best at.”

There was also this from Preller.

“At the end of the day, we know those guys are good at what they do. Our bullpen is obviously a very big-time strength. That’s an area that that we feel good about. We’ll see how everything plays out over the next couple of weeks, but for right now, we’re feeling like having those guys in those spots. It’s not like we’re going to make a big change and look to ask those guys to start for right now. But we have the right to sit back and see how the next couple weeks play out.”

 

Quote from TucsonClip on December 8, 2025, 8:31 pm

From Acee:

As of Monday, the Padres were not among the teams generating the most buzz in the lobbies of the two Walt Disney World hotels where this year’s winter meetings are being held.

But if the Padres are not involved in a big move here, it won’t be for lack of conversations.

Preller was described by multiple people as frenetically working the phones, though it is not clear how much more activity that was than his usual pace of investigating virtually endless possibilities.

“It’s been a lot of conversation today,” Preller said while seated in his top-floor suite at the Waldorf Astoria. “Kind of typical Day 1 of a winter meetings.”

Said Preller: “Hopefully productive and see where things come out in the next couple of days.”

Two sources familiar with the Padres’ discussions said Preller is shooting big.

One source said the Padres are working multiple fronts that could result in deals that rival the massive trade in which they acquired four major leaguers in exchange for Juan Soto and Trent Grisham at the winter meetings two years ago. Another source said Preller’s plans coming to fruition would make the deals he made at the past two trade deadlines pale in comparison.

The sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly, provided no further details.

And that is the way the winter meetings go.

There is often difficulty in discerning speculation from rumors and either one from a nugget of information with actual traction.