Quote from Jeremy Hill on December 18, 2025, 1:03 pm

Quote from fenn68 on December 18, 2025, 10:00 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on December 18, 2025, 8:57 am

There's a report out there that the Padres and Angels have offers out to Song Sung-Moon. It says that both offers are for less than 15m total and he may ultimately decide to stay in Korea. I think his window ends in the next few days.

Padres have the need for a low cost offensive boost ... even if not projected as an impact player.

Padres could have the advantage of having a clear need in the line-up (so ML playing time), having had success with Kim, a clear contender for the playoffs, and maybe some boost from Chan Ho Park with his Padre connections.

If the offer is competitive with the LAA and enough to lure him to the states ... maybe. Apparently he did win a gold glove in the KBO as a 3B and has some history at 2B/1B ... does seem like a fit even if a .230 hitter in the ML.

Weakness may be vs ML velocity (same as Kim when he arrived) and somewhat all all out upper cut swing (but that may be adjusted by the Padres).

Getting to the point any ML add is a good ML add.

At the reported price point he's probably a better bet than what's available on the FA market. The question for me would be are they looking at him as a potential utility guy or would his signing be a precursor to a Cronenworth trade?

Quote from fenn68 on December 18, 2025, 3:48 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on December 18, 2025, 1:03 pm

Quote from fenn68 on December 18, 2025, 10:00 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on December 18, 2025, 8:57 am

There's a report out there that the Padres and Angels have offers out to Song Sung-Moon. It says that both offers are for less than 15m total and he may ultimately decide to stay in Korea. I think his window ends in the next few days.

Padres have the need for a low cost offensive boost ... even if not projected as an impact player.

Padres could have the advantage of having a clear need in the line-up (so ML playing time), having had success with Kim, a clear contender for the playoffs, and maybe some boost from Chan Ho Park with his Padre connections.

If the offer is competitive with the LAA and enough to lure him to the states ... maybe. Apparently he did win a gold glove in the KBO as a 3B and has some history at 2B/1B ... does seem like a fit even if a .230 hitter in the ML.

Weakness may be vs ML velocity (same as Kim when he arrived) and somewhat all all out upper cut swing (but that may be adjusted by the Padres).

Getting to the point any ML add is a good ML add.

At the reported price point he's probably a better bet than what's available on the FA market. The question for me would be are they looking at him as a potential utility guy or would his signing be a precursor to a Cronenworth trade?

Probably setting up various options:

1. A LHH INF utility guy (over Wagner) being the fall back, or
2. Starting 1B/DH if they don't add anyone into the mix, or
3. Starting 2B if they move Cronenworth ... bit unknown about his 2B ability range wise but should have the arm for the pivot and the hands but probably enough offense for 2B.

Simply would give Preller some alternatives to consider with future moves (or not making future moves).

Clearly one for the scouts ... and remember Kim in his first season did struggle a bit with the bat ... so would not get too high of an expectation.

Quote from fenn68 on December 18, 2025, 3:56 pm

The Padres and right-hander Triston McKenzie have agreed to a minor league deal, reports Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. The Octagon client will receive an invite to big league camp in spring training.

When he came up with Cleveland a few years back (2021-2022) (he is only 28) he was an elite prospect (#41 on MLB Top 100 in 2019) and had a great start at his career. After some injuries his fall has been dramatic. Low 90s FB but good stuff when he arrived ... hard to hit but control was (is) an issue. A pure reclamation project.

Side: 6'5" / 165 ... this guy is razor THIN.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on December 18, 2025, 8:29 pm

King is back. 12m signing bonus with a 5m salary next year. 28m player option or 5m buyout in 2027 and a 30m player option for 2028. Awesome news and may give us a little more financial flexibility this season.

Quote from fenn68 on December 18, 2025, 8:31 pm

The Padres are in agreement with Michael King on a three-year contract, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The deal includes opt-outs after each of the first two seasons. It’s a $75MM guarantee, Feinsand adds. King receives a $12MM signing bonus and a $5MM salary for the 2026 season. He’ll decide on a $28MM player option or $5MM buyout next winter and would have a $30MM player option for 2028 if he doesn’t opt out.

Good news ... it is that creative contract that we would expect keeping the 2026 Cash lower.

Quote from WindsorUK on December 18, 2025, 9:18 pm

Does this mean we can afford Pivetta this year? If so, great news!!!

 

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2025, 2:18 am

Quote from WindsorUK on December 18, 2025, 9:18 pm

Does this mean we can afford Pivetta this year? If so, great news!!!

 

Hopefully since a starting staff of King - Pivetta - Musgrove - Vasquez - TBD (Sears, et al) does seem top notch (on paper) for a 162 games season (and even playoffs) considering the depth / quality of the pen.

Where money stands is still a wild guess but if the Padres are at their peak ... and still a need for a couple of ML quality bats they may need to still move someone (maybe not Pivetta) to open some money to redeploy on filling out the offense ... but no matter would expect the bats to be low cost options just to prevent black holes in the line-up rather than for impact.

At this point (if not Pivetta) could see Cronenworth ($12MM) or Matsui or Peralta moved for some payroll wiggle room if the payroll is now at peak. Should note that Hart (LH) appears to be ticketed for the pen, so with Morejon could leave one of Peralta or Matsui out in the cold for a trade.

The 9th bat ... low cost likely under any scenario in my mind ... COULD be Wagner (LHH INF) - not optimum but it is 2B / 9th bat ... COULD be Castellanos at league minimum if PHILS deal him / eat his contract for a minimal trade chip (vs releasing him) ... COULD be the INF from Korea (will know in a couple of days) on a team favorable contract for 2026 ... COULD (and maybe most likely scenario) is a trade of "excess" RP for a low cost bat. Even if they keep Miller, Estrada, Morgan, Rodriguez, Adam, Morejon (L), and Hart (L) ... they would still have ML quality for that last RP slot that should appeal to some teams in a "fringe" trade.

Also, knowing Preller does wait and make moves near ST ... and there are a lot of FA still out there ... he may swoop in a land a potentially decent veteran bat near league minimum.

If (big if) everyone stays healthy ... the current roster even with the holes should be playoff quality. Funny how one signing of King makes the whole team seem better.

Quote from fenn68 on December 19, 2025, 6:10 am

The Padres are in agreement with infielder Sung Mun Song on a contract, according to a report from Robert Murray of FanSided. According to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR, it’s a three-year deal that guarantees Song around $13MM.

I guess Preller is trying to give out his Christmas presents early.

Combined with King's signing ... Preller has some better positioning for options on future moves (if he wants).

Quote from BoosterSD on December 19, 2025, 6:45 am

Busy morning for Preller already! I think this is just the start. I still think he trades Pivetta for more affordable, controllable piece(s). I still think a blockbuster is coming.

Depending on their assessment of Song, I think Crone and Pivetta are the most likely to go now, mainly for payroll relief.