Quote from MrPadre19 on January 5, 2026, 7:56 pm

Chris Bassitt anyone?

He just posted a Top Gun Video with the title… “Me”

 

Quote from brent wolff on January 5, 2026, 9:57 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 5, 2026, 7:56 pm

Chris Bassitt anyone?

He just posted a Top Gun Video with no text except “Me”

 

He can start a playoff game, so I say "yes please,"  as starter #4/#3.  One major key to next season will be the starting rotation.  Need healthy seasons from King, Pivetta & Musgrove.  Both King and Musgrove could probably use a break in each half of the season, sitting out a couple of starts each.  Hopefully, Vasquez continues to develop at the 5th starter and McKenzie can find his grove again under Nieabla, so McKenzie can provide the necessary breaks for 8 starts that King and Musgrove probably will need.  Go Pads!

Quote from fenn68 on January 6, 2026, 10:57 am

Bassitt is likely too expensive ... projected at a 2 year deal with an $18MM AAV. Probably waiting for Valdez and Suarez to sign then leverage the other teams as one of the top SP on the market.

If no trade for a mid-rotation SP (think unlikely do limited trade chips that others want unless it is offsetting bad contracts ... Matsui for X?) ... would expect a FA signing more in the #4-5 SP range (if rebounds from recent past) in a max $5MM / 1 year range. Maybe someone like Tyler Anderson or Cal Quantrill. Just someone with a chance to be better than Sears (now the most likely to sit in the #5 role). Note no real #6 unless McKinzie rebounds or some real ahead of schedule prospects (don't see it yet).

Quote from fenn68 on January 6, 2026, 11:16 am

Still should address that RHH who ... at a minimum serves to platoon with Sheets or Song ... or two to platoon with both.

As it stands the starting 9: Fermin - Sheets(L) - Song (L) - Cronenworth (L) - Bogaerts - Machado - Laureano - Merrill (L) - Tatis ... and that is pretty good already ... no team has above average players at all nine spots.

For now Campusano is in a the #2 catcher / RHH DH, 1B. That leaves three bench slots out of four currently on the 40 man: Wagner (L); McCoy; Johnson (#); Ornelas (L). Not big hurdles to clear via a low end FA (or two).

Padres have two "long shots" for that RHH 1B/DH bench role with "some" past success in MLB:

Jose Miranda ... bad 2025 but some positives as a 1B/3B prior in Minn.

One real sleeper may be Nick Solak who played in Texas (2019-21) (819 AB) and hit well and was 15% above average vs LHP. After 2021 ... injuries followed by just under performance put him out of favor ... but just 30 so maybe? He has played a lot as a 2B/LF with 1B experience.

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 6, 2026, 11:33 am

Quote from fenn68 on January 6, 2026, 10:57 am

Bassitt is likely too expensive ... projected at a 2 year deal with an $18MM AAV. Probably waiting for Valdez and Suarez to sign then leverage the other teams as one of the top SP on the market.

If no trade for a mid-rotation SP (think unlikely do limited trade chips that others want unless it is offsetting bad contracts ... Matsui for X?) ... would expect a FA signing more in the #4-5 SP range (if rebounds from recent past) in a max $5MM / 1 year range. Maybe someone like Tyler Anderson or Cal Quantrill. Just someone with a chance to be better than Sears (now the most likely to sit in the #5 role). Note no real #6 unless McKinzie rebounds or some real ahead of schedule prospects (don't see it yet).

Well, I would mostly agree with you but if we were indeed close on Okamoto and he signed for 4/$60....who knows?

We keep thinking we don't have any $ to spend and they keep surprising us.

They may think Bassitt could be Pivetta 2.0?

 

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on January 6, 2026, 11:44 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 6, 2026, 11:33 am

Quote from fenn68 on January 6, 2026, 10:57 am

Bassitt is likely too expensive ... projected at a 2 year deal with an $18MM AAV. Probably waiting for Valdez and Suarez to sign then leverage the other teams as one of the top SP on the market.

If no trade for a mid-rotation SP (think unlikely do limited trade chips that others want unless it is offsetting bad contracts ... Matsui for X?) ... would expect a FA signing more in the #4-5 SP range (if rebounds from recent past) in a max $5MM / 1 year range. Maybe someone like Tyler Anderson or Cal Quantrill. Just someone with a chance to be better than Sears (now the most likely to sit in the #5 role). Note no real #6 unless McKinzie rebounds or some real ahead of schedule prospects (don't see it yet).

Well, I would mostly agree with you but if we were indeed close on Okamoto and he signed for 4/$60....who knows?

We keep thinking we don't have any $ to spend and they keep surprising us.

They may think Bassitt could be Pivetta 2.0?

 

 

 

Yeh, we never know (and I would like Bassitt as a Padre). Although Preller was "in" on Okamoto ... we have no idea what they had an as offer ... could have been quite less and unlikely four years as I suggested in an earlier note. Being "in" does not mean making a competitive offer.

Not sure even if the clear some payroll with trades (actually not a lot of options realistically) they would generate enough space.

Quote from brent wolff on January 6, 2026, 1:44 pm

Maybe Bassitt gambles on himself and AJP gets creative with opt outs again.  Also, I still prefer Austin Hays as the RHH platoon side of DH/1B/COF.  At least that is what I am hoping for.  Solak could work as well.  Go Pads!

Quote from brent wolff on January 7, 2026, 8:41 am

Are we tied to any international players for the upcoming international signing day?

Quote from Jeremy Hill on January 7, 2026, 10:10 am

Quote from brent wolff on January 7, 2026, 8:41 am

Are we tied to any international players for the upcoming international signing day?

The 2 big commitments I've read about are to Joniel Hernandez a SS out of Cuba and Diego Serna a LHP out of Mexico.