Quote from Commie on January 17, 2026, 6:18 pm

Quote from fenn68 on January 16, 2026, 9:26 am

Hits just keep on coming:

The Mets and free agent infielder Bo Bichette are in agreement on a three-year contract, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. He’ll be guaranteed a hefty $126MM on that short-term pact, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Bichette can opt out after the first and second season of the contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic adds. He also picks up a $5MM bonus if he exercises one of those opt-outs, per Rosenthal. There’s no deferred money in the contract, which is still pending a physical. Bichette is represented by Vayner Sports.

Bichette goes to 3B and they have Lindor at SS and Semien at 2B ... looks as though either Baty (LHH) or Vientos (RHH) are the odd man out. Preller making his call today? Mets still need a RP boost ... Vientos fits a Padre need ... league minimum with 4 years control ... seems like a match for Estrada.

Baty makes way too much sense for PIT.

How about Estrada for Vientos, sign Ozuna and a back end starter like Manea, Marquez or Perez? Christian Vasquez for second catcher.

.

Tcher.

Quote from fenn68 on January 17, 2026, 6:47 pm

Quote from Commie on January 17, 2026, 6:18 pm

Quote from fenn68 on January 16, 2026, 9:26 am

Hits just keep on coming:

The Mets and free agent infielder Bo Bichette are in agreement on a three-year contract, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. He’ll be guaranteed a hefty $126MM on that short-term pact, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Bichette can opt out after the first and second season of the contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic adds. He also picks up a $5MM bonus if he exercises one of those opt-outs, per Rosenthal. There’s no deferred money in the contract, which is still pending a physical. Bichette is represented by Vayner Sports.

Bichette goes to 3B and they have Lindor at SS and Semien at 2B ... looks as though either Baty (LHH) or Vientos (RHH) are the odd man out. Preller making his call today? Mets still need a RP boost ... Vientos fits a Padre need ... league minimum with 4 years control ... seems like a match for Estrada.

Baty makes way too much sense for PIT.

How about Estrada for Vientos, sign Ozuna and a back end starter like Manea, Marquez or Perez? Christian Vasquez for second catcher.

.

Tcher.

In concept the Estrada for Vientos trade makes sense ... both have 4 years control and are at league minimum and both fill needs of the other team. If that is in play ... expect Preller in trying to get more than even up deal. Estrada was a 1.0 WAR and is projected as a key in the Padres pen (but the pen is very deep)  vs Vientos was only a 0.4 WAR and is projected for the Mets bench ... maybe Preller would want a prospect included ... maybe he would want the Mets to take a "bad contract" such as Matsui to clear some payroll space for the FA signings.

I would not rule out Estrada to BALT for Mayo (league minimum / 6 year control). Can debate whether Mayo or Vientos will be better but for now not that much difference. BALT does not like to deal prospects but with Alonso in the fold and Mountcastle still around ... they may be convinced for the better team.

Either one likely is it for offense adds (except a part-time catcher if can be added on the cheap). Padres would have a good 1-9 hitters with likely Song on the bench as the #1 fill for various slots. Good enough to spend any other assets available on pitching depth.

 

Quote from fenn68 on January 17, 2026, 7:05 pm

If the Padres add a legit bat for 1B the offense (excluding catcher) should be playoff quality ... Fermin is fine (defense being a plus) for 110-120 games. So, as the GM do you really want to spend much on a #2 catcher (who may have to take over if Fermin injured)? Save the money for pitching instead.

Not sure on the answer on this but Padres have wanted to focus on defense at the catcher slot (was it the front office or Shildt) (and that works if the offense clicks). Fermin is good defensively ... Campusano is not. Now for maybe 50-60 games ... can you risk Campusano as the catcher defensively? Keep in mind a key to the Padres is a strong pen and a solid #1-3 SP ... better with a plus defensive catcher. How much offense do you need given the rest of the line-up? Fortunately defensive first catchers are usually cheaper (fits the Padres limits) ... can they handle a sub-.200 hitter?

Expect a defensive first catcher to be added to the mix for ST and, yes a long shot, but the Padres signed Blake Hunt to a minor league contract and he is "supposed" to be a plus defensive catcher ... just can't hit. Might they live with a Austin Hedges type offensive catcher?

Quote from fenn68 on January 19, 2026, 8:17 am

24 days until pitchers and catchers report. 33 days until the first spring training game.

Moves to be made (or not) by Preller.

Quote from Randy Manese on January 19, 2026, 9:14 am

I'll be in Arizona from 15-22 March to catch a ST game or two with my son and 2-year old grandson.  We raise them early as Padres fans!  Hope to see some new faces that will contribute towards the playoffs by then!

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 19, 2026, 9:26 am

Quote from Randy Manese on January 19, 2026, 9:14 am

I'll be in Arizona from 15-22 March to catch a ST game or two with my son and 2-year old grandson.  We raise them early as Padres fans!  Hope to see some new faces that will contribute towards the playoffs by then!

I'll be there in March also....not sure yet the dates.

Unfortunately with the WBC this year many of the players won't be there.

Still fun and even more reason to watch the back fields

 

 

Quote from BoosterSD on January 19, 2026, 9:45 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 19, 2026, 9:26 am

Quote from Randy Manese on January 19, 2026, 9:14 am

I'll be in Arizona from 15-22 March to catch a ST game or two with my son and 2-year old grandson.  We raise them early as Padres fans!  Hope to see some new faces that will contribute towards the playoffs by then!

I'll be there in March also....not sure yet the dates.

Unfortunately with the WBC this year many of the players won't be there.

Still fun and even more reason to watch the back fields

 

 

I am always in Peoria in March, ;-). Whether its a game or a beer afterwards, let me know and I will try and meet up with y'all.

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 19, 2026, 10:01 am

Quote from BoosterSD on January 19, 2026, 9:45 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 19, 2026, 9:26 am

Quote from Randy Manese on January 19, 2026, 9:14 am

I'll be in Arizona from 15-22 March to catch a ST game or two with my son and 2-year old grandson.  We raise them early as Padres fans!  Hope to see some new faces that will contribute towards the playoffs by then!

I'll be there in March also....not sure yet the dates.

Unfortunately with the WBC this year many of the players won't be there.

Still fun and even more reason to watch the back fields

 

 

I am always in Peoria in March, ;-). Whether its a game or a beer afterwards, let me know and I will try and meet up with y'all.

Bringing my only Son you haven't met yet Booster....and he's of age so he can come with this time!

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on January 20, 2026, 12:00 pm

Once again seeing suggestions that the Padres are "interested" in trading for Freddy Peralta (1 year / $8MM) from MILW. At the same time reports still are that the Padres are considering trading Pivetta (1 year / $20.5MM).

No idea what MILW would want for Peralta (possibly a player type the Padres don't have) and no idea what Pivetta would fetch (but possibly a player type MILW does want and that team prefers Pivetta).

Getting complex (and probably includes a lot of bodies going everywhere) but could Preller pull off a 3 team deal ... landing Peralta / dealing Pivetta / saving $12MM to deploy on another decent arm (Giolito, Verlander?) and still have money for another bat unless one comes in the deal?

Same payroll but a better 26 man roster ... overall even without Pivetta.