Quote from Randy Manese on October 14, 2025, 4:42 pm

Although rare in sports without salary caps, Darvish could restructure his current contract from his 2026 AAV of 16M to something more aligned to a #4 or #5 SP.  When Darvish had personal issues two years ago, he gave up a large chunk of his salary instead of going on the restricted (?) list and still receiving his salary.  This could free up maybe 11-12M to move to King or help land that #9 hitter for the line-up.  A realistic option given the player?  Again, it seems we have to re-sign a healthy King, either with a QO and then work out the details for an extension during the 2026 season, or move right to the multi-year contract (maybe some money deferred?).

Besides seemingly having unlimited funds, the Dodgers also deferred a lot of AAV giving the team lots of flexibility to gamble on free agents or make trades in a timely manner.  Don't know if any current Padres players with long term contracts would or could change their current contracts and defer money to 5-10 years in the future.  Further, not sure the Padres ownership would want that sort of obligation nor would the Players Association agree to a long-term existing contracts being re-structured since that smacks of salary cap manipulation and there are many owners who don't really care about the product on the field but rather that profit they can maximize.

Quote from BoosterSD on October 14, 2025, 8:33 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on October 14, 2025, 3:48 pm

Add Miller to that group Booster and you've got your 5 man rotation.

I am not a fan of the idea of moving Miller to the rotation. He is one of the best closers in MLB, and Morejon is a FA after 2026.

Let Niebla work his magic on people like Sears and others for the #5 spot.

Quote from BoosterSD on October 14, 2025, 8:45 pm

Reading MLBTR and their offseason review of TAM, I wonder what it would take to get Yandy Diaz? It seems he was mainly a DH this season; however, I believe thats because someone else was maybe better defensively and younger. He did play 112 games there in 2024 so should still be viable there. Next season he is due to make $12M, two less than Arraez made last season and has an option for 2027 that is also $12M and could increase to $13M with escalators. Still less than Arraez. And oh by the way, he hit .300/.366/.482 with an OPS+ of 136 and 25 HRs.

So moneywise and performance wise he is cheaper and better than Arraez, just not sure what it would take prospect wise to get him.

Quote from fenn68 on October 15, 2025, 1:30 am

Quote from BoosterSD on October 14, 2025, 8:45 pm

Reading MLBTR and their offseason review of TAM, I wonder what it would take to get Yandy Diaz? It seems he was mainly a DH this season; however, I believe thats because someone else was maybe better defensively and younger. He did play 112 games there in 2024 so should still be viable there. Next season he is due to make $12M, two less than Arraez made last season and has an option for 2027 that is also $12M and could increase to $13M with escalators. Still less than Arraez. And oh by the way, he hit .300/.366/.482 with an OPS+ of 136 and 25 HRs.

So moneywise and performance wise he is cheaper and better than Arraez, just not sure what it would take prospect wise to get him.

Diaz would be a good get in my mind as a RHH 1B who consistently hits above average (all-star level past). At 34 and making $12MM is something that would make TB interested in a trade given they had a bad losing season and ... under the new ownership ... seem to be focusing on keeping the payroll low and targeting making their objective to compete (spend) when the new stadium is open (3 years?).

Have to consider some other teams would like his services ... so Padres would have to make a decent offer with likely players that have upside / control to be there in 3-4 years while being low cost. However, 34 and a 1B/DH should limit the return.

Just hard to know what TB would covet and which other teams would be in play. Probably different than who I would be willing to deal with little reservation.

Padres have a deep stable of low cost / long control RP that are good ... and that could be part of a deal (also a type of player TB could flip as a deadline move in future years). Maybe in a multi-player package a Campusano might appeal (they do need catching) to round the deal off. Not sure I would use a top prospect for what may be only one year of Diaz (assuming 2027 may be lost to a work stoppage) ... that also suggests the Padres may not worry about 2027 potential pay.

Always tough to deal with TB ... not sure about the current front office. However, Diaz could be a feasible trade from both sides view.

Quote from fenn68 on October 15, 2025, 2:03 am

Quote from BoosterSD on October 14, 2025, 8:33 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on October 14, 2025, 3:48 pm

Add Miller to that group Booster and you've got your 5 man rotation.

I am not a fan of the idea of moving Miller to the rotation. He is one of the best closers in MLB, and Morejon is a FA after 2026.

Let Niebla work his magic on people like Sears and others for the #5 spot.

Not loving the idea of converting Miller ... big unknown of him being able to last as a SP although stuff-wise makes one dream of another Skubel / Scenes dominating for 32 starts.

I guess the decision is linked to them re-signing King and the future of Darvish. If neither is back and have some level of confidence in the rest of the pen (Adam, Estrada, Morgan, Rodriguez) the need for a potential top of the rotation arm might force the issue. If both are back with Pivetta, Musgrove, and Vasquez ... easy to keep him a dominate closer (at least for 2026).

Don't think I would gamble the season on Sears, Hoeing, Waldron, et al holding spots in the rotation and bringing anything more than mid 4 ERA types at best ... and Padres need better. Maybe given this roster ... Padres have a better shot at coving the pen without Miller than covering SP without Miller.

Again, all roads seem to head towards re-signing King as a priority to allow for setting up the rest of the priority moves.

Side: would not rule out the Padres taking a shot at converting Morejon to a SP ... Padres have flirted with that in the past. Not sure the Padres have any other LHRP near Morejon's quality but same debate as with Miller ... is the SP need greater than the RP need given the depth in the pen ... especially if Miller stays in the pen?

With a high probability of Pivetta opting out after 2026 ... Darvish just getting older (if he returns) ... even if King is re-signed there is nothing to rely on for SP for years out of the system and Padres NEED to bolster the SP ... converting Miller and re-signing Morejon (and converting) may be the future just to get a quality SP staff ... Preller does get RP out of nowhere seemingly.

Quote from MrPadre19 on October 15, 2025, 5:43 am

I've always just assumed(ie:thought) the conversion of Miller to SP would come after the 2026 season.

The timing just made more sense as a few young Relievers will likely emerge next year as a Closing option.

I like using Morejon in the 7th and/or 8th

Of course that may depend on what happens with Cease/King/Darvish at this point.

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on October 15, 2025, 5:59 am

I guess part of the Miller discussion also includes how to best deploy the budget when they have a roster that did not score runs (need upgrades there) coupled with needing quality SP ... adding there will not be low cost options.

If they don't address the offense (then remain low scoring) and have 2 or 3 "weak" SP ... how valuable is a closer if the Padres get to the 9th inning behind ... few save opportunities. So, the budget and other position options may just dictate that the deployment of Miller as a SP is best for setting up a "compete" roster and maximize winning.

Clearly either way the Padres go ... even before we see results ... it will be criticized.

 

Quote from BoosterSD on October 15, 2025, 8:12 am

Some of the low scoring came earlier in the season when counting on the likes of Maldanaldo, Heyward, Joe, and others and Merrill missing a good portion of the 1st half as well. Some of that was fixed at the deadline with the acquisition of Laureano and Fermin. When looking at the starting 8 defensive positions, Laureano, Merrill, Tatis, Machado, Bogaerts, Crone, Sheets, and Fermin that is a really good start. Sure we need to add some depth; however, that starting 8 is a great base. Get Diaz for DH/1B with Sheets and that is a pretty good 9. Then hopefully Campusano can actually hit and that gets you to 10 position players. Bring back Iglesias, thats 11. Then need another back up INF and a back up OFer. The last 3 should not be that expensive.

Then as we all have mentioned bring back King, so you have King, Pivetta, Musgrove, and Vasquez. I have not given up on Sears, lets see what time with Niebla during ST can do for him.

Quote from BoosterSD on October 15, 2025, 8:14 am

I think if I had to choose between converting a RP into a SP, I would lean towards Morejon. Simply for the fact that he is LH, and we have no LHSP except for Sears who is a question mark at this time.

It would be nice to break up all RHSP at this time. Of course, we dont know what Preller has up his sleeve, so should make for an interesting Hot Stove as always with AJ.