Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 23, 2025, 5:37 pm

Acee says that Gurriel, Maldonado, Sheets and Iglesias have made the roster. I would imagine Joe will get the last spot.

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2025, 6:59 pm

Well I did not have McCoy being added to the 40 man as SS insurance (expected the DFA of Sullivan). 40 man still at 40.

So assuming they do add non-roster Gurriel, Iglesias, and Maldonado ... three 40 man roster head musts role ... likely Rosario is one but the other two could be pitching. Agree that Joe should be kept as the platoon for Heyward but disappointed Lockridge is likely to get optioned to AAA.

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2025, 9:21 pm

So it seems that the Padres are going all in on veteran position players especially if they take Joe over Lockridge as the 4th OF.

Heyward (L) - Joe ... LF

Sheets (L) - Gurriel ... DH

Cronenworth (L) - Iglesias ... 2B?

That would cover the weakest LHH vs LHP (25% of the starts).

Defense 1st at C with Diaz - Maldonado.

Is that a sign of a big last hurrah in 2025 for a pennant run ... consider the FA after the season (and the mega money to resign them) with little in the system to cover them for 2026 ... and keeping an eye out for the 2027 workstoppage?

Might that give an edge to veterans for the remaining pitching openings?

All will be revealed soon.

Quote from fenn68 on March 24, 2025, 9:39 am

Well again surprised .... apparently Lockridge makes the team and it is Joe who is being optioned. Both had good ST ... Lockridge will give more defense in all three OF slots and PR plus.

Guessing we will see Joe back at some point. Have my doubts Gurriel will hit and as much as I like Lockridge for the bench ... don't see him as an RHH platoon for Heyward in LF over the long run. We will see.

I guess that then puts both Rosario and Wade on DFA waivers ... see if they pass through and get assigned to EP.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 24, 2025, 1:03 pm

Lockridge has been really good against lefties in the minors and had a solid spring. If they think that will carry over to the big leagues it makes sense to carry him. If the bats are close his speed and defense are probably more valuable on the days when he's not in the lineup than what Joe brings. I do feel bad for Joe though. He couldn't have done much more to earn a spot this spring. I suspect he'll be up before too long. I don't have a lot of faith that Gurriel, Heyward and Sheets are all going to be productive. They should all be on short leashes which could open the door for Joe and Ornelas. The same goes for Rosario and Gonzalez if they stick around.

I'm wondering if Maldonado making the team is more about Campusano needing more time to get his legs back than anything. I read that he was hit really hard by the bug that seemed to be sweeping through all of the clubhouses in Arizona. They've talked up Maldonado for his work with pitchers. He brings nothing offensively though. If Campusano starts out hot in AAA I expect we'll see him back pretty quickly.

I'm also wondering if AJ might have another last minute move up his sleeve. I'm not expecting anything major, but maybe he can flip Rosario for a catcher that isn't going to make a roster or something.

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 24, 2025, 2:23 pm

Tough ST for players who had very good showings…Lockridge I like but would have preferred Conner Joe over Gurriel…the guys with options will be back because Gurriel smacks of Nelson Cruz. Rosario and Wade would be great depth if they can clear waivers and accept a AAA spot…Campusano needs to hit because he’s not a good catcher and to be honest I would rather have Yasmani Grandal as an option at catcher instead of Maldonado…good defensive catcher but couldn’t hit water if he fell off the OB pier.

Heyward is done and this team can’t have a OF that is hitting.180 although we had that with Grisham and Paul (fricking) McNulty some years ago

Gonzalez won’t clear waivers and that’s too bad because he can play

Quote from WindsorUK on March 24, 2025, 3:43 pm

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 24, 2025, 2:23 pm

Tough ST for players who had very good showings…Lockridge I like but would have preferred Conner Joe over Gurriel…the guys with options will be back because Gurriel smacks of Nelson Cruz. Rosario and Wade would be great depth if they can clear waivers and accept a AAA spot…Campusano needs to hit because he’s not a good catcher and to be honest I would rather have Yasmani Grandal as an option at catcher instead of Maldonado…good defensive catcher but couldn’t hit water if he fell off the OB pier.

Heyward is done and this team can’t have a OF that is hitting.180 although we had that with Grisham and Paul (fricking) McNulty some years ago

Gonzalez won’t clear waivers and that’s too bad because he can play

Was going to post the same thing about Guriel!

I'm thinking both Guriel and Hayward struggle out of the box, not to mention Maldonado, and we'll see Joe, Gonzales, and Campusano by May

Quote from WindsorUK on March 24, 2025, 3:58 pm

So will Lockridge and Heyward platoon in LF, with Sheets and Guriel platooning at DH?

Does Iglesias get 1 start a week at SS or 2B?

How about C rotation?

Any guesses?

Quote from fenn68 on March 24, 2025, 5:59 pm

Think Sheets will stick as the LHH DH ... he has been OK vs RHP but really struggles vs LHP ... but still young with power but not thinking he will improve vs LHP.

Gurriel think is the most likely to flame out plus only a DH/1B at this point and Arraez is pretty locked in at 1B. Once he does ... the spot for RHH Joe is there ... a vet who has proven he can hit in the ML at LF or 1B. He is in the best position to be a call up as a RHH in LF/1B/DH.

Iglesias might get more than a RHH sub for Cronenworth and spot starts at SS/3B/1B ... if Gurriel struggles (expect he will) we may see Iglesias be the RHH platoon with Sheets at DH.

Diaz should get 4 out of 5 games started with Maldonado sneaking is as needed to start the season. One catcher always gets injured so expect Campy up at some point for that ... but if the Padres are winning and getting offense out of the other eight in the line-up they just might stick with the defense and Maldonado. Campy needs to put on a very good season offensively and defensively in EP to earn a return (even in 2026 when he is out of options).

I like Lockridge up if nothing more than for his OF defense and base running as a PR. I have to see him hit LHP at the ML level before I am convinced the can platoon with Heyward in LF (still only about 25% of the games). Another opportunity for Joe's return. Gonzales is an outside shot (but non-roster) and even after a nice ST he really has not hit ML pitching well since 2022 ... so will have to show a lot in EP (unless he opts out).

Don't see a raw rookie such as Ornelas an early call-up on on veteran team baring some really OF issues. So a lot does rest on Heyward in LF to show at least he can hit RHP which has not been all that bad recently ... it is LHP (see Sheets) that is a major issue. Rosario has really shown little in the ML (and expect him to be claimed on waivers) and Wade is a LHH who has proven he cannot hit ML pitching.

If Heyward tanks, might see Joe in the line-up vs both LHP and RHP ... not great but serviceable for a bottom of the line-up hitter ... maybe mixed with Lockridge.

Padres don't have a lot of money invested in these guys ... so if they have to eat the rest of the deal not too burdensome.

Also, do think Preller is looking at the end of ST released / waivers for at least a player that may be signed to a minor league deal with the idea of a future call up that is maybe better than the current roster options. I previous post said most concerned on the LHH's weaknesses vs LHP ... still am with especially Heyward / Sheets and although the platoon options are better, still could even be much better ... the RHH see fine with both RHH and LHH so even if Heyward or Sheets are out would be fine with a RHH inserted instead. An in for Joe at some point and maybe Gonzales but after that outside the organization.