Quote from fenn68 on July 3, 2025, 12:56 pm

More focused on who the Padres can add ... given limited trade chips and payroll constraints ... that can help their playoff run in 2025. So would not trade the FA to be unless it was a big return that helps now (not likely) with the exception of Cease IF Darvish, King, and Bergert return healthy and effective. Actually Cease could yield some prospect that another team covets for a player the Padres could use in 2025 (effectively a 3 team deal).

Likely that would be a rental since they tend to cost less in terms of prospects and only picking up 1/3 of the salary. Remember they are in the 2nd penalty tier of the luxury tax so pay a 30% penalty on the salary of any add.

There are potentially some useful RHH LF rentals that could be on the market from non-contenders or teams dropping out by the deadline.

Quote from ultratvfan on July 3, 2025, 4:48 pm

I still think they could get Stowers and Snelling for Cease.

Quote from fenn68 on July 3, 2025, 5:31 pm

ESPN writers did a piece on players that should be targeted at the deadline ... for the Padres they suggest a deal with ATL for Ozuna ... decent RHH DH (leaves Sheets as the LF) ... FA after the season but will cost a bit over $5MM for the remainder of the season.

All that requires ATL to fall further out of the Wild Card ... probably would like to shed the money ... so maybe not a major player back to ATL.

Just someone else's thought.

Quote from fenn68 on July 4, 2025, 3:10 am

Happy July 4th!

Padres remain in the 3rd Wild Card slot. So expect Preller to target improving the roster for 2025 first and then if he can do so in a way that helps beyond 2025. That probably does not have him selling anyone for future prospects.

I guess at this point need to make a case for not trading Cease unless the return has 2025 value ... not losing the focus on the playoffs in 2025 as the prime objective.

Yes he becomes a FA (likely QO yielding a draft pick) so not that significant BUT does he benefit the club now more than the return or in house alternatives as a SP? (some should say you never have enough pitching at this point). Cease has been frustrating in his starts BUT:

At Home ... 8 starts ...2.76 ERA ,,, that is spectacular

Away ... 10 starts ...6.27 ERA ... on the surface just bad BUT in three of those starts he gave up 9-6-4 ER and the other seven starts 3 runs or less. 3 runs or less should yield a lot of wins if the offense could hit.

Could argue that Cease has been effective in 15 of his 18 starts (even if frustrating to watch) ... and that should be resulting in more wins than losses for the team ... if they could hit. ERA in those 15 games is 3.40, and that works for a contender.

Preller really can't risk moving Cease until he is sure Darvish, King, and Bergert are back and effective ... will not really make that call until right near the deadline. Additionally, remembering a few years back when down the stretch the Padres' SP was decimated with injury and for the playoffs had little SP to work with ... will want to keep "effective" insurance down at AAA.

So, if everyone is healthy a starting rotation of King, Pivetta, Cease, Darvish and (pick one) Vasquez or Kolek or Bergert can be dominant. The two that don't get #5 sit in AAA as legit ML quality "insurance" for injury (and move in for 2026).

So a good chance that unless he gets a "blockbuster" return for Cease, Preller will view keeping him as the better option for a winning 2025.

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 4, 2025, 6:00 am

4 names to watch as deadline pick-ups of a RHH (all are rentals and all have contacts that will only add $1.5MM or less to the Padres):

Laureano (BALT) ... 216 AB ... 279/340/520

Bader (MINN) ... 243 AB ... 247/325/391

France (MINN) ... 334 AB ... 256/317/364

Andujar (A's) ... 180 AB ... 296/328/402 (but currently on IL with oblique injury)

Considering what that LF/DH role is delivering any one would be a major upgrade plus some flexibility for France with Sheets showing he can handle LF. As rentals and not "stars" none should require any major prospects in return. To that end, would not object to adding two ... give Sheets time off vs LHP where he is less effective.

Note that BALT and A's are clearly out ... MINN should be willing to admit they are out of Wild Card soon.

Get one and Brooks optioned (or DFA). If two, the second out would be Johnson I guess.

Quote from ultratvfan on July 4, 2025, 6:53 pm

AJP has got to do something.

Quote from BoosterSD on July 4, 2025, 7:54 pm

Im thinking its going to be Mullins or O'Hearn plus Sanchez from BAL. I would prefer O'Hearn.

Quote from Ryan OShea on July 4, 2025, 9:55 pm

Why has nobody brought up Joey Bart and Andrew McCutcheon from Pittsburgh? Both hit LHP pretty well and would be basically free

Cutch has a .907 career OPS against LHP and is .812 against them this year hes also putting up good numbers in general this year with a .269/.352/.410 slash. He is owed like $2M for the rest of the year so he should be dirt cheap, and is a good vet for the clubhouse who would give everything for a shot at a playoff run.

Bart has had his problems but he’s way better than Maldo/Diaz. He has a career .740 OPS against lefties but this year he has a .904 OPS against them. In general he’s having a pretty tough year and doesn’t slug for much (.299 in 2025 with just 1 HR) but he walks a bunch and is a much better receiver then either option we have now.

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 5, 2025, 2:14 am

Bart is possible but PITT has said they are not dealing McCutcheon ... he just is too much an icon in PITT who will retire as a Pirate so they will hold for the fans / organization. That is worth more than any return in a trade it seems.