Quote from MrPadre19 on July 10, 2025, 11:13 am

I'm surprised we still haven't made that move yet.

Trying to get to the deadline I guess.....but if we lose 4-5 in a row I'd wager AJ would make this move...among others.

I don't see the point of waiting when it comes to 2-3 guys on the 26 man

2-3 weeks of "anyone different" could actually mean an extra win or two considering how close our games usually are and how often the bottom of the order has come up in crucial situations only to do nothing positive

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 10, 2025, 2:54 pm

Believe it is Bowden reporting that the Padres (and I think TB) have been in contact with ATL on Sean Murphy ... would be a major upgrade at C for 2025 and then 2026-28 (plus option for 2029). He is only 30. That would be the blockbuster we are waiting for. Consider this year:

Murphy ... 209 PA ... wRC+ 116 ... dWAR +6.7 ... WAR 1.8

Diaz ... 198 PA ... wRC+ 68 ... dWAR +2.2 ... WAR -0.2

Maldonado ... 135 PA ... wRC+ 48 ... dWAR -2.8 ... WAR -0.9

Not a fluke from Murphy as his 3 year wRC+ is 112 (909 PA) and his dWAR is near the top of catchers. Essentially a 2-3 WAR player and that makes his $15MM salary a good value. With control for 3 more years ... no catcher for the next few years coming in the system ... Salas (IF he develops and IF his back injury is not a long term problem) might be here in 2028 so fits with Murphy's contract.

Makes abundant sense for the Padres now and the future ... but at what cost in prospects? I think they can work the 2026 and beyond payroll to accommodate the annual $15MM.

Guessing Preller would avoid dealing DeVries ... but would be open on everyone else (including Salas). Preller will use top prospects to get long term control of a quality proven ML asset ... and that fits Murphy. So, stay tuned.

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on July 10, 2025, 4:19 pm

I don't really like Murphy as a target. The defense is still really good. The offense looks a lot more questionable. He really struggled last year. He's been better this year, but I still see some cause for concern. He's still really struggling with lefties. He's only hitting .183 off of them. Most of his improvement is in the slugging department. I don't know if he can sustain it. I wouldn't want to give up good prospects for him and pay him 15m a year.

Quote from ultratvfan on July 10, 2025, 4:28 pm

The Rockies will most likely be sellers. AJP should try and trade for C Hunter Goodman. He has put up some pretty good numbers this season.

Quote from fenn68 on July 10, 2025, 4:54 pm

Quote from ultratvfan on July 10, 2025, 4:28 pm

The Rockies will most likely be sellers. AJP should try and trade for C Hunter Goodman. He has put up some pretty good numbers this season.

Why would COLO trade him? ... he is good and cheap (pre-arb) with four years control ... and an All-Star.

Quote from fenn68 on July 10, 2025, 5:23 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on July 10, 2025, 4:19 pm

I don't really like Murphy as a target. The defense is still really good. The offense looks a lot more questionable. He really struggled last year. He's been better this year, but I still see some cause for concern. He's still really struggling with lefties. He's only hitting .183 off of them. Most of his improvement is in the slugging department. I don't know if he can sustain it. I wouldn't want to give up good prospects for him and pay him 15m a year.

A question of alternatives ... if they want to make the 2025 playoffs the combined efforts of Diaz / Maldonado are hurting were as even a bad Murphy is an upgrade. In 2026 with both Diaz (Padres decline a $7MM option) and Maldonado gone, the C is ???????? Scrap heap choices ... any quality on the trade market will still cost ... think the best the Padres can hope for is Murphy.

He still grades out as a plus defensive catcher (that fits what the Padres want) first of all and still is "average" on offense. Don't love the $15MM or the 3 control years BUT has been a 2-3 WAR type and that is the market.

In 2025 (for catchers with >200 PA ... 29 of them) he is 9th in dWAR and 8th in wRC+. Looking at the 3 year span he is 8th in dWAR and 11th in wRC+. At age 30 should not expect a rapid decline. So basically in the top 1/3 of catchers in the league.

Basically can't see a better alternative ... one that is clearly available since good catchers are a scarce commodity and if available not cheap.

For me the issue is what the Padres would have to give up in terms of assets ... and not sure how desperate the Braves are to shed that contract after Baldwin has stepped into the starting role (good, long control, and cheap) and the future. If they want to save the money ... that should lower the asking price in terms of prospects ... but expect at least one (maybe two) of high quality but maybe not "elite".

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 10, 2025, 7:39 pm

See MLBTradeRumors listed teams that "should" be bidders for Duran from Boston (Padres were previously linked as "interested". Don't disagree ... he may be a LHH (not the prime objective) but he is very good ... and relatively cheap with 3 years more control.

Now Boston has an abundance of OF / offense ... is in contention for a Wild Card / Division after a hot streak ... so IF the choose to move Duran part of the deal likely would require ML help in the form of pitching since they have 5 SP / 5 RP on the IL plus some key arms FA after the season.

Would the Padres consider including a package one of Vasquez, Bergert, Kolek and a one of the RP ... that would fit both the immediate need of BOST and the future? Duran would fill that LF slot for 3 years with a high quality player at something in the $10MM range in ARB. Pitching (if anything) is the Padres strong suit to deal from (yes, you never have enough pitching but can't win without offense).

---

ATL might be more inclined for prospects but they do want to contend in 2026 ... and a couple of key RP go FA and Sale's option may or may not be exercised. So, if we are considering Murphy and want to minimize the prospect loss ... a ML near SP and ML (or ML ready) RP might make the deal work. P.S. I would insist they took Campusano as part of the deal.

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 11, 2025, 3:54 am

69 games to play for the Padres and with all the angst over catcher and LF plus the issue with injuries to King, Darvish, et al ... then the major slumps at extend runs by about everyone of the core 6 ... Padres are still in striking distance of the playoffs / Division champ.

In the loss column ... tied with SF for the #3 Wild Card slot ... 3 losses behind MILW for the #1 Wild Card .... 5 losses behind LAD for Division.

Considering that many were thinking BOST was out of the Wild Card and TOR was struggling to make a Wild Card ... they both are on 9-1 runs and TOR is now leading their division and BOST is in a Wild Card slot. Ahead of the Padres both the LAD and NYM have shown venerability with recent poor performance.

IF Preller can address LF/C and King comes back effectively ... the Padres will have a better than 50/50 chance of the Playoffs. 69 games is a lot given the closeness of the standings.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on July 11, 2025, 7:51 am

Quote from fenn68 on July 10, 2025, 5:23 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on July 10, 2025, 4:19 pm

I don't really like Murphy as a target. The defense is still really good. The offense looks a lot more questionable. He really struggled last year. He's been better this year, but I still see some cause for concern. He's still really struggling with lefties. He's only hitting .183 off of them. Most of his improvement is in the slugging department. I don't know if he can sustain it. I wouldn't want to give up good prospects for him and pay him 15m a year.

A question of alternatives ... if they want to make the 2025 playoffs the combined efforts of Diaz / Maldonado are hurting were as even a bad Murphy is an upgrade. In 2026 with both Diaz (Padres decline a $7MM option) and Maldonado gone, the C is ???????? Scrap heap choices ... any quality on the trade market will still cost ... think the best the Padres can hope for is Murphy.

He still grades out as a plus defensive catcher (that fits what the Padres want) first of all and still is "average" on offense. Don't love the $15MM or the 3 control years BUT has been a 2-3 WAR type and that is the market.

In 2025 (for catchers with >200 PA ... 29 of them) he is 9th in dWAR and 8th in wRC+. Looking at the 3 year span he is 8th in dWAR and 11th in wRC+. At age 30 should not expect a rapid decline. So basically in the top 1/3 of catchers in the league.

Basically can't see a better alternative ... one that is clearly available since good catchers are a scarce commodity and if available not cheap.

For me the issue is what the Padres would have to give up in terms of assets ... and not sure how desperate the Braves are to shed that contract after Baldwin has stepped into the starting role (good, long control, and cheap) and the future. If they want to save the money ... that should lower the asking price in terms of prospects ... but expect at least one (maybe two) of high quality but maybe not "elite".

 

I would rather not make a move than make a bad one out of desperation. Look at a 2 year span and that WRC+ number drops to 25th. He's barely hitting over .200 in that span. His BA and OBP are lower than Diaz's in that time frame. That 2023 season is doing the heavy lifting in your assessment. If he were still performing at that level we wouldn't be having this conversation. Looking at what he's done more recently how much are you willing to give up for better defense and a little power? I think it'll still take a strong package to acquire him and I have serious doubts it'll be worth it.