Quote from WindsorUK on June 15, 2026, 12:41 am

I'm all for giving Brito a shot. Neither Giolito nor Canning have done enough, in my opinion, to warrant, a locked in rotation spot, especially on a team desperately searching for quality starts given its poor offensive showing.

I assume Giolito will eventually find his command but in the meantime, bring on Brito!

Quote from fenn68 on June 15, 2026, 1:43 am

I would be surprised if we see Brito at this point.

As it is, assuming King, Vasquez, and Buehler are in, Canning and Giolito are on the bubble while Marquez and Waldron are pitching rehab games ... none have minor league options resulting (baring new injuries) two getting DFA near term. That leaves on Brito as the call-up as needed. If they called up Brito now (and no real idea if he will be better in a ML environment) they would have to DFA three of the veterans. That could set up a real problem with nothing for a later call-up if an injury.

I would not be surprised if they chose to maybe put one of the starters into long RP and move Marinaccio (also out of options). Actually they in all likelihood get a minor league prospect for him. Marinaccio seems to be a guy that can be effective but not consistently and relegated to an early set-up roles so somewhat expendable.

Has to be hard for Niebla and the rest of the staff ... seeing all four on the bubble pitching poorly this season ... making the call on who will perform better for the rest of the season knowing the others will be gone ... critical based on ?????

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 15, 2026, 7:10 am

Quote from fenn68 on June 15, 2026, 1:43 am

I would be surprised if we see Brito at this point.

As it is, assuming King, Vasquez, and Buehler are in, Canning and Giolito are on the bubble while Marquez and Waldron are pitching rehab games ... none have minor league options resulting (baring new injuries) two getting DFA near term. That leaves on Brito as the call-up as needed. If they called up Brito now (and no real idea if he will be better in a ML environment) they would have to DFA three of the veterans. That could set up a real problem with nothing for a later call-up if an injury.

I would not be surprised if they chose to maybe put one of the starters into long RP and move Marinaccio (also out of options). Actually they in all likelihood get a minor league prospect for him. Marinaccio seems to be a guy that can be effective but not consistently and relegated to an early set-up roles so somewhat expendable.

Has to be hard for Niebla and the rest of the staff ... seeing all four on the bubble pitching poorly this season ... making the call on who will perform better for the rest of the season knowing the others will be gone ... critical based on ?????

Looks like they're just going with an opener. I think the concern over having to possibly having to DFA guys is always overblown though. As we've seen with Marquez and Waldron if they want to make a move without losing anyone they can usually figure something out. The phantom injury is still a very real thing.

Quote from fenn68 on June 15, 2026, 8:54 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 15, 2026, 7:10 am

Quote from fenn68 on June 15, 2026, 1:43 am

I would be surprised if we see Brito at this point.

As it is, assuming King, Vasquez, and Buehler are in, Canning and Giolito are on the bubble while Marquez and Waldron are pitching rehab games ... none have minor league options resulting (baring new injuries) two getting DFA near term. That leaves on Brito as the call-up as needed. If they called up Brito now (and no real idea if he will be better in a ML environment) they would have to DFA three of the veterans. That could set up a real problem with nothing for a later call-up if an injury.

I would not be surprised if they chose to maybe put one of the starters into long RP and move Marinaccio (also out of options). Actually they in all likelihood get a minor league prospect for him. Marinaccio seems to be a guy that can be effective but not consistently and relegated to an early set-up roles so somewhat expendable.

Has to be hard for Niebla and the rest of the staff ... seeing all four on the bubble pitching poorly this season ... making the call on who will perform better for the rest of the season knowing the others will be gone ... critical based on ?????

Looks like they're just going with an opener. I think the concern over having to possibly having to DFA guys is always overblown though. As we've seen with Marquez and Waldron if they want to make a move without losing anyone they can usually figure something out. The phantom injury is still a very real thing.

That sort of begs an interesting question as to the team and player choices in such a situations.

Buehler, Canning, Marquez, and Giolito are all in the same boat ... they will be FA after the season and even if the Padres release them they will get paid for 2026.

So, guessing the Padres might like to somehow keep them under control for 2026 ... maybe IL. Same cost and provides insurance.

However, how does that benefit the player (if not really injured)? Would think the agent/player would prefer to try to land with any team that would allow them to pitch in the ML and trying to rebuild some resume for his FA after this season. I expect that if the player is not injured (and does not want to fake it) the Padres will respect the player and just release him.

Of course, seeing how Giolito and Canning are pitching, would not bend over backward to keep them.

Quote from fenn68 on June 15, 2026, 9:16 am

Interesting point of Pivetta's contract. He has a PLAYER option at a low $14MM (down for current $20MM) ... a healthy Pivetta would clearly opt out. However, tucked in the contract is a clause that says if he is on the IL with an elbow injury for greater than 130 days (?) or has elbow surgery that option converts to a TEAM option.

So, there is every incentive for Pivetta to not get surgery and get back soon so he retains the right to opt out (and establish a track record of health for FA). It is projected to be a weak FA class ... so if just decent should do better than $14MM

I would think the Padres want him back for 2026 (and effective) given the current SP woes. However, if he does not make it back (worst case surgery) would the Padres take the CLUB option for $14MM on a pitcher who may miss part of 2027 or just become the next Musgrove and not be able to return effectively. How much a gamble would they take for $14MM?

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Also, keep in mind that King also has a PLAYER option (at $28MM for 2027 then another for $30MM for 2028). That is a lot BUT if there is little on the FA market for SP ... and given his age ... would he gamble on a "similar" pay day but a longer guaranteed contact ... he now controls 2 years / $58MM but could he be better off landing a guaranteed deal of four years +/- given protection agains injury / ineffectiveness? He has to be looking at Pivetta and sees the downside of injuries (and he has had them).

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Those two opt outs ... a non return from Musgrove (his last season under contract) ... FA ... and the only returning SP for 2027 may be Vasquez and if not DFA Waldron.

Maybe we should hope for a long lockout giving the non-roster minor league prospects to further develop and be more prepared for the ML? Not really.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 15, 2026, 1:22 pm

Quote from fenn68 on June 15, 2026, 8:54 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on June 15, 2026, 7:10 am

Quote from fenn68 on June 15, 2026, 1:43 am

I would be surprised if we see Brito at this point.

As it is, assuming King, Vasquez, and Buehler are in, Canning and Giolito are on the bubble while Marquez and Waldron are pitching rehab games ... none have minor league options resulting (baring new injuries) two getting DFA near term. That leaves on Brito as the call-up as needed. If they called up Brito now (and no real idea if he will be better in a ML environment) they would have to DFA three of the veterans. That could set up a real problem with nothing for a later call-up if an injury.

I would not be surprised if they chose to maybe put one of the starters into long RP and move Marinaccio (also out of options). Actually they in all likelihood get a minor league prospect for him. Marinaccio seems to be a guy that can be effective but not consistently and relegated to an early set-up roles so somewhat expendable.

Has to be hard for Niebla and the rest of the staff ... seeing all four on the bubble pitching poorly this season ... making the call on who will perform better for the rest of the season knowing the others will be gone ... critical based on ?????

Looks like they're just going with an opener. I think the concern over having to possibly having to DFA guys is always overblown though. As we've seen with Marquez and Waldron if they want to make a move without losing anyone they can usually figure something out. The phantom injury is still a very real thing.

That sort of begs an interesting question as to the team and player choices in such a situations.

Buehler, Canning, Marquez, and Giolito are all in the same boat ... they will be FA after the season and even if the Padres release them they will get paid for 2026.

So, guessing the Padres might like to somehow keep them under control for 2026 ... maybe IL. Same cost and provides insurance.

However, how does that benefit the player (if not really injured)? Would think the agent/player would prefer to try to land with any team that would allow them to pitch in the ML and trying to rebuild some resume for his FA after this season. I expect that if the player is not injured (and does not want to fake it) the Padres will respect the player and just release him.

Of course, seeing how Giolito and Canning are pitching, would not bend over backward to keep them.

Have to figure that most good teams aren't going to be lining up to give someone who has put themselves in the position to be DFAd a roster spot. I would also assume that many of them don't want to deal with the hassle of moving themselves and their families during the season. The grass isn't always greener. It actually seems like the majority of guys who get DFAd end up sticking with their original teams if there's interest in keeping them.

Quote from WindsorUK on June 16, 2026, 12:50 am

Can the Pads offer Buehler anything for next year, during this current season? Given all the holes in our 2027 rotation, if Walker continues pitching like this through, say, August, would it be worth locking him up?

Quote from fenn68 on June 16, 2026, 2:57 am

Quote from WindsorUK on June 16, 2026, 12:50 am

Can the Pads offer Buehler anything for next year, during this current season? Given all the holes in our 2027 rotation, if Walker continues pitching like this through, say, August, would it be worth locking him up?

Sure, Padres can make an offer but what would it take for Buehler to sign? This close to FA it is unusual for parties to agree on a deal preferring to see what their true price tag is as multiple teams bid (or don't bid).

In 2026 a couple of the wrinkles that may get in the way .... the new CBA and potential lockout creates some level of unknown ... the new ownership has to weigh in for any bigger / longer contract (would guess that was part of the negotiation for the pending deal.

Given his age and a poor FA crop of SP ... his agent likely will be pushing for some team to go multi-year at a decent AAV. Padres don't want to bid against themselves with an agent that wants (and justifiably believes) Buehler can get a lot as a FA. Side: Buehler (and his wife) are lifelong Kentucky residents so probably no lure of the city he plays in ... more the money followed by his compatibility of the team.

Quote from fenn68 on June 16, 2026, 4:06 am

Probably irrelevant to the Padres at this point but I believe that FA signed last winter can be traded as of June 15. If buying ... opens up an additional pool of targets. I guess that opens the door for selling ... IF anyone wants to buy the Padres recently signed FA? Maybe if they are out of it near the trading deadline Buehler or France may have some appeal. Others would have to get hot to generate any interest.