Quote from Randy Manese on April 15, 2026, 8:44 am

I think Miller has a closer's mindset and loves to put away the opposing team.  I think you'll lose some of that aggressiveness if he moves to starting pitching; besides right now he's probably the best closer in baseball so why mess with success.

On the other hand, if Morejon is now beyond the injuries he always seemed to have earlier in his career, I can see him moving the SP.  The hurdle here is that he is in his walk year and despite our need for SP, too valuable as the high leverage LH RP who can go more than 1 inning.  Transition would have to begin over the next winter so let's see if we can lure him back/away from free agency.  Got my fingers crossed that he really wants to stay in San Diego and new ownership will make him an offer he can't refuse.

Quote from fenn68 on April 15, 2026, 9:04 am

As the best closer in MLB ... Miller may have more value as that complete shut down closer than what he might produce as a SP ... we have the unknown of his ability to sustain that velocity / slider over 6 innings (or more), can his arm hold up as a SP ... thinking the risk of not achieving the lofty hope of him as a SP outweighs the upside and loss of a closer

Morejon makes some sense to be converted back to a SP ... but have to convince him to re-sign at a workable contract ... and if he gets himself back to his 2025 quality that will be a big commitment (years and dollars).

Quote from fenn68 on April 15, 2026, 9:28 am

Up front, I am not in favor of pursing Giolito. Yet, the report that the Padres are "interested" has got the speculators into full gear. No one (except Giolito) knows his demand but reports are he wants what his (his agent's) model suggest he is worth ... and apparently that is a lot more than any teams see his value.

Recognize that he turned down a $19MM player option (after he pitched 145 innings which turning a mutual option into a player option). Guessing he believes a 145 innings / sub-4 ERA as a 30 year old earns him a multi-year deal maybe in that $19MM range (or more). Teams seem to really worry about is health and the fact that 2025 was an outlier from his 2022-24. 2022-23 had him with an ERA worse than the MLB average and lost 2024 due to injury.

My guess teams may have offered in the $5-10MM range. Big ego hit to settle for that. Does he wait until some team "panics" and gets a better offer.

For me just don't see the upside in 2026 given his risks and the probability that he is not even ready to pitch for a month or so (needs ST/rehab time). Plus really don't want any commitment for 2027 ... did a quick and dirty guess on what it would take to bring back this current team ... built-in contract increase, ARB decisions, re-sign FA .. and that could require an increase in payroll of near $75MM ... let FA go and pretty near at current level (with a lot of roster holes).

Combine that with the unknowns surrounding the approach of new owners and the unknown of a new CBA rules ... can see why making any additional commitments for 2027 is problematic.

Quote from sportwarrior on April 15, 2026, 1:17 pm

On the other hand re: Giolito, it's a bit rare that someone with his ability is available off the shelf this late. He does feel like a solid potential solution to our rotation problem if Pivetta is stuck on the IL for any significant length of time. I just don't see us surviving a summer in which we have to rely on both Buehler and Marquez (and/or Sears) in our rotation.

Who else is out there? Stroman? Tyler Anderson? Giolito feels like the only one with any real shot at outperforming our meager inhouse options. To be clear, I'm not a huge fan of Giolito as an option given his track record... but also he feels like a better dice roll than anyone else.

Quote from MrPadre19 on April 15, 2026, 1:35 pm

He could turn into this years Jordan Montgomery....

Quote from fenn68 on April 15, 2026, 2:46 pm

King - Vasquez - Buehler - Marquez - Waldron .... one getting bumped by Canning ... Sears in reserve. Then the unknown of Pivetta return (no idea when that will be determined) but if he does return in a month or two another player bumped ... then the double unknown of Musgrove returning but if he returns another player gets bumped.

Need a lot more time to evaluate what they have (or will have) before making a significant financial commitment (given the budget limits) to any FA (or trade add).

Given the number of teams that would have liked to add an arm like Giolito ... and they have not ... has to be a financial issue on Giolito's side and even if he "comes down" a team such as the Cubs (or Atlanta) are in a better financial position to make a deal.

Quote from ultratvfan on April 15, 2026, 3:43 pm

Maybe the Royals, who currently have a losing record, would consider trading former Padres Lugo or Wacha, who are both pitching very well and likely cheaper than Skubal. Wacha currently has the 2nd best ERA and Lugo 8th. Skubal is currently 18th. Thoughts?

Quote from brent wolff on April 15, 2026, 3:47 pm

Depends on the cost.  I personally like Lugo much better than Wacha.  Wacha is older and more injury prone.  Would love for Lugo to return to SD.

Quote from fenn68 on April 15, 2026, 4:23 pm

Quote from ultratvfan on April 15, 2026, 3:43 pm

Maybe the Royals, who currently have a losing record, would consider trading former Padres Lugo or Wacha, who are both pitching very well and likely cheaper than Skubal. Wacha currently has the 2nd best ERA and Lugo 8th. Skubal is currently 18th. Thoughts?

KC this early in the season is not going to "panic" with a 7 - 10 record and deal either. If at some point they want to deal either think trade deadline to maximize bidders and jack up the price. They control both for 2027 and 2028. Those extra control years will allow them to hold out for the maximum.

Lugo is 36 making $20MM (then $20MM - $20MM, vesting or club option) ... Wacha is 34 making $18MM (then $14MM - $14MM, club option). Not sure the Padres want that commitment or have the trade chips (strong enough that can beat out a team with better prospects) to get either and clearly not enough to get KC to eat some of the contact. Maybe if the Padres offered either Merrill or Tatis they may do it and throw in some prospects.