Quote from MrPadre19 on February 2, 2022, 4:07 am

So best case scenario is both Campusano and Nola both hit right out of the gate and we trade Nola at the deadline and bring up Campy.

 

Quote from fenn68 on February 2, 2022, 7:17 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 2, 2022, 4:07 am

So best case scenario is both Campusano and Nola both hit right out of the gate and we trade Nola at the deadline and bring up Campy.

 

That would be the ideal if Preller is paying attention to the near term ... and if he believes in Campusano.

Becomes an interesting calculation by Preller ... right now (if healthy) Nola seems the #1 option but at 32 and his injury history (as a catcher) can't rationally see him as a long term solution. Alfaro and Caratini are younger in the late 20s but have not been able to establish themselves as ML #1 catchers plus only have 2 years control. Can the Padres live with Alfaro / Caratini catching duo because there is a good chance that will evolve with a Nola injury.

No other near term Padres prospects viewed as a #1 catching prospect ... maybe Valenzuela but he only was in low A and is not high on any prospects. Given the shortage of catchers ... going out to trade for one (if one is available) will be difficult and expensive.

Sort of making a case for holding on Campusano. That sets-up a larger gamble .... start the season with Caratini / Alfaro splitting the Catcher ... Campusano in AAA ... and use Nola as a trade chip. Nola may appeal to teams given his experience .. league minimum pay, good for a contender with no real decent catching options now (or in the future). Campusano could arrive mid-season and mature into the #1 with 6 control years.

Really boils down to how Preller sees Campusano's future.

Quote from fenn68 on February 2, 2022, 7:36 am

Looking at MLBPipeline's Padre Top 30 the first observation is that the highest rated are very very young ... low A and lower. Very good for 2025-26 (maybe a debut in 2024).

The support for 2022 (mid-season) looks limited to Abrams - Campusano - Gore - Rosario - Wilson ... maybe Kopps and A. Martinez. All should be factors for the start of 2023. Preller needs to consider that mix (and potential) as he orchestrates trades considering the the FA (or potentially) ... Musgrove, Clevinger, N.Martinez, Suarez, Stammen, Myers ... plus the outside chance Hosmer. Plus consider Darvish, Snell, Lamet, Pomeranz, Garcia are FA after 2023.

Basically need to retain prospects to create a portion of the payroll at "league minimum" to offset the increases coming for Tatis - Cronenworth - Grisham plus having to rebuild the starting staff (and a lot of payroll will have to be targeted there given the lack of prospects on pace for 2023-24 impact.

Quote from Randy Manese on February 11, 2022, 8:45 am

Can't wait to see how last year's "rookies" do in their second season.  The DSL hitting prospect trio of Acosta, Zavala and Montesino showed a lot more than we've seen in a long time, all showing great patience and eye at the plate and the first two some speed on the base paths; there were also a couple of sleepers, like Beltre, who could also make an impact.  From the draft, Wood, Merrill and Gasser all could make significant leaps forward at Lake Elsinore and above (more Gasser than the hitters).  Likewise, the development of Angeles and Valenzuela will be fun to track as well as the bounce back from injuries by Abrams and Campusano.

Also, very anxious to see how Susana fares in the DSL or Arizona Complex and whether Lange, Lizarraga and Medina progress as expected.  Throw in some promising international signees like Rojas and Verdugo and it will be interesting to see how accurate the scouting was on these very young players in that lower level context.

My sleeper pitcher is probably Waldron with that developing knuckleball.  As for a position player, I've already said that I expect Merrill will be one of the more fascinating players to watch as his baseball skills catches up to his growth spurt and I'll be heading up the 5 to Lake Elsinore to watch him and Wood do their thing. I just hope Preller doesn't trade some of these younger prospects because I believe we have some very good ones in the pipeline - the next wave.  It was tough to see guys like Caissie and Preciado get traded before even playing one game in the system but if it means competing for a playoff spot, then so be it.

Quote from fenn68 on February 11, 2022, 10:49 am

Always love the new "toys" to see which ones develop.

Kopps will be near term interest ... dominant in college and intro to professional ball but will his stuff play at the upper levels? Slipped to the 3rd round and a bit "older" is negative but as a RP with a plus pitch and command ... still could work.

Two other 2021 draftees ... somewhat unknowns ... would be RP Hawkins (9th) and Robinson (13th) ... both showed some promise in AZ.

Can only hope Lange and Haynes are healthy and can begin to really show the stuff that got them drafted with some high ceilings.

Two other offensive players of interest are 5th round pick INF/OF Ferguson who did not impress in 2021 but scouts seem to really see some potential. Then the trade add of A ball OF Rosier ... had an impressive professional debut in 2021.

Being optimistic (and hoping the Padres stop the prospect trades) ... looking like a new wave of potentially top talent arriving starting with the Hassell-Valenzuela-Angeles-Mears line (2024) and continuing for the years following.

Quote from fenn68 on February 24, 2022, 2:48 pm

Heard a report that some teams have started their ST camps for minor leaguers … unclear where the Padres stand but should open soon.

Hopefully some of the local media actually go and start some “fresh” reporting on the prospects … will be good to get new content while waiting for the rostered players to arrive. Less whining about the negotiations and making up player movement scenarios.

Abrams, Hassell, Valenzuela, Woods, Merrill, Mears, Angeles … others should be worth reports. Plus the new Manager and. Coaches (even if they cannot discuss the locked out players).

Quote from Randy Manese on February 24, 2022, 5:44 pm

Plan to go up the 15 to see our low A team a couple times in April and already have tickets to two games in Ft. Wayne on May 26 and 27th.   Won't have time to go to Texas this year but with renewal of my MiLB plan, hope to see many Padres' minor league games live on TV this year.  Just hope they all develop as we hope!  Should be an exciting Padres season at all levels with the majority of the most interesting long-range prospects at Hi and Low A.  I think we can count on Abrams and Campusano to be what we have already seen they can be.

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 25, 2022, 1:02 pm

Quote from fenn68 on February 24, 2022, 2:48 pm

Heard a report that some teams have started their ST camps for minor leaguers … unclear where the Padres stand but should open soon.

Hopefully some of the local media actually go and start some “fresh” reporting on the prospects … will be good to get new content while waiting for the rostered players to arrive. Less whining about the negotiations and making up player movement scenarios.

Abrams, Hassell, Valenzuela, Woods, Merrill, Mears, Angeles … others should be worth reports. Plus the new Manager and. Coaches (even if they cannot discuss the locked out players).

Don’t forget the one who most eyes will be on……MacKenzie Gore.

I mean….is he a superstar or a bust is on my mind.

I hate that the last two seasons have put this on the kids shoulders….I mean,he went from the #1 pitching prospect in baseball to darn near an afterthought.

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on February 25, 2022, 1:20 pm

Left off Gore because he is on the 40 man and therefore not in camp until the CBA is approved.

Agree Gore will be a must watch … Padres really need him to develop to ML quality (elite would be great but just very good is needed for 2023).

Not as high profile but in the same delay situation is Eguy Rosario who is on the 40 man … a legit prospect that could be needed as an INF call-up mid-season IF he shows well in ST and early in AAA.

Getting very restless knowing something is near.