Forum
Forum Navigation
Minor League Discussion
#1901 · May 20, 2022, 2:00 pm
If the Padres had resources like the Dodgers or the Yankees, then a Soto addition to the roster would be more than a pipe dream. However, the Nationals and more recently SF, have shown that elite or next to elite front-line pitching is more likely to get you further in the playoffs than having a bash brothers line-up. If you were to have Machado, Tatis and Soto take up 100 million or more of the entire budget, then what kind of pitching staff could you buy. As of this moment, we have a great starting staff but we won't in 2023 or 2024 unless we are willing to put out some major bucks. While I somewhat agree that RPs are fickle and a bullpen can be rebuilt quickly, it sure would be nice to have a closer you can count on. I'm guessing that we are more likely to trade one or more of our top prospects for a SP (like Luis Castillo or one of the very good Miami pitchers) than we are to package them for Soto. The economics of that kind of trade and the resulting impact on the whole minor league system would border on the catastrophic, particularly if one or more of the superstars goes down.
So my take is to retain and/or bring in more experienced pitching to take the place of or enhance our current staff. There are several interesting prospects in Hi and Lo A, but they won't be ready to compete for awhile. In the meantime, use the SF/LAD model to bring in under appreciated/not yet developed mature hitters - like Yaz, Muncey, etc. to round out a roster that eventually could see a Wood-E Ruiz-Hassell outfield, a Machado-Tatis-Abrams-Cronenworth/Merrill infield with Campy behind the plate. Lots of disruptive speed and enough power to be dangerous. I think that is what General Managers hope for but it may never happen unless those players develop. Even if only some of them develop, it is the pitching that should remain the core to victories and playoffs. That's my take on why Soto would not work for us. If you have money, there will always be free agents willing to take it.
#1902 · May 20, 2022, 3:35 pm
We probably should add a major reason Abrams is still at SS is there really is no imminent return for Tatis and there are still questions how quickly he will have the strength/flexibility in his wrist. Until his full return the Padres only have Kim / Cronenworth (I write-off Alcantara as filler). Kim or Cronenworth gets injured today and goes IL ... think Abrams may be the best SS/2B option. Yes, can jury-rig Profar / Nola and others but not fits for a contender and those moves just weaken other spots.
I have to wonder the impact of the stock market decline has on all the owners ... lost 20-30% this year. Peter Seidler's money comes from a private equity firm so has to feel the impact personally and likely has a lot of partners / investors that will not be eager at this moment to put money into the club. May become a league issue.
Along with that, IF the projected recession develops coupled with the current high inflation rates on food / gas ... the essentials ... will that for the "average fan" mean a cut back in discretionary spending ... e.g. baseball attendance and concessions / souvenirs, in turn, cutting cash flow to the clubs.
So owners (maybe a lot of owners) may pull back the spending on payroll to control the cash flow. (good news for the rookies and pre-arbitration players .... bad news for older fringe FA)
#1903 · May 20, 2022, 8:52 pm
Max Ferguson is hitting .200
He also has “30” stolen bases.
Also a .400 OBP.
I can only imagine what these numbers would be if he was hitting .300.
#1904 · May 21, 2022, 12:25 pm
I like Acosta CF out of USC a lot. I think he can crack the top 30 at some point...
As far as 2023 SP I think we will be just as good as 2022...maybe not as deep but.....
We have $80 mil or more dropping
We have 3 FA SP in Musgrove/Manea and Clevinger... I am guessing 1 of not 2 of them cone back .. with 60% Musgrove 25% Manea and 15% Clevinger being my guess
1 Musgrove (assuming he is the one)
2 Yu
3 Snell
4 Gore
5 Martinez (don't think he gets the 20 starts to opt out )
--- Depth Kerr/Morejon/Baez/Wethers
So that's not too much of a drop from 22..in fact wirh the emergence of Gore and a healthy Snell you can argue 1-4 > 22.... Depth wouldn't be the same
On offense Tatis Jr from opening day on would be >... the rest should be petty similar in the IF... with the possibility of OF/DH undergoing a whole remodel to as little as just a new RF...
Even after a Musgrove extension... Pads should have $60+ mil to address more P ..resign Rogers ?? And/or add a bat or 2
Internal options
Diaz OF
Hassell OF
Batten Utility
Abrams SS/2B/OF
Campy C
Should all be in it to win (a position or a spot on the 26 roster) it!
#1905 · May 21, 2022, 1:32 pm
The way I understand Martinez’s deal … it is a player option to ‘opt in” at $6.5MM. What the 20 starts refers to is increasing the opt in amount to $7.5MM. Basically the “opt in” puts the decision first in Martinez’s hands.
Consensus is that IF Martinez continues to pitch well but is used in long relief … he will NOT opt in and go FA. At his age, this would be his shot for a bigger guaranteed longer term deal and be a starter.
Of course the Padres could renegotiate his deal for a bit more money guaranteed … probably at a lower cost than any of Musgrove - Manaea - Clevinger.
#1906 · May 21, 2022, 6:47 pm
I’m thinking if all Starters stay healthy we sign Musgrove(for all the obvious reasons),and Clevinger(cost won’t be huge and he “owes” us) while trading Manaea at the deadline for OF prospect/s.
Yes we could keep Manaea but if we won’t be re-signing him it sure would be nice if an AL contender(Yanks,Angels) would be desperate and we could get a good prospect,or two, back for him.
Either to keep as we will still need OF help in 23’ or who we could flip in a deal for someone else (Reynolds?).
#1907 · May 24, 2022, 9:33 am
Given the ML club’s issue in the OF expected for 2023 and the red hot start for Ruiz in CF for SA … at what point would (should) the Padres promote Ruiz to EP and inch him closer to ML readiness? Is EP a better test / development place for Ruiz?
Really understanding Ruiz’s 2023 potential before the winter will impact other potential moves and where to deploy payroll.
#1908 · May 24, 2022, 9:38 am
Quote from fenn68 on May 24, 2022, 9:33 amGiven the ML club’s issue in the OF expected for 2023 and the red hot start for Ruiz in CF for SA … at what point would (should) the Padres promote Ruiz to EP and inch him closer to ML readiness? Is EP a better test / development place for Ruiz?
Really understanding Ruiz’s 2023 potential before the winter will impact other potential moves and where to deploy payroll.
This might apply to both Ruiz and Abrams, EP being a launching pad might be bad for both of them. It might take away from the hitters they need to be, line to line gap guys, that may pop 10-15 in the MLs.
Also, where are more teams keeping their better pitching prospects, AA? If so, SA might be the better spot for the next couple of months.
#1909 · May 24, 2022, 9:46 am
Anyone have any info on Taylor Womack?
I see him on Twitter taking BP but I also remember seeing we released him a few weeks ago?
He came back from injury and then was unceremoniously shown the door.
#1910 · May 24, 2022, 10:17 am
Quote from MrPadre19 on May 24, 2022, 9:46 amAnyone have any info on Taylor Womack?
I see him on Twitter taking BP but I also remember seeing we released him a few weeks ago?
He came back from injury and then was unceremoniously shown the door.
Taylor Lomack.
No idea why he was released even before the ACL got going. Good numbers in 2019.