Quote from Randy Manese on March 28, 2023, 2:01 pm

Looking at the opening day rosters of the AA to Low A squads, I can see a lot of movement/fluidity in the assignments.  It will mainly be between the ACL and LE and then El Paso and San Antonio, the latter based primarily on what the Padres major league team needs and injury situation.  In particular, I can see some of the "older" players on LE getting an opportunity to play themselves off the roster since there are several good prospects still listed on the ACL roster.  For this reason, guys like Salas, Beltre and Montesino may be up sooner than later replacing Duarte, Murphy and Robertson.  If Doersching shows well, he could be moved up and Montesino will replace him.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 28, 2023, 2:26 pm

While most of these rosters just carry over heights and weights from previous years even though they may be way off, interesting to note that San Antonio roster adjusted several players heights down 2-3 inches!  Juan Fernandez, Connor Hollis and Ripken Reyes all now listed at 5 feet 7 inches!

Quote from fenn68 on March 28, 2023, 2:31 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on March 28, 2023, 2:26 pm

While most of these rosters just carry over heights and weights from previous years even though they may be way off, interesting to note that San Antonio roster adjusted several players heights down 2-3 inches!  Juan Fernandez, Connor Hollis and Ripken Reyes all now listed at 5 feet 7 inches!

Padres want to keep them under the radar!

Quote from fenn68 on March 28, 2023, 3:29 pm

Remember Justin Lopez an elite defensive SS who could not hit … Padres converted him to a RP last year … and surprise he has landed on the AA SA roster!

That is a BIG leap given the limited experience. Maybe we should keep an eye on him if the Padres moved him there he must have some quality stuff (most likely a big FB).

Quote from Randy Manese on March 30, 2023, 9:16 am

With Tatis Jr. able to play 15 games in the minors before joining the team, looks like I'll get to El Paso to watch a couple of games after he ends his stay in the Chihuahua line-up.  He was scheduled to rehab there in 2022 before he was suspended so it will be great for the very good fan base in El Paso to see him for the first time.   Hope to see that final El Paso roster later today since they start the season tomorrow!

Quote from Randy Manese on March 30, 2023, 9:26 am

The reduction from 180 players to 165 players on the domestic reserve list won't affect the Padres minor league system much, since there are already limits on AAA (28) and AA through single A (30); it was the Complex Leagues that could have an "unlimited" number of players.  So if my math is correct, with 118 players in A - AAA, the complex league Padres squad will be limited to 47 active players.  Not sure how injured players are worked into that number but it could affect how many players are available in the Rookie League.

Think the 6 year vice 7 year free agency opportunity for players signing over 19 will impact players more in the system than the player limit.  Also glad to see wages and living conditions getting better for those players, the majority of whom are not multi-million dollar signees.

Quote from fenn68 on March 30, 2023, 9:54 am

Quote from Randy Manese on March 30, 2023, 9:26 am

The reduction from 180 players to 165 players on the domestic reserve list won't affect the Padres minor league system much, since there are already limits on AAA (28) and AA through single A (30); it was the Complex Leagues that could have an "unlimited" number of players.  So if my math is correct, with 118 players in A - AAA, the complex league Padres squad will be limited to 47 active players.  Not sure how injured players are worked into that number but it could affect how many players are available in the Rookie League.

Think the 6 year vice 7 year free agency opportunity for players signing over 19 will impact players more in the system than the player limit.  Also glad to see wages and living conditions getting better for those players, the majority of whom are not multi-million dollar signees.

A long over due change to pay / living conditions of minor league players.

Dropping to 165 in the system will not be that much of an issue ... just forces organizations to make the release decisions sooner and frankly will allow for more focused development of the extended ST / ACL players which may be a good thing. No idea how the injured players will be handled but would expect if a player has a season level injury (eg TJ) he becomes a non-roster and is not counted.

Dropping to 6 years (from 7) for signees 19+ is fair to the players allowing them to potentially move to a new organization with a better opportunity a year sooner (and younger). In reality not a major issue for organizations since a quality prospect should be in the ML (or on the 40 man) well before the 6 years elapses. That is the signing year and 5 minor league seasons. Might see more minor league FA signings. though to fill AAA/AA rosters.

Quote from fenn68 on March 31, 2023, 1:38 pm

El Paso just set their opening day roster and a number of players no longer on from the earlier roster ... no idea if injured, getting reassigned to a different club, working on something in extended ST, sitting on some taxi squad, or, of course, released.

Gone are: Belen; Brooks; Camarena; Fox; Font; Guerrero; Hamels; Lesher; Perez; Cantu; Dale; Witte

Added: Rodriguez (C); Tucker (OF).

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I guess we will find out eventually but have about 33 players (thought to be in full season ball) now in the twilight zone ... not counting the leftovers in the ACL who may (or may not) still be around.

Quote from fenn68 on March 31, 2023, 1:47 pm

Side note: I guess for contract reasons ... Stammen is on the active roster although we all doubt he will pitch again and probably an IL move is pending.