Quote from fenn68 on March 6, 2025, 10:35 pm

MLB Pipeline has just released its 2025 Top 30 for the Padres. No real surprises but it does make clear the help from the minors is a long way off ... no matter the upside of these prospects.

Consider in the Top 10 only one player appeared in a game above A+ ball (Nett in only 1 game). Plus 6 of the 10 have yet to appear in a full season game.

Now do see some support (especially RP) being available in the nearer term so not totally void ... just not the blue chip until DeVries and Salas are ready.

That layout makes for some interesting strategy for Preller in 2026 when consensus has 2027 being a lockout year (maybe losing 3-4 months of the season). Usually negotiation will result is some granting of full year service time for players who play the short season. With prime assets in Salas and DeVries ... for the good of the long term ... should they avoid putting them on the roster until 2028? Just delay the addition until the cut-off in 2027 passes? Don't want to lose a real full year for an uncertain short 2027.

Should also consider, if not on the 40 man roster when the lockout occurs minor league players should be OK to play their minor league seasons ... further develop ... and once the ML season starts will be more ready to contribute vs the ML player with a shorten ST. Something to consider.

I guess in an odd way with all the top prospects being that far down in the system ... not going to be a big debate for the Padres.

Quote from fenn68 on March 24, 2025, 9:43 pm

EP opens its season on Friday ... a ton of bodies still on their roster so we should see some releases / moves to extended ST / drop to SA coming very soon.

SA opens a week later, so expect even more moves the following week.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 25, 2025, 1:26 pm

Quote from Jeremy Hill on February 27, 2025, 4:55 pm

I'm starting to get excited about Cobb Hightower. It seems like he's been drawing rave reviews since being drafted. Now he's picking up knocks off of big league pitching. I think he's going to have a big year.

Finally caught up to him on my last day in Peoria.

Goal was to get as many of our top prospects autos on a ball.

Got quite a few.

Salas,Mayfield,Bateman,Hightower,Cruz,Fountain,Sannabria.

Also,King,Wolf,Hawkins,Domingo(my sleeper pick)

Along with Machado,Suarez & Campusano

Leo gave me the slip….never saw Tears.

I think Humberto Cruz was surprised when I called him by his first name.

No one seemed to know who he was…..

Nice keepsake for my trip

 

 

 

Quote from Randy Manese on March 27, 2025, 7:23 am

Not sure if this is accurate, but Fangraphs today is listing Eguy and Wade in our minors with El Paso.  I hadn't seen where they were officially DFA'd but Wade, and possibly Eguy, could have elected to become a free agent instead of reporting to EP.  I guess we'll find out the details today.

Further, Fangraphs updated the Padres last man in the bullpen, taking out Gillaspie who would have needed a 40 man slot to open up and putting in Omar Cruz.  Likewise, we should have more info on that and the 15 day/60 day injury designations for our pitchers who won't be on the opening day roster.

 

Quote from Randy Manese on March 27, 2025, 7:36 am

With regard to the El Paso roster, I'm guessing that some of the non-40 man younger guys (even though they may be in their mid to late 20's) will elect to go down to the San Antonio team vice being released.  The SA team has few position players returning and not that many expected to come up from the ending Ft. Wayne roster.  On the other hand, SA has a lot of interesting arms who could have solid breakthrough seasons - both in SPs and RPs.

EP will probably field of the older teams in the minors with a lot of platoon players shuttling back and forth to San Diego as needed.  If older Heyward, Gurriel, Iglesias and Maldonado fail after given the opportunity to show they still have something left (or Lockridge, in his platoon role), Joe, Campy and Ornelas may be the next men up.

Quote from fenn68 on March 27, 2025, 8:15 am

Just an observation ... the 26 man ML roster only has 3 position players who can be optioned (Merrill, Lockridge, Sheets) so that may slow down any roster movement of the "veterans" until it becomes really clear they will not succeed.

If they quickly move off the vets and replace them with Joe, Campy, and Ornelas ... then mid-season when an injury hits the "next up" is a long drop in talent.

Fair chance the Padres will continue scan the FA market for AAA upgrades given that scenario.

The pitching corps has much more flexibility in optioning players.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 27, 2025, 8:26 am

Salas not on initial Fort Wayne 30 man roster announced today, so assuming he'll be starting the season in San Antonio.  Hope he can continue to grow as a hitter - already looks good behind the plate, which is what Padres desire at the highest levels.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 27, 2025, 3:23 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on March 27, 2025, 8:26 am

Salas not on initial Fort Wayne 30 man roster announced today, so assuming he'll be starting the season in San Antonio.  Hope he can continue to grow as a hitter - already looks good behind the plate, which is what Padres desire at the highest levels.

Hoping he and DeVries are teammates soon and stay together till SD.

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 28, 2025, 2:13 pm

SA's initial "breaking camp" roster is out ... expect a few changes over the next week before the season begins for them.

Hope the pitching comes around because the offense seems quite light.