Quote from fenn68 on August 14, 2025, 11:42 am

Quote from Randy Manese on August 14, 2025, 7:56 am

While it is likely that none of the pending Free agents or Option players (player or mutual) will want to leave this current team, it is usually cold hard cash that forces the decision over personal circumstances.  I think if we make a competitive offer to King (23-25M per year  for 4-5 years), he will re-sign with us.  Agree that this point in his career, Iglesias may well settle for his current role at around the same 3M salary.  Don't see us getting others back on the roster unless ownership opens up the pursestrings or we trade someone like Cronenworth and/or Adam.  However, both those guys will be integral parts of the 2026 team, so see that happening as unlikely.  Preller will troll both the majors and minors to find his usual under the radar guys and hopefully re-stock both the minor leagues and fill in some of the gaps we'll have after the 2025 season (which could be epic!!!).

Given how this season is unfolding and, hopefully, a very successful post-season ... I could see the Padres pushing the financial limits to the max to get a second shot at the brass ring. Now I don't think that is going out to spend more than 2025 ... but maybe juggle a few pieces and keep near the current payroll level (which would push them over the CBT for a second year in a row and take the increased penalties).

I see them picking up Laureano's option then moving hard (with a creative contract) on signing King (agree on the estimate). Set-up a starting staff of Pivetta, King, Musgrove, Darvish, and Vasquez (out of options). Note that Waldron is also out of options and Sears (who has options) has a history of ML starting. Miller takes over from Suarez as the closer keeping the pen strong ... and leaving a number of RP as trade chips if needed.

If they went that route ... from a position player standpoint (without signing Iglesias) the roster would have 13 for 13 ML slots and that means McCoy, Ornelas, Campusano, Wagner, Johnson are the bench. Can's see any non-roster MiL in contention and can't see the Padres being satisfied with that set-up.

So I can't see them moving Cronenworth for financial purposes creating another large offensive hole (they will already need a 9th hitter .. DH+) but the pitching staff should be in play ... depending on how much payroll room they need and the need for that player. Few actually will have large contracts  ... Pivetta ($20MM than opt out) ... Adam (Arb around $8MM then FA) ... Peralta ($4MM+ on player options) ... Matsui ($4MM+ then player option). With the upside of the minor league RP that may be where they gamble to fit a payroll with winning.

Quote from Randy Manese on August 14, 2025, 12:51 pm

For the September call-up, I think that pitching circumstances will dictate whether it is Sears or Vasquez (actually, it could be both but not at the same time and neither will be on the post-season roster unless there is an injury).  Once we're through with SF and LA, it might be match-ups with other teams line-ups, how our starting pitching is holding up or whether their is some slippage in the pen.  Hope neither of the latter two things happen but it is good to know there is depth at SP or RP should we need it down the stretch.  Being in first place in the NL West is new territory this late in the season, so we'll see whether this team is up to the challenge and grinds out every game to get to the World Series they should have been in last year.

Quote from Randy Manese on August 14, 2025, 7:04 pm

Campy, playing DH today, already hit another HR to start off the scoring for EP in Reno - remember this is Reno and balls do fly out of there so don't get too excited.

Quote from MrPadre19 on August 15, 2025, 7:49 pm

I think it’s time for the Wyatt Hoffman experiment to end

Quote from Randy Manese on August 16, 2025, 9:07 am

Strictly an organization filler but after so many trades, the Padres still have to man a team.  Can play every position but catcher fairly decently and is the first position player to go on the mound in blow-outs plus I heard he is a great teammate.  Hoffman is a real baseball rat who they will have to drag off the field when his time comes, which I agree is sooner than later.   Can't fault the effort but the level of talent needed to succeed was always lacking.

Quote from Randy Manese on August 16, 2025, 10:28 am

Way down in the Dominican Summer League with 2 games left to play looks like the Padres Gold squad has made it to the playoffs.  They've been at the top or near the top of their division throughout this 56 game season and pretty much stripped their counterpart Padres Brown team of all their good position players and pitchers in order to ensure they qualify.  Hard to translate rookie performances to future prospects but they have several good pitchers on the team which has allowed them to hold the opposition to the 3rd lowest runs allowed, 3rd lowest WHIP, 4th lowest walk rate, 5th lowest HR allowed, 7th highest K rate and tied for 10th in BA allowed in a 52 team league.

A couple of SPs to focus on may be RHPs Jesus Castro and Raymel Belliard but it is a long way geographically, culturally and talent-wise to playing in the US for these teenagers.  Last year, we had a couple of good showings in the Dominican but they got bombed in the ACL; showed better late but a true learning experience.  The big international SP signee, LHP Carlos Alvarez, did not fare well with a walk rate of 13.3 walks/9 innings!  Rest of his stats per innings were okay, but obviously needs to improve his command.  Ending up with an ERA of close to 12.00 and a WHIP of over 2.35.  Let's hope he can turn it around next year.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on August 19, 2025, 10:14 pm

Looks like there was a fair amount of movement in the system again today. Clay Edmondson, Jaxon Dalena, Landry Jurecka, Bradley Frye and Truitt Madonna all joined the Storm.

Harry Gustin, Ryan Jackson, and Braedon Karpathios were all promoted from Fort Wayne to San Antonio. Johan Moreno was promoted to Fort Wayne from Lake Elsinore.

Quote from Randy Manese on August 20, 2025, 11:02 am

Gustin may be the best LH RP we have in our system unless you see Haynes or Gutierrez moving to the pen.  It will be interesting to watch what he does in the last month of the season at AA.  Had high hopes for Smeltz but he may never get healthy enough to pitch consistently.

Quote from Randy Manese on August 21, 2025, 2:58 am

Watched the San Antonio game today and Mendez currently catching too much of the plate; hitters at the AA level are too good to swing and miss no matter what the velocity.  Still the best RH SP prospect we have but has got to locate better as he closes out the season.  Rule 5 eligible this December and don't think Padres will risk exposing him since his FB/slider combo would also potentially make him a very good RP prospect.