Quote from BoosterSD on January 3, 2022, 8:17 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 3, 2022, 7:27 am

I like the Hosmer to KC involving Benintendi and Santana idea.

Depending on what else we have to part with of course player wise.

Santana just gets on base and Benintendi I think still has 10 years of above average baseball ahead of him.

 

Well, if you look at money. Hosmer is due $21M in 2022, while Santana $10.5M and Benintendi $9.3M (MLBTR arb est) are combined for $19.8M and both are FAs at the end of 2022. Baseball reference lists Hosmer at 1.0 WAR for 2021, so his contract should be around the $10M mark going forward. So, lets SD is over paying Hosmer by about $11M for the balance of his contract if he doesnt opt out, $2M for the balance of Santana and Benintendi this season and $3M per the final 3 years of his contract.

And since I am not sure about the farm system, I dont know what prospect(s) it would take plus $10-15M in cash depending on the level of prospects going back to KC.

Or maybe SD could include a couple of the bubble ML relief pitchers that are out of options and not too expensive?

Quote from fenn68 on January 3, 2022, 8:22 am

Quote from BoosterSD on January 3, 2022, 6:43 am

Even with the DH coming to the NL as we all believe will be part of the new CBA, I still think that LF is the biggest concern going into 2022 for SD. With the bats that we have for other positions, and highly defensively capable back up like Kim, I think SD will be just fine using the DH as a "rest day" for the bats of our line up. See 2020 for an example. We did not have a typical DH type, and our offense was just fine that season.

So, with the way it sits right now, and depending on the new CBA, if we dont have the room for a Castellanos/Schwarber contract. Who is really a viable option??? I read a blog on East Valley Times web page, and they mentioned a few options.

Could Corey Dickerson be an option? Would a platoon of Dickerson/Ona be a good option?

Could a trade for Benintendi be an option? Could SD work a trade around Hosmer and prospects/money for Benintendi and Santana?

 

Don’t forget Mazara is a non-roster invitee … but would reduce the risk and sign Dickerson too (like him but perpetually injured so would not rely on him).

Ona … zero faith in him for 2022 … certainly not to rely on him going into the season. Need to see him for a full season in AAA (he too has to stay healthy) to carve out a roster spot for him.

For entering 2022, I still think they need a minimum of one “reliable” bat to man LF and agree a “rotational” DH with Profar / Kim filling field spots as regulars rotate to DH.

Baring a blockbuster payroll clearing move allowing for a FA signing …. I see trade as the most viable option with a ML level pitcher being the price. Who goes depends on who come in. ML pitching is in great demand (witness the rush for FA pitching before the lockout).

Preller has to make some calls on limited data (health of his pitchers) but given the current roster and players that cannot (or will not) be optioned … at the end of ST some will have to be released or traded at what would be reduced value. So does Preller get ahead of the game while multiple teams are still buyers and get a better return?

Of course it depends on the return but moving 2 years control over Darvish (who still is good) could yield a decent player in return and help reduce payroll to use for a FA signing if needed. MINN seems like a good candidate … contender with a strong offense and low payroll and a short SP group.

 

Quote from fenn68 on January 3, 2022, 8:40 am

Although for 2022 I like Benitendi / Santana for Hosmer not sure like adding in prospects for one year control types … especially since don’t see KC seeing any value in that unless the prospects are long term control and good. KC is not a contender and 2022 low end / short control types will not be their target.

If they want Hosmer, they could just wait until 2023 and sign him as a FA with less than what it costs in 2022 for Benitendi / Santana. If they want to trade either or both this winter … think they could get better returns by moving them to teams with money to deploy and just get a low cost prospect(s) in return.

With Myers a FA in 2023, adding another FA for 2023 into the mix with Hosmer a potential opt out sets up a really sets up a pretty bad scenario for next winter … replace 3 hitters and dealing with FA of Musgrove, Clevinger and a major chunk of the RP.

Quote from fenn68 on January 3, 2022, 8:55 am

I wonder what the view is currently by other organizations on Hosmer … clearly his on field play is not a selling point on his current contract.

However, the standing view was he is great team leader / clubhouse guy … is that still in place? I put that in question (at least in SD) from:

2019 Padres fall apart under Green … Green axed with the story line of not controlling the clubhouse.

2021 Padres fall apart under Tingler … Tingler axed with the story line of not controlling the clubhouse

Where was Hosmer (and his strong clubhouse presence) during all this … helping the managers or something else? Players may like him … maybe a fun guy … but that is not the same as a team leader.

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 3, 2022, 11:38 am

The other issue with KC is that their top prospect not named Bobby Witt Jr. is a Firstbaseman......Nick Pratto.

 

Quote from fenn68 on January 4, 2022, 12:51 pm

Saw that a large number of Padres and a few ex-Padres were at Hosmer’s wedding … plus a number of his former KC teammates. Think Machado was his groom’s man. That does suggest that Hosmer IS well liked by his teammates.

Can speculate on a lot why the Padres had clubhouse issues … one spin was some discontent about the rumors on Preller’s attempts to trade Hosmer. IF the teammates are on Hosmer’s side … does that cause a problem for Preller?

If you are in the camp of clubhouse cohesion is critical to winning and understand Hosmer’s role with this teammates … how can you trade him for basically no return just to clear payroll space (that in itself a sore point). Plus if Machado is a key player … he does not appear to be one to just move on from a trade of his buddy.

Now Preller does not seem all that sensitive to that aspect of building a roster. More of an approach of moving pieces on a chess board based on analytics. I guess most fans think like Preller … trade Homser and the rest of the team SHOULD be professional enough to do their jobs … is that the real world?

Unintended consequences?

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 4, 2022, 1:48 pm

Kinda makes you wonder if the players don't see the same things everyone else does?

Obviously many may be close to Hoz as friends and team mates....but don't those same players see the issue with his pay vs. his production?

I have to believe the infielders see the defensive issues lately.

No matter how much you like someone personally....surely they see that if AJ can trade him and use the money saved to acquire a better player....or a player at a position more  in need....they would understand this as part of the business side of "winning"?

You would think if AJ felt the need to he could meet with the other players and explain the difference between keeping their friend and making the team better?

I have to believe that if the trade deadline "rumors" were to blame for the collapse that it has more to do with it becoming so public rather than just the fact that they might trade Hosmer.

Surely they can't all believe Hosmer is crucial to the team winning a Championship?

So I'm guessing they just didn't like all the talk about him being traded and then it not even happening.

In this day and age it's gonna be harder and harder for GM's to have trade conversations without the rumors getting out there so I don't know what AJ's supposed to do?

 

Quote from BoosterSD on January 4, 2022, 2:38 pm

Lets look at Hosmer in a different light. During his AL days with a DH, he was a .284 BA, .342 OBP averaging 18 HRs and 80 RBIs. In SD with no DH, he averages .264 BA, .264 OBP, averaging 15 HRs and RBIs. Basically down 10-20% over his DH AL hitting standards.

However, on a really explosive team in SD 2020 with the DH, he batted .287, .333 OBP with 9 Hrs and 36 RBIs in only 38 games and 156 ABs. That would average out to 32 HRs and 130 RBIs in a typical full season. Now I know that he closest he came was 2016, with 25 HRs and 104 dingers.

He also seems to have an up and a down season, so counting 2020 as the up and 2021 as a down, plus the DH in the NL and Melvin as manager, could we perhaps see a repeat of the 2016 season out of Hosmer???

Maybe the solution is already in our clubhouse?

Quote from fenn68 on January 4, 2022, 3:20 pm

Maybe wishful thinking but I think Hosmer may be a plus (at least better) in 2022 for the Padres … part since it his foundation to his opt out (should be motivation) and maybe the new hitting coach can get through to him.

Rational thinking generally does not work with most players (especially one on a $300MM/10 contract) when they perceive one of their best friends is being badly treated. Maybe could deal with a “clean trade” that yielded a needed player in return done without pre-fanfare. Remember we have been hearing Preller has tried to deal Hosmer since last winter (not just the deadline) … willing to eat money … still can’t get takers to meet Preller’s terms. Basically, just want get rid of him. That never ending theme just beats down everyone … and they can see that insensitivity (lack of care) maybe landing on them at some point … not just Hosmer in this case. Add that no replacement is in hand while they are trying to win just makes it more negative.

People back their “family” and clearly Homser is a loved family member to his teammates (one reason Preller signed him). Think Preller did not consider the collateral damage of stretching out this one sided scenario to move him. Agree it did not help that this was a media reoccurring theme and that tends to have players close ranks in defense of their guy against management / media.

Now to be clear the Padres’ collapses in 2019 and 2021 are not all due to the handling of Hosmer … or even Hosmer’s performance.