Quote from BoosterSD on March 11, 2022, 6:14 am

Quote from fenn68 on March 11, 2022, 5:52 am

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 11, 2022, 5:14 am

After surviving a season collapse of a pitching staff  that included having a nothing left in the tank Jake Arrieta pitch a whole 5 or 6 innings at most.....I still don't understand why so many of you guys insist on trading away any pitching....unless of course our pitching is SO solid we just can deal em for middle of the road players that won't move the needle or our pitching sucks SO bad that we would be lucky to get a couple dozen balls and a few bats for em.....if the pitching staff can't throw zeros does this lineup have enough to outscore everybody ?

Somebody has to toe the rubber

More of a practical need … can’t keep all the pitching on the 26 man roster or option everyone. Some arms need to be moved unless a injuries in ST decimate the staff.

SP (as it sets up): Darvish, Snell, Musgrove, Clevinger, and N. Martinez … that is 5  that cannot be sent to the minors.

So what do you do with Paddack, Lamet, Weathers … you can send them to the minors or the pen. Sending Paddack or Lamet to the minors is unlikely. However, the pen has the same issue.

RP (as it sets up): Suarez, Garcia, Johnson, Adams, Stammen, Guerra, Norwood cannot be optioned and unlikely they take the option route with Pagan, Hill, or Pomeranz (maybe IL for him).

Bottom line some players have to go IF you want the best 13 on the active 26 man roster and that could be leveraged into lowering payroll to in turn spend on adding a couple of hitters. If they wait until the last minute … probably loose some ability to maximize any return for those being cut.

Even at that … the optioned prospects are “blocked” … even during the season baring injuries or cutting a player.

The one wrench that could be thrown into this part of your line of thinking is the idea that MLB and the Union are looking at possibly expanding the rosters and allowing more pitchers to start the season, similar  to the start of the 2020 season.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 11, 2022, 6:17 am

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 11, 2022, 6:08 am

I like practical need and with that being said.....sign Kris Bryant.....Left Field, Third Base and First Base, DH.....I would say that fills a "Practical" need and besides....he played at USD so he gets the whole San Diego vibe....just sayin

My only issue is that Bryant is RHH, and IMO were are too heavy now from the right side. I would prefer if possible some real power from the left side. The question is.......who is that option, and at what cost?

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 11, 2022, 6:52 am

Find a LHH left fielder with power....tough find for sure and to be honest I wouldn't mind seeing Kris knock a few bricks out of the Western Metal Building 🙂

Quote from fenn68 on March 11, 2022, 7:20 am

Preller has to deal with a lot of moving parts … finding a FA bat(s) that are willing to sign with SD and accommodate the contract while not blowing all the budget on only one player and not incurring more cost with luxury tax penalties. Alternatively, trading for a less costly contract but at the cost of prospects which could hurt the team even later in 2022 (and certainly in the future).

Agree that if they expand the opening day roster to accommodate maybe 2 extra pitchers it adds a twist but that is only for maybe a month then right back into the same dilemma. Might prefer to have those two “extra” arms being players that can be optioned.

Another element is that the roster is at 40 … and will need to add Nick Martinez (forcing a move). Then likely they add two non-roster bats at a minimum (one could be Mazara) forcing two more moves). So probably 3 “deletes” by opening day … maybe by trade or maybe by DFA …but players will go … just who makes the most sense to move when considering the full season value (ability, contract, options, and even control beyond 2022). Not easy but the debate has to happen.

Quote from fenn68 on March 11, 2022, 7:36 am

I know not LHH (preferred) but two FA to watch out for are:

1. Nelson Cruz for DH. Adding a DH only is not optimal given the league’s move to using the DH as a rotational position and his age might lead to a sudden drop off. However, his history with Preller (and Preller likes his Texas links) plus he probably could be had for $10MM+/- leaving money for a second bat. Also, by all reports he is a key clubhouse guy and Melvin may need that inside support to help mold the roster.

2. Suzuki for OF … maybe SF is the favorite but Darvish was working with him during the lockout on the ins and outs of playing in the ML. The speculation is that he would come in at about $11MM+/-.

$22MM for two bats … pretty reasonable strategy to keep the major prospects while not going over the luxury tax level.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 11, 2022, 7:59 am

Quote from fenn68 on March 11, 2022, 7:20 am

Preller has to deal with a lot of moving parts … finding a FA bat(s) that are willing to sign with SD and accommodate the contract while not blowing all the budget on only one player and not incurring more cost with luxury tax penalties. Alternatively, trading for a less costly contract but at the cost of prospects which could hurt the team even later in 2022 (and certainly in the future).

Agree that if they expand the opening day roster to accommodate maybe 2 extra pitchers it adds a twist but that is only for maybe a month then right back into the same dilemma. Might prefer to have those two “extra” arms being players that can be optioned.

Another element is that the roster is at 40 … and will need to add Nick Martinez (forcing a move). Then likely they add two non-roster bats at a minimum (one could be Mazara) forcing two more moves). So probably 3 “deletes” by opening day … maybe by trade or maybe by DFA …but players will go … just who makes the most sense to move when considering the full season value (ability, contract, options, and even control beyond 2022). Not easy but the debate has to happen.

I would think based on health, that the 2 extra pitchers have no options left, that way we can showcase guys that are the trade options.

Of course, the lockout just ended and Preller is probably already 150 phone calls deep into the 30 different scenarios that could happen based on 25 other different phone calls and "What Ifs" that he is discussing........so could be a bumpy ride for the next 3-5 days.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 11, 2022, 8:00 am

Quote from fenn68 on March 11, 2022, 7:36 am

I know not LHH (preferred) but two FA to watch out for are:

1. Nelson Cruz for DH. Adding a DH only is not optimal given the league’s move to using the DH as a rotational position and his age might lead to a sudden drop off. However, his history with Preller (and Preller likes his Texas links) plus he probably could be had for $10MM+/- leaving money for a second bat. Also, by all reports he is a key clubhouse guy and Melvin may need that inside support to help mold the roster.

2. Suzuki for OF … maybe SF is the favorite but Darvish was working with him during the lockout on the ins and outs of playing in the ML. The speculation is that he would come in at about $11MM+/-.

$22MM for two bats … pretty reasonable strategy to keep the major prospects while not going over the luxury tax level.

I totally understand the appeal of the Cruz signing, and Im a little more comfortable with the idea of Suzuki over the performance of Kim from last season, simply because Japan is a higher level than the Korean league.

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 11, 2022, 9:26 am

Baseball...... Hope Springs Eternal.....
The smell of freshly cut grass, a oiled glove, the seams of a new ball, a flame treated tight grained bat, a perfect infield, the sweet sound of the crack of the bat and the total vibe of being at the ballpark....it's been the one constant in my life and it's......Perfect

and always remember this if you are ever teaching the game to kids...the very best way to hit a curve ball is.....don't miss the fastball

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 11, 2022, 10:26 am

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 11, 2022, 5:14 am

After surviving a season collapse of a pitching staff  that included having a nothing left in the tank Jake Arrieta pitch a whole 5 or 6 innings at most.....I still don't understand why so many of you guys insist on trading away any pitching....unless of course our pitching is SO solid we just can deal em for middle of the road players that won't move the needle or our pitching sucks SO bad that we would be lucky to get a couple dozen balls and a few bats for em.....if the pitching staff can't throw zeros does this lineup have enough to outscore everybody ?

Somebody has to toe the rubber

By my count the Padres have 30+ guys I think could potentially throw major league innings this year. I don't know that anyone really wants to trade away pitching. I think it's more that we seem to have much more depth on the pitching side of things. We need an OF and our bench is weak. Mazara, Profar, Kim, Caratini, and Alfaro is not exactly an inspiring group. Campusano might be ready to contribute. After that I don't see much in the way of major league ready talent among our prospects. Abrams and Rosario probably need more time in the minors. Ona only got in 5 games due to injury last year.

Obviously injuries decimated our pitching last year. I have to think we'll have better luck this year. I think the jump from 60 back to 162 had a major effect on injuries last year. Hopefully with a return to semi-normalcy guys will stay healthier. Things could go wrong, but for a team that may not have much more financial flexibility trading some of the pitching depth to address other areas of need might be the best option.