Quote from MrPadre19 on March 16, 2022, 7:54 am

I feel a little better about a long deal for a 30 year old now that we have the DH.

If not Bryant my choice is Soler.

Should be a "reasonable" cost to DH and play an occasional LF.

But I really don't want him full time in LF.

 

Quote from BoosterSD on March 16, 2022, 8:14 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 16, 2022, 6:12 am

Suzuki to Cubs……Ugh!

Now what?

Maybe this will at least get the moves rolling now?

 

So its now being reported 5 years at $85M plus the posting fee of $14.6M. Seems like a good pass now on SD's part.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 16, 2022, 9:12 am

It's always the money irrespective of what that teams realistic prospects are to win now and in the future.  17M per year was significantly beyond what most experts were saying Suzuki's worth is and it is surprising that the Cubs have seemingly made him the centerpiece of their rebuild.  I thought the reported deal offered by the Padres at 14M was more than fair, so I'm glad they did not match or exceed the Cubs offer.  I'm hoping we see Freeman and Bryant to some other teams but LA and San Francisco and maybe one will land in San Diego!  Realistically, however, probably now looking at a trade and one of our top prospects is likely to leave (but not Abrams!).

Quote from sportwarrior on March 16, 2022, 9:39 am

It's hard not to be disappointed to see Suzuki go somewhere else. Like the rest of you, I'm surprised at the total value of the contract he ultimately received, but the AAV is still likely more affordable than what Freeman, Bryant, or Castellanos will receive for a younger player with higher ceiling. Sure, there's considerably more risk, but Suzuki is also 3-5 years younger than those other guys.

At this point it feels like we're almost certainly going to have to part with Robert Hassell. Use him to jettison as much of Hosmer's dead weight as possible, redeploy that capital to signing one or two of those guys and roll into the season with something resembling a major league offense.

If Preller fails to improve this team significantly between now and the start of the season we're in serious trouble.

Quote from lafnboy13 on March 16, 2022, 9:50 am

Keone Kela to AZ. I'm surprised we didn't resign him to minor league deal.

Quote from fenn68 on March 16, 2022, 10:18 am

Quote from sportwarrior on March 16, 2022, 9:39 am

It's hard not to be disappointed to see Suzuki go somewhere else. Like the rest of you, I'm surprised at the total value of the contract he ultimately received, but the AAV is still likely more affordable than what Freeman, Bryant, or Castellanos will receive for a younger player with higher ceiling. Sure, there's considerably more risk, but Suzuki is also 3-5 years younger than those other guys.

At this point it feels like we're almost certainly going to have to part with Robert Hassell. Use him to jettison as much of Hosmer's dead weight as possible, redeploy that capital to signing one or two of those guys and roll into the season with something resembling a major league offense.

If Preller fails to improve this team significantly between now and the start of the season we're in serious trouble.

I see the current issue with the Padres as needing some reliable hitters to win in 2022-23. The issue with Suzuki is the risk that he will take a season (or two) to adapt … so the Cubs building for the future may be better positioned to take that risk than the Padres.

I recall the early scouting reports on Suzuki and there was concern about his hitting the steady stream of high velocity in the ML and the high FB. So, the risk is really in play.

Keep that money and shuffle the deck on signing a more reliable ML hitter(s).

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I am now in the other camp on trading Hosmer … don’t. That just creates a third offensive hole (he is at least an average hitter) and the Padres would have to eat at least half of his contract (not freeing up much for a replacement at maybe $10MM) and lose a top prospect. Given the current market filling three offensive slots with hitter better than Hosmer is not going to happen … just filling the two open slots maybe be a challenge (and costly).

If I were trading top prospects it would be more to actually get that needed bat directly … eg. Meadows, Reynolds, and the like.

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As it stand, the focus should be on replacing Mazara and Profar (LF/DH) not spending assets to move Hosmer / Myers. If Mazara and Profar are LF/DH .. the bench is sad with Alfaro / Caratini and ????? Kim is already in for Tatis.

Quote from fenn68 on March 16, 2022, 10:26 am

Since I don’t think “cash” is an issue per se … just valuation of the target player (and the player’s willingness to sign) … I would suggest the Padres will (could) go big on a hitter … although running out of options).

If Martinez is not signed, Padres will drop to about $17MM under the first CBT threshold … the another $20MM to the second threshold. So, could argue a $37MM window. Add a bit more as some RP get pealed off.

So making a big signing ($25-30MM) is not out of the question and then trade for a more payroll friendly second bat.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 16, 2022, 11:25 am

I will be disappointed if we don't go hard after Bryant...he just makes too much sense right now.

Plus who are we bidding against...just the Rockies?

But,a trade for Reynolds would make me extremely happy as well...esp if we keep Abrams and Hassell somehow.

BOTH?

I may not be able to contain myself......

Quote from fenn68 on March 16, 2022, 12:50 pm

Did see a report that Paddack is throwing without issue so far.

Setting up for a battle between Paddack, Weathers, and Gore for that 5th SP slot … I am assuming Nick Martinez will not surface with the Padres.

Then back to my theme that SP hold great trade value in this market … a healthy Paddack who is low cost with 3 years control might become a key piece of a trade for a hitter. Sort of depends on the ST for Weathers and Gore and the health of the first four.