Quote from fenn68 on February 9, 2021, 10:44 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on February 9, 2021, 10:19 am

Straight from the press release.

· The Active Roster limit will revert to 26 (expanding to 28 in September), but the limit on the number of pitchers on the Active Roster at any given time has been waived for this season.

Excellent! Will make for more of a case for a 6 man rotation and keeping 8 RP. I predict bad news for O'Grady (who has options). At least Mateo has the greater versatility of OF/INF ... even though he can't hit. Going down two from the bench without the DH would turn into a problem as the season progresses as minor injuries occur and still need PH. Does boil down a bit on how much Grisham plays (based on 2020 that will be every day) and a good chance that Profar gets CF reps over Mateo (who we are not sure is that good defensively either).

Side: I know Nola has a history of INF ... and in an "in game" situation may be used in the INF ... but Padres did not trade to get a quality #1 catcher to play him out of position then call up a minor leaguer to share the important catching duties with Caratini. More logical to be "insured" with an add that can support the INF/OF and leave Nola and Caratini to tend the pitching staff.

Quote from fenn68 on February 9, 2021, 10:57 am

Anyone got an understanding on how this will work:

A Club is permitted to carry up to five additional Taxi Squad playerson all road trips with the Major League team. If the Club elects to carry five additional players, at least one must be a player whose designated position prior to the season is catcher. Players on the Taxi Squad are permitted to workout with the Major League Club but are not permitted to be in uniform and in the dugout during games. Upon the conclusion of each road trip, players on the Taxi Squad will return to the Alternate Training Site.

Alternate Training Site? WHAT ALTERNATE TRAINING SITE?  I guess that could be any minor league affiliate the the player is assigned to ... but that is messy from the minor league club's standpoint. Maybe it is the AZ "extended ST then Rookie ball site in AZ"? Does not seem the Taxi Squad is built for prospects types who need game reps in the minors ... and I guess does not have to be players on the 40 man (added if needed)? Maybe we see the taxi squad of veteran minor leaguers. Confused?

Quote from BoosterSD on February 9, 2021, 11:09 am

Quote from fenn68 on February 9, 2021, 10:29 am

Quote from BoosterSD on February 9, 2021, 7:58 am

I think Preller has two more moves in store, after the two 40 man spots open. I'm thinking Shane Greene to bolster the pen, he has closed games in the past. And either Marisnik or Pillar, who is ever willing to come in an be that true CF RHH option and takes Mateo's spot on the 26 man roster.

Doubt Pillar would sign with the Padres ... he has been a regular for the last few seasons and will want to play a lot even if a 4th OF ... and with the Padres Profar is the 4th OF and in CF Grisham will play vs LHP/RHP almost all the time. DH might have made that different but not now.

Actually instead of a short man RP (Rosenthal, Greene, Melancon type) would they be better off with a veteran "swing man" for spot starts, long relief, 6th-7th inning type. Someone suggested McHugh ... that might help more in a 162 games schedule where more innings need to be covered than likely the starting five are prepared to do.

Personally I would start the season with Morejon, Weathers, Baez, and Gore in the minors to recondition them to starting and potential mid-season call-up. If the Padres want to start the season with a 6 man rotation (again innings  management) .. maybe a Hamels as a veteran inning eater and LH to balance the rotation (assuming he is healthy and showcased well).

 

That was me after hearing him on an interview on XM. I forgot about that until you mentioned it again. He very well might be a better option than Rosenthal, Melancon, or Greene. And possibly less money. And definitely has playoff experience with HOU.

I think Pillar is running out of places to play IMO. So does he take the same money and play for a DET, or does he sign with SD, and get a chance to play less, but in the post season and with a real chance at the WS??

I still think there is a chance that Weathers breaks with the big club out of spring. I think it really boils down to how he worked out in the alt site last season. I know he was in relief in the playoffs last season, but how was the rest of his summer?

Quote from Brian Connelly on February 9, 2021, 11:16 am

I think re: "Alternate site" means that:  MLB is trying to minimize the endless up / down optioning, particularly when the team is on the road which is the most problematic from a travel standpoint re: covid.  I.e. someone tests positive 2 days into a 7 game road trip; don't want team flying in Minors guys from around the country.  So it sounds like there will be a local (to the MLB team) "Alt training site" like last year.  It wouldn't make sense for the 5 guys who just travelled as "Padres" for a road trip to now go out to minors teams for a week of (Padres) home games, then travel back to "Taxi" again for the next road trip.  WAY different from last year since AAA etc plan to play.  How can these guys possibly be "ready" to play working out in a group of 5?!

My guess is early in the season this group may be "sacrifcial lambs" of vet AAA guys who might have otherwise been cuts?  But as season progresses might rotate in for example a 6th SP you know you're going to rotate up in the 3rd game of a road trip...  Will see changes to the taxi squad during the year, but it sounds like "for good" permanent callups are always going to happen when at home, not on the road.  Taxi squad = duration of road trip injury band aids?

 

Quote from Brian Connelly on February 9, 2021, 11:34 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on February 9, 2021, 10:19 am

Straight from the press release.

· The Active Roster limit will revert to 26 (expanding to 28 in September), but the limit on the number of pitchers on the Active Roster at any given time has been waived for this season.

This is a big deal that benefits the Padres with both their young SP top prospect depth & MLB out of option "vet" RP's.

I think it's a near certainty the way the roster is composed that we go with 4 bench players and an extra P.

The guy who most benefits from this IMO might be Javy Guerra.... remember he HAS taken MLB AB as a (failed) position player.

With no limitations on position players as P (Jake C could be the "emerg" P if a 5 position player bench), assume always true the other way around.  Guerra a failed MLB hitter, but 100x better taking a PH or PR in extra innings 3-5-7 times over the year than the "typical" RP.

Quote from fenn68 on February 9, 2021, 11:47 am

Is the “taxi squad” there for COVID issues with the 26 man roster only or is it there for “normal” injuries? Would guess they are not carrying their top “call-up” options on the taxi ... preferring them playing in the minors ... and follow something close to the normal call up procedures for injuries.

Might see a rotational structure with players being shuffled between AAA, AZ, and the taxi squad ... 1-2 week road trips will be the biggest hurdle. At least the players involved would still get some legit minor league time to keep sharp. Sort of taxi squad players when not traveling ... pitch in AAA. A second wave (the next quality level down) maybe works in AZ and goes to AAA to cover those going to the taxi squad. Of course could just designated a group for the taxi squad and leave them in AZ until needed and playing extend ST games (not sure how the players would feel about that).

Taxi squad not much use if the players have not been playing somewhere to keep in game condition ... yet, for health and safety don’t really need a lot of players moving around from city to city.

Will be interesting who is included and how they are handle over the course of six months.

Quote from fenn68 on February 9, 2021, 11:57 am

Tie the two 2021 issues: need to cover a lot of innings with pitchers coming off limited work in 2020 ... and ... removal of the 13 pitcher limit. That might suggest that sliding any of the Padres’ out of option RP though waivers will be very difficult considering how bad bullpens are across the league.

Alternatively, IF Preller has a strong view on the RP most probably for his roster and the ones that most probably will be put on waivers ... might Preller be more motivated to trade them in ST with a better set of buyers who may not want to see if they fall to them in the waiver priority list. Remember the buyers have the same innings need and the potential for the extra RP.

Quote from BoosterSD on February 10, 2021, 7:21 am

According to MLBTR, both SD and LAD have shown interest in MIA 1B/OF Garrett Cooper. His arb eligible next season, and under control through 2023. Seems to fit the time frame that Preller has set up for the team. Good average and OBP around .345 for his ML career, some pop, but drives in runs. Defensively, dont know good he is or if he can play CF, but the bat is an upgrade over Mateo.

Quote from fenn68 on February 10, 2021, 7:48 am

Quote from BoosterSD on February 10, 2021, 7:21 am

According to MLBTR, both SD and LAD have shown interest in MIA 1B/OF Garrett Cooper. His arb eligible next season, and under control through 2023. Seems to fit the time frame that Preller has set up for the team. Good average and OBP around .345 for his ML career, some pop, but drives in runs. Defensively, dont know good he is or if he can play CF, but the bat is an upgrade over Mateo.

I saw that. Might be an interesting add to fill out the roster.

Cooper is listed as a 1B/OF but he is really a poor OF which is in part why may be considering moving him without a NL DH and having 1B covered.

He is 30 with 3 years control. Payroll friendly at only $1.8MM (really $1.2MM increase from displacing either O’Grady or Mateo). Also, 2 minor league options for some flexibility if needed. 2020: 281/330/427, pretty consistent with his career.

Why this may work for the Padres is maybe a linking of some other ideas we have been debating.

1. IF the Padres see both O’Grady (LHH) and Mateo (no hitter) as weak links ... no ML ready bat to cover injuries ... another legit bat is needed for a 162 game season

2. IF the Padres choose to go with 14 pitchers either O’Grady or Mateo would go anyway ... then Cooper replaces the other ... that could work IF they believe Grisham will play CF every day and when needs a break ... Profar can cover and still have Kim to cover SS while maintain a good bat to PH in Cooper.

3. Padres were “weaker” vs. LHP (see Hosmer, Cronenworth) ... Cooper would add a legit 1B platoon option as needed for Hosmer while Kim covers Cronenworth .. while not messing with the catchers out of position. Think a bit of Kershaw / Urias LAD match-ups.

He is good as a ML hitter but somewhat limited defensively ... not sure that is good for Miami trying to deal him without the DH in the NL .. so price may not be too steep.

No idea what Miami wants (not really a cost move).