Quote from fenn68 on December 30, 2020, 6:56 am

Padres appear to be sitting at $155-160MM (cash basis) after this flurry of moves ... way more than any of us were estimating as their 2021 ceiling back in November. So, very very unlikely there is anything big remaining (but not zero chance).

Expect that going into ST a number of players are signed to minor / major league split contracts with invitations to ST as wild cards to bump someone off the current ML roster mix.

Not sure (if the Padres are looking at $1MM dollar types) they will find players willing to sign that would be real clear upgrades over current roster options (at league minimum). If the Padres have more to deploy pushing offers up to the $2-5MM range then should be able to get some good upgrades.

Bench may be an issue ... but would address that with signings for AAA for call-up purposes. Just would not spend to bump Allen, Mateo, O’Grady.

Take any additional money and just dump it on pitching depth .... the need for “innings” and the health coverage may be the greater critical path need. However, same for all teams ... so even marginal quality will be in demand.

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 30, 2020, 7:00 am

Tell Paddack “Learn a third pitch or move to the Bullpen”.

Or basically “pitch better or lose your rotation spot”.

That should be all it should take but you never know.

 

Quote from fenn68 on December 30, 2020, 7:05 am

Quote from BoosterSD on December 30, 2020, 6:50 am

Its unfortunate that someone so young, with great change up, is sooo stubborn when it comes to learning from players/coaches that have had much more success in the bigs than he has. If he doesnt open up his brain, and take these suggestions, IMO he is destined to be bullpen/mop up arm, especially if he stays in SD.

I see (probably next winter) Paddack being on the trade market if he does not get it together. Then in Arb 1 with only 3 control years ... plus team a contender with Darvish, Snell, Lamet, Clevinger, and the very likely arrival of Gore.

RP is always hard to address but with zero guarantee Paddack could be successful in the pen (or would accept that role) ... may just not want to experiment while a contender.

Quote from fenn68 on December 30, 2020, 7:09 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 30, 2020, 7:00 am

Tell Paddack “Learn a third pitch or move to the Bullpen”.

Or basically “pitch better or lose your rotation spot”.

That should be all it should take but you never know.

 

Or ticket him to the minors to develop that 3rd pitch. More of an option if they have a reasonable SP options for #4 and #5 ... goes for moving him to the pen too.

Quote from fenn68 on December 30, 2020, 7:39 am

A bit of an off the wall thought.

1. Padres have gone all in to win in the next three years

2. Padres front office (and Preller) really seem to like Pham both for his hitting skills and hard core attitude towards winning

3. Padres really don’t have a replacement in the queue for 2022 for Pham in LF and the DH is coming.

4. We are in the period when Arb eligible players are negotiating a contract prior to actually going to arbitration

5. Padres probably like payroll stability (fewer arbitration issues or need for FA signings) to make future moves.

6. Pham likes money.

So, would it make sense to work a multi-year deal with Pham this winter ... guaranteed years may allow for a lower AAV. 2022, Padres may only have to look to adding one position player FA/trade for LF/DH ... simplifies the future.

Abrams may (or may not) be ready in 2022 but likely for 2023 (but Myers is then gone) ... Hassell and Head may be 2023 but likely 2024. Now all three are LHH ... Pham is a RHH. A two year deal for Pham (given his age) would be good ... but could be convinced in his case signing him through 2023 would fit to really cover the three year window Preller has developed.

Quote from BoosterSD on December 30, 2020, 10:30 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 29, 2020, 12:40 pm

Some 4th outfielder options off the top of my head:

Steven Souza(man he fell hard after a great 2017)

Delino Deshields and Nomar Mazara(both Preller guys from time in Tex)

Tyler Naquin((meh).

Eddie Rosario(may get a starting gig)

Adam Duval(prob not good enough defensively)

Albert Almora(still young)

 

 

 

 

What would be your objective for this player? Pinch hitter power or Defense/speed?

If it is defense/speed, dont we have that in Allen/Mateo?

If it is more a bat first, help with pinch hitting and LHP, then I would look at Souza. I would also maybe look at Robbie Grossman. Kevin Pillar or Cameron Maybin? Maybe Ben Gamel, who as a LHH, hits LHP to a tune of .284/.353/.410.

Quote from fenn68 on December 30, 2020, 10:49 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 28, 2020, 7:27 pm

Always look at the other guy in the deal ... Caratini. Don't under estimate his value to the Padres as the #2 catcher.

He is a 27 year old switch hitter with a reputation for good defense and elite farming skills. Not a great hitter (about average OPS) but actually decent for a catcher. Plus he is Darvish's personal catcher and has 3 low cost control years. He also has played some 1B for the Cubs. His LHP / RHP splits are about equal in his career ... a little bit of pop in his bat.

A good balance with Nola ... and fills a real need on the ML roster.

Listen to some commentary on Caratini that expanded on his value and why he emerged as Darvish's personal catcher. Apparently he is among the elite "pitch framers" in MLB and Darvish has his success by working the edges / corners. A perfect match to make Darvish successful.

I guess that is why the Padres threw in a 4th prospect to get Caratini added.

Also, both Darvish and Caratini have 3 years control, so that fit will last Darvish's time in SD.

=====

From a different perspective Nola has 5 control years to go with Caratini's 3 ... so catching stability (good defense) for the full 3 year window with Darvish, Snell, and Lamet. Almost like Preller had a plan and knew what he was doing!

=====

Campusano is just a wild card with the felony issue in Georgia and likely more MiL time needed. His bat is his #1 calling card ... so if he arrives before the 3 year window ends there will be room at DH and maybe 1B. Georgia law on felony marijuana is much harsher than in CA and much less flexible.

Quote from Brian Connelly on December 30, 2020, 11:17 am

Quote from fenn68 on December 29, 2020, 7:12 am

Listened to a reporter from Chicago .... so maybe less inclined to praise Darvish as he departs BUT he went out of his way to say how good Darvish was to work with for the media and his personality was a winner for the fans ... accessible, humor.

Darvish, Snell both billed as being media / fan friendly to add to Tatis ... makes the Padres the type of team fans want to follow.

That trio may elevate the Padres to even a greater national presence. Machado may be a top player but is not a media darling and Pham is ... well ... just grumpy.

On field performance is the most important but these fringe values make the whole team / franchise better.

Remember, it was Snell who "flipped out" livestreaming when he heard Pham had been traded last year.  LOVED Pham as a teammate.  Sounds like Pham lobbied for Pads to sign Snell.   Both guys have a "prove their worth" chip on their shoulder for similar reasons.   I think "intense" is more fair than "grumpy".  I think there will come a tough stretch at some point in 2021 where the team needs a kick in the ass, and Pham has the stature & isn't shy about doing it.

It will be interesting to see how the raucous "new style" Padres typified by Tatis  mseh with the (stereotyping) more "restrained  or old school" style of play in Asia, on this team with 34 y.o. seen everything Darvish & 25 y.o. "Korean Tatis" Kim.  Even more so to the fanbases there.  Really think both signings have huge future value recruiting there; San Diego has gone from dipping it's toe in those waters, but being behind the big name cities & teams, to maybe now being a marquee destination for elite Asian players.

 

Quote from LynchMob on December 31, 2020, 8:13 am

For some perspective on Ha Seong Kim ...

2020 KBO onbase plus slugging leaderboard

Name	Age	Tm	PA	HR	SB	BA	OPS
Mel Rojas	30	WIZ	628	47	0	.349	1.097
Hyoung‑woo Choi	36	KIA	600	28	0	.354	1.023
Ui‑ji Yang	33	NCD	528	33	5	.328	1.003
Sung‑Bum Na	30	NCD	584	34	3	.324	.987
Baek‑ho Kang	20	WIZ	574	23	7	.330	.955
Preston Tucker	29	KIA	631	32	0	.306	.955
Roberto Ramos	25	LGK	494	38	2	.278	.954
Jamie Romak	34	SKK	586	32	4	.282	.946
Jeong Choi	33	SKK	553	33	8	.270	.930
Ha‑Seong Kim	24	WOI	622	30	23	.306	.921
Jung‑hoo Lee	21	WOI	617	15	12	.333	.921

See 2020 KBO leaderboards at Baseball-Reference.com