Quote from 3fingersplit on January 4, 2020, 10:46 am

Quantrill has the better upside, better throwing motion, better fastball and will pitch inside....He reminds me of a young Mike Mussina

Lucchesi spends so much energy on his delivery and his arm slot is affected by his motion with so many moving parts that he is less consistent. The old adage of "The less you throw, the longer you go" will never apply to him....he just isn't as efficient as Quantrill in my opinion.

Now add in the fact that Joey loves to throw that 56 foot curveball and you all want Mejia behind the plate......won't be pretty

Quote from fenn68 on January 4, 2020, 11:57 am

Padres To Re-Sign Craig Stammen

By George Miller | January 4, 2020 at 1:04pm CDT

The Padres have agreed to a multi-year contract with free-agent righty Craig Stammen, reports Robert Murray. It’s a two-year deal that will guarantee Stammen, a Paragon client, $9MM through the 2021 season with a team option for a third year, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. If exercised, that $4MM option would raise Stammen’s earnings to a total of $12MM over three years—otherwise, he’ll collect a $1MM buyout. The deal, pending a physical, also includes $500K in yearly incentives (Twitter link), bringing the overall potential payout to $13.5MM.

Quote from fenn68 on January 4, 2020, 12:06 pm

Quite an interesting move ... thought that would happen earlier in the winter but after the signings of Pomeranz and Johnson considered the bullpen full.

RHRP: Yates, Johnson, Stammen, Munoz, Guerra (out of options)

LHRP: Pomeranz, Castillo, Strahm

That leaves out Perdomo, Reyes, Wingenter, Bednar ... and the either Lucchesi or Quantrill, whichever does not get the #5 SP slot. Then they did some non-roster RP veterans who will come to ST.

Does add some flexibility for Preller to deal from excess RP ... and almost everyone needs RP.

Stammen can assume a 6th-7th inning role at this point ... he has the history of pitching in a lot of games and innings ... so should do a lot to stabilize the middle of the pen.

Quote from fenn68 on January 4, 2020, 12:21 pm

Quote from onlypads on January 4, 2020, 10:10 am

Who do we believe has more potential presently and in the future, Lucchesi or Quantrill?

We keep acting as if they are equivalents or at least other teams seem them that way, myself included. We keep throwing both into trade proposals. Should we be so quick to do so?

The more I think about it, Cal shows much more upside and has some pedigree too.  If his FB retains the movement and velocity and he pairs it with his change up well (sequencing), I think he can be more dominant. At least in appearances he seems to have poise and confidence. Do we think there is any chance he can develop into a 2-3 SP type of arm? His ML showing seems stronger than his MiLB record would suggest.

On the other hand L is LHSP, unorthodox, and our most reliable innings eater at the ML level.  Do we think he can be a sub 4.00 ERA SP? Will his FB fall below 89? Is this even a concern given is unorthodox churve and delivery?

At this stage what should we covet more? Should we be electing to retain both? Is AJP assigning more value to them then we are? I really wonder how rival GMs are viewing them.

Long run I go with Quantrill but maybe at a ceiling of a #3.

To start 2020 Lucchesi MAY be more effective but not seeing his command settling in thus relegating him to maybe a #5. Would also note that Lucchesi for whatever reasons was effective at PETCO (2.56 ERA) while AWAY (6.22 ERA) in his 2nd ML season and now 26 with only 4 more years control. He may be the one to move.

Quantrill did not have a great ML rookie season but now only 24 with 6 control years and, in my view, superior upside ... would go with him in 2020 with the comfort of having a strong stable of prospects on the verge of the ML to cover if needed.

However, if a trade was at hand and depending on the return, I would be comfortable with it being the buyer's choice and bet on the coming prospects for 2021.

 

Quote from JasonE135 on January 4, 2020, 12:32 pm

Quantrill was a pick at the top of the 1st round. Lucchesie was a 3rd round pick I believe. That was for a reason. At one time Quantrill had one of of not possibly the best change up in the minor leagues. He has always had a plus fastball, plus command, and was seen as knowing how to pitch. His only problem was his third pitch. If you have seen it now, it is 85-87 and has big break. It seems to be very effective during games. He absolutely dominated for a short stretch last year. Some people on here may not be huge Quantrill fans but I am, and I am sure AJ knows how valuable he is.

Joey still seems to be a two-pitch pitcher. I give him tons of credit for getting everything that he has out of a far below average arsenal, but I just don’t see much room for improvement. Maybe if he can add 3-4 ticks to his fastball like Lauer did at the end of last year, or if he can add a third pitch at least as good as his FB. I don’t see that being likely with his delivery.

Lucchesie will continue to be our #5 starter for now because he is safe, reliable and LH. Quantrill will be the first guy to step up when injury happens and as soon as he has shown enough improvement to be counted on to give a quality effort on a regular basis, he will be our #5. I am sure AJ is looking at him as the future. I don’t see either one being traded because we are going to need 7-9 total starters this year.

I would put Quantrill’s ceiling at a #2. He has absolutely dominated for a short stretch at the ML level already. If he can do that regularly, he will belong right near the top of the rotation.

Quote from JasonE135 on January 4, 2020, 1:00 pm

Quote from fenn68 on January 4, 2020, 12:06 pm

Quite an interesting move ... thought that would happen earlier in the winter but after the signings of Pomeranz and Johnson considered the bullpen full.

RHRP: Yates, Johnson, Stammen, Munoz, Guerra (out of options)

LHRP: Pomeranz, Castillo, Strahm

That leaves out Perdomo, Reyes, Wingenter, Bednar ... and the either Lucchesi or Quantrill, whichever does not get the #5 SP slot. Then they did some non-roster RP veterans who will come to ST.

Does add some flexibility for Preller to deal from excess RP ... and almost everyone needs RP.

Stammen can assume a 6th-7th inning role at this point ... he has the history of pitching in a lot of games and innings ... so should do a lot to stabilize the middle of the pen.

I am worried that this Stammen signing may spell the end for Guerra. I guess it is possible that we use Strahm as the long man out of the BP? It’s either that or we send Munoz down(not likely). I was sure that we would keep Quantrill up as the long reliever/spot starter in the BP. This way is actually safer and allows us to keep more talent. Now Quantrill can actually start and work on his consistency in the minors. It gives us another plus arm in the pen and adds to our depth. Guerra is going to have to EARN his place next year. Good luck to him! I hope he makes it!

Did you guys see that article predicting the Mets will have the best BP in the NL? Ha! The Padres are back on top.

Quote from BoosterSD on January 4, 2020, 1:05 pm

I just think this signing is the foreshadowing of an upcoming trade. Way too many bullpen guys for us not to make a deal of some sort.

Quote from onlypads on January 4, 2020, 1:34 pm

Bednar, Guerra, Morejon, Cal, Bolanos, Baez...will be interesting where and how these pieces fit in 2020

Quote from fenn68 on January 4, 2020, 1:57 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on January 4, 2020, 1:05 pm

I just think this signing is the foreshadowing of an upcoming trade. Way too many bullpen guys for us not to make a deal of some sort.

Agree ... but first they need to make a DFA to make room on the 40 man unless that trade is pending.

I too want Guerra around .... he just looked too good for a kid who just got converted to the pen. Could see some market for Perdomo given his ML experience or even a better market for Strahm if the Padres are willing to go with only two LHRP.

Preller has a lot of options depending on the return and if the RP is a one on one or the kicker in a bigger deal.