Quote from fenn68 on March 16, 2024, 3:49 am

Never a good idea to try to guess Preller’s game plan … so as an alternate scenario to the way we are generally thinking of needing a “9th bat” now … could Preller be on a longer term strategy for 2024? We are pretty sure that staying under the CBT is a given … and are pretty sure there are a lot of uncertainties within the current roster along with inevitable injuries.

To that end … if Preller thinks this roster will keep the Padres deep into the wild card race to the trade deadline … then he will have over $10MM to deploy on adds at a point when he only has to pick up about 1/3rd of a rentals contact. Also but then Machado will be firmly the every day 3B maybe allowing for an add of a pure DH type or maybe by then Pauley has proven good enough to not need to add a “9th bat” of major impact. Also allows for the 5th SP to prove effective … if not they may make a move for another impact SP rental … could potentially get Burnes or Bieber for around $5MM AAV at the deadline.

Since the current crop of signings … low cost as they are … clearly did not impress the other 29 teams … so probably did not impress Preller. Now Preller may have a very specific set of target adds at the right price but if they don’t pan out … no problem playing the long game until the summer.

Should add … to make the wild card … the Padres only have to be better than the other NL wild card contenders during the season (not LAD or ATL) and with this SP rotation and the potential of the pen coupled with the Core 6 on offense … easy to project a wild card slot.

So waiting until mid-season … retaining the maximum money to deploy … assessing the strengths and weakness at that point … may just be the better strategy for constructing a roster that can compete with ATL / LAD down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Within the scope of possibilities is by waiting the could add at the deadline BOTH JD Martinez and Corbin Burnes for around that $10MM … that surely makes it tempting to wait rather than spend $5MM on a less than desirable player now.

Just alternate thinking.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 17, 2024, 8:12 am

Bob Nightengale says we're getting closer to a deal with Pham in the 3-4m range. At that price I'm actually ok with it. If he performs to his capabilities it's a solid value play and if he doesn't it's not going to hurt too badly to move on from. I know I liked him better than most around here though.

Quote from fenn68 on March 17, 2024, 9:03 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 17, 2024, 8:12 am

Bob Nightengale says we're getting closer to a deal with Pham in the 3-4m range. At that price I'm actually ok with it. If he performs to his capabilities it's a solid value play and if he doesn't it's not going to hurt too badly to move on from. I know I liked him better than most around here though.

Seems inevitable. He can hit to probably about “average” (did better last season with the METS) and at $3.4MM for a LF/DH is worth the shot for that 9th hitter in the line-up.

At this point not a good fielder … so when Manny resumes 3B full time … expect Profar to hold LF and Pham be the DH. I am not the greatest fan of Pham … mainly because I find him hard to watch with his surly demeanor … but I will bite the bullet given the alternatives.

If the signing occurs (or is expected) between now and opening day on the 28th … that may impact the 26 man roster for the Korea games vs LAD. Pauley would likely be ticketed for the minors since with Pham, Profar, and Manny around he would get little playing time and the Padres don’t want prospects sitting. If that will be the plan … and Pauley is non-roster … why activate him for the roster before they need to? They will have Wade (non-roster) and Rosario for 3B until Manny is ready. Both give more versatility than Pauley so fit a longer term bench roll. So for the LAD … keep Sullivan (on roster) and option him when activating Pham (lot of roster space to activate Merrill, Wade, and Pham) without even considering out of option DFA and 60 day IL if needed.

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 17, 2024, 10:06 am

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 17, 2024, 8:12 am

Bob Nightengale says we're getting closer to a deal with Pham in the 3-4m range. At that price I'm actually ok with it. If he performs to his capabilities it's a solid value play and if he doesn't it's not going to hurt too badly to move on from. I know I liked him better than most around here though.

My tickets will be for sale...get ahold of me and you can go watch him in person.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 17, 2024, 2:17 pm

I'm sure Preller/Shildt have discussed with Machado and others the possibility of Pham rejoining the team.  If the players are okay with it, then I'm okay with it.

I, too, have never been a Pham fan, but it's possible he's matured a little after playing in 4 other organizations since he left San Diego.  Like to keep him out of LF, however, Manny's going to be DH'ing for several more weeks so we might see a platoon with Profar for awhile.  Let's hope he is more a positive than a negative if he rejoins the team.

This would take the pressure of bringing up Pauley too soon and giving him just a little more time in the minors to refine his stroke.

Quote from WindsorUK on March 17, 2024, 4:06 pm

Schildt has made it perfectly clear that he's not going to keep the kids up if they're not playing everyday.

Pauley will be the starting 3B against the Duds. Wade is around to cover everywhere else.

When Manny is ready to play in the field, they'll have to make decisions about Pauley based on his production( i reckon after the first month?)