Quote from brent wolff on January 12, 2024, 11:14 am

If you have not read the article on Schlidt by Acee in the SDUT, you should.  It is very long, but Acee really went in depth on Schlidt's past.  I'm jacked for Schlidt to be our manager and I actually believe AJP & him will co-exist well together.

On another front, according to the SDUT, "Shortstop Leodalis De Vries is ranked No. 1 by MLB.com and No. 2 by Baseball America in this year’s class; both outlets have the 17-year-old Dominican tied to the Padres. Shoot, even De Vries’ Instagram account features him in Padres jerseys and hats, all but confirming that he’ll sign with San Diego."  I'm also jacked to add DeVries to our list of prospects.  My list of Do Not Trade Prospects are:  Salas, Merrill, Snelling, Lesko, Head & now DeVries.  Go Pads!

Quote from JasonE135 on January 12, 2024, 11:18 am

Quote from BoosterSD on January 12, 2024, 8:48 am

Quote from fenn68 on January 12, 2024, 7:21 am

Doubt MIA would buy into that deal … might want Kim but for one year control and increasing  their payroll not likely to give up 5 years of Cabrera and 4 years of Sanchez … both expected to be keys to their future.

That was a trade that I read about last night, and it was based on a person that covers MIA.

Anyway, then we could pivot, keep Kim, trade for Kepler and then would not need Andrus. Still adds a LHH for RF, and gives SD one more year to figure out the futures of Marsee and Pauley and where they can fill spots.

After keeping Kim, signing Profar, and trading for Kepler would still have about $7.5M for bench or pitching add.

How about a trade with the Giants? Wade Meckler came up for them last year and gave them 56-AB. He is a CF capable LHH with a plus bats but no arm and no power, he is ready and cheap. Meckler and Carson Whisenhunt? BTV says we could also get Mason Black in the deal.

Quote from fenn68 on January 12, 2024, 11:44 am

Consider a one off strategy in filling the roster …

1. IF Preller believes the “core” of the current roster can keep them in the playoff hunt to the trade deadline … then to start the season just augment the core with a slate of low cost FA and check out how the current non-core options on the roster perform for the first three months,  Go that route and maybe start about $10MM under the tax level.

2. Have time for the “prospects” to show their readiness for an impactful call-up mid season … and still cheap

3. Have the flexibility at the trade deadline to deal for a more impactful add … to the most needed spot for the roster … considering will be adding only 1/3 of that player’s contract, so for $5MM get a $15MM player for the stretch 2 months.

4. In the end have a stronger final run at the playoffs and be stronger in the playoffs.

The cornerstone is the assumption on being in the playoff hunt with this core and will “better low end FA” eating up the money now get them further than the “ lesser lower end FA” leaving money for more impactful adds at the deadline (if those options are there).

Since I am feeling the “affordable” remaining FA are not that impressive and come with more hope than reliability for 2024 performance … beginning to like the go low … reserve the money and go for the brass ring at the deadline.

 

Quote from 3fingersplit on January 12, 2024, 12:54 pm

I have said it before and I'll keep saying it....Do Not Trade Away Any Of Your Young Controllable Pitching.

There is not a guy out there that is worth any of the top pitching prospects along with the top position players.

Sign whatever low price option that fits the budget parameters but it's time to actually let the young guys play and see what happens...Marsee is already better than Azocar, Merrill is a good athlete and could play a corner OF spot, 3B or even 1B or Boegarts to 1B, Cronenworth 2B, Kim SS, Merrill 3B, Profar LF, Marsee CF, Tatis RF, Campusano C and Machado DH

Don't weaken the farm system for anybody that doesn't truly move the needle and nobody that might be available is worth it, the juice isn't worth the squeeze...AJ got a good return for Soto...Pitching but including Grisham made a hole in CF and I gotta believe that the thinking is that Marsee will get a shot...you don't give up a gold glove CF unless you have a plan in place and Grisham avoided arbitration by accepting a 5.5 million dollar deal with the Yankees which is more than the Padres were willing to pay for an all glove little batting avg guy when they can get similar from Marsee at the minimum contract.

Quote from fenn68 on January 12, 2024, 1:25 pm

Sort of filling in the blanks on my post about saving money for the trade deadline … consider:

1. Signing for a total of $15MM: Santana (1B/DH … switch hitter … complements Machado as he recovers from the elbow injury … Kim at 3B); Profar (LF … switch hitter); Jankowski (CF platoon with Azocar … LHH). Hold on $10MM for the trade deadline.

2. Merrill, Marsee, and Pauley get time to further develop in the minors and Padres can see who is the most ready.

3. (This is a wild card) … after Machado returns to 3B, keep Santana at 1B and Kim (super defensively no matter where he plays) becomes the Padres’ Ben Zobrist (injuries, rest will be required for the other starters) and maybe he steps into an OF role.

4. In July, determine if they can get any needed offensive upgrades out of one (or more) of Merrill, Marsee, or Pauley. If not, $10MM to make a trade for an impact player for only 1/3 of their salary.

_______

Same logic with pitching … maybe more so given the excess cost currently for mediocre pitching. I would gamble to start the season with Vasquez, Brito, and Avila for the bottom of the rotation … mid-season assess if they can get an upgrade out of Iriate, Thorpe, Mazur, Snelling … if not turn to the trade market (Bieber at the deadline would be only $4.5MM for example).

There is a lot of uncertainty on what the Padres already have … but same can be said of the remaining FA … and whomever they might be able to get via a trade … so not really knowing who will be effective in 2024 and where the biggest need for the stretch which may depend on the internal options that may succeed and who may get injured on the 26 man … maybe smart to keep flexibility into the trade deadline.

 

Quote from BoosterSD on January 12, 2024, 2:05 pm

Quote from fenn68 on January 12, 2024, 1:25 pm

Sort of filling in the blanks on my post about saving money for the trade deadline … consider:

1. Signing for a total of $15MM: Santana (1B/DH … switch hitter … complements Machado as he recovers from the elbow injury … Kim at 3B); Profar (LF … switch hitter); Jankowski (CF platoon with Azocar … LHH). Hold on $10MM for the trade deadline.

I still think you are little light in OFers. I would also take up to $5M to bring back Cooper. Can play both 1B, and both COF spots. A little more insurance to start the season.

Quote from Randy Manese on January 12, 2024, 2:43 pm

Is Wil Myers healthy?  Seriously, I know we didn't like him at 22M a year but what about 2M?  Always hit LH well and was one of those guys who gave it everything he had, even trying to beat out infield grounders with his bad knees.  Just turned 33.  Love to see the big guy back if healthy but now the expectations will be much lower - maybe only a platoon player at LF and 1b.  Yes, bring all 3 Padres alums back - Myers, Jankowski and Profar!  That clubhouse will have excellent chemistry, if nothing else!

Quote from MrPadre19 on January 12, 2024, 4:02 pm

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2024-international-prospect-rankings-and-scouting-reports/

Fangraphs has the Padres signing their #24 ranked Intl prospect Humberto Cruz for $700k.

SP from Mexico

Many ranked below him getting much more $.

Quote from fenn68 on January 12, 2024, 4:03 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on January 12, 2024, 2:43 pm

Is Wil Myers healthy?  Seriously, I know we didn't like him at 22M a year but what about 2M?  Always hit LH well and was one of those guys who gave it everything he had, even trying to beat out infield grounders with his bad knees.  Just turned 33.  Love to see the big guy back if healthy but now the expectations will be much lower - maybe only a platoon player at LF and 1b.  Yes, bring all 3 Padres alums back - Myers, Jankowski and Profar!  That clubhouse will have excellent chemistry, if nothing else!

Actually I could live with that if Myers is healthy … would clearly be under my 3 player / $15MM target … and frankly three players who all seemed to be just loving playing every day … just fun to watch.

Wonder if Myers is interested in playing again or just prefers to retire or maybe first seek a landing spot close to his home on the East Coast. Yes his 2023 was bad (injured) before getting released by the Reds … but his numbers when healthy for the Padres in 2022 and 2021 were actually decent … for a $5MM type player.