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OFFSEASON 2023-24
#1401 · January 14, 2024, 8:02 pm
Quote from Randy Manese on January 14, 2024, 6:08 pmAsked the same question earlier viz a viz Myers, but does Joey Votto have anything left? Is he another Cruz or Carpenter or does he have enough to be a solid part-timer at 1b/DH? What about Jared Walsh - minor league contract with invitation to spring training? I still like Cooper but it may take more than we want to pay for another RH bat in the line-up. To me Profar, switch-hitter, is an obvious add as super-utility. A CF that can contribute on both sides of the ball will be hard to find with the money we have left, so my choice is go for the cheapest best defensive guy that's out there - probably Jankowski.
On another matter, it will be interesting to see who the Padres trade away to try to get some extra money for their international signings. Hope it is one of those borderline guys who have no options left or someone in the minors that has potentially awesome power but a low hit tool - like Mears or Doersching - or a pitcher with potentially outstanding stuff but can't find the plate - like Collett or even Paplham. I'd prefer to give up someone from the former group vice the latter. Tomorrow is De Vries day!
He's not the prototypical first basemen, but I like Donovan Solano as a cheap option. He doesn't have much power. He's got strong enough contact and on base skills to still be a solid offensive player. He's also got some defensive versatility. I've long thought he's one of the more underrated players in baseball.
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Randy Manese
#1402 · January 15, 2024, 7:34 am
Any rumors about Justin Turners market?
While he's not a favorite option due to his dodger affiliation he could be what we need.
A veteran bat that can play 3B/1B/DH available on a 1-2 year deal.
Anyone like any of these options;
Turner
Cron
Hoskins
Cooper
Depending on cost which would you prefer and why?
#1403 · January 15, 2024, 7:38 am
Padres confirm they have signed De Vries for $4.2MM.
Leaves … for now … somewhere between $400-500K left in their allocation … so should be quiet on the international front for awhile.
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MrPadre19
#1405 · January 15, 2024, 8:10 am
Quote from MrPadre19 on January 15, 2024, 7:34 amAny rumors about Justin Turners market?
While he's not a favorite option due to his dodger affiliation he could be what we need.
A veteran bat that can play 3B/1B/DH available on a 1-2 year deal.
Anyone like any of these options;
Turner
Cron
Hoskins
Cooper
Depending on cost which would you prefer and why?
As with most of the FA … not much rumor on any of them.
I am sort of writing off both Turner and Hoskins with some the early estimates have them coming in at the $12-14MM range. Both can hit still (but Hoskins missed all of 2023) and both are now most suited as a DH … defense is bad. Someone will sign them in that zone and might even see Turner not sign with anyone if the money is not there … at 39 and a successful career some flexibility. (Note: a rumor that Padres are off Taylor for CF with his ask nearing $10MM … maybe that level is off limits for any FA).
Probably can get either Cron or Cooper for under $5MM … unless they sign first elsewhere. Cron (34) did not have a good 2023 with only 278 AB 82 wRC+ plus a noted poor fielder more suited for DH. Cooper was a little better in 459 AB 96 wRC+ … but also not a good fielder.
I guess I would go with Cooper (33) who in my mind a better all around hitter with some chance of playing passable LF. That with a low price point leaving money on the table for the other needed signs.
What is tricky for Preller he probably knows he has to fill three open slots and knows that filling CF and LF with a decent player will be costly … and needs to resolve them before a DH/1B. Plus, given how thin the back-ups will be even when he adds three starters … might want more flexibility in those adds move them around as injuries dictate.
Of course the wild card remains his view of Merrill, Marsee, and Pauley to start the season.
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#1406 · January 15, 2024, 8:44 am
Quote from fenn68 on January 15, 2024, 8:10 amQuote from MrPadre19 on January 15, 2024, 7:34 amAny rumors about Justin Turners market?
While he's not a favorite option due to his dodger affiliation he could be what we need.
A veteran bat that can play 3B/1B/DH available on a 1-2 year deal.
Anyone like any of these options;
Turner
Cron
Hoskins
Cooper
Depending on cost which would you prefer and why?
As with most of the FA … not much rumor on any of them.
I am sort of writing off both Turner and Hoskins with some the early estimates have them coming in at the $12-14MM range. Both can hit still (but Hoskins missed all of 2023) and both are now most suited as a DH … defense is bad. Someone will sign them in that zone and might even see Turner not sign with anyone if the money is not there … at 39 and a successful career some flexibility. (Note: a rumor that Padres are off Taylor for CF with his ask nearing $10MM … maybe that level is off limits for any FA).
Probably can get either Cron or Cooper for under $5MM … unless they sign first elsewhere. Cron (34) did not have a good 2023 with only 278 AB 82 wRC+ plus a noted poor fielder more suited for DH. Cooper was a little better in 459 AB 96 wRC+ … but also not a good fielder.
I guess I would go with Cooper (33) who in my mind a better all around hitter with some chance of playing passable LF. That with a low price point leaving money on the table for the other needed signs.
What is tricky for Preller he probably knows he has to fill three open slots and knows that filling CF and LF with a decent player will be costly … and needs to resolve them before a DH/1B. Plus, given how thin the back-ups will be even when he adds three starters … might want more flexibility in those adds move them around as injuries dictate.
Of course the wild card remains his view of Merrill, Marsee, and Pauley to start the season.
I'd like to see AJP sign the following:
- CF Michael Taylor/Aaron Hicks or Travis Jankowski (if Taylor isn't too pricey & $10m is too pricey, then Hicks or Jankowski will have to do). Taylor approximately $7m, Hicks $4m, Jankowski $2-3m.
- LF/UTL Jurickson Profar (approximately $5m)
- 1B/LF/DH Garrett Cooper (approximately $3-4m)
- DH/1B C.J. Cron (gambling on him being healthy & bounces back to be a quality hitter). Cron approximately $3.5-$5m.
That should keep the Pads under tax threshold and leave a little for a trade deadline pickup (hopefully). I'm not real sure about my approximation values. What does everyone think? Go Pads!
#1407 · January 15, 2024, 8:58 am
Quote from fenn68 on January 15, 2024, 7:38 amPadres confirm they have signed De Vries for $4.2MM.
Leaves … for now … somewhere between $400-500K left in their allocation … so should be quiet on the international front for awhile.
An earlier post noted that Fangraphs had Mexican RHP Humberto Cruz linked tot the Padres at $700K … that has not been called by the Padres … and given what they signed De Vries for … the money does not fit the allocation.
Now they have all year to sign him (so time to add to the allocation via trade) or he takes a lower number ($450K) now. Never know how these negotiations evolve.
Under the rules once the allocation is exhausted they can only sign players for $10KK as I recall. Going to be a challenge to fill out two (or one) DSL teams unless they bring almost everyone from 2023 back.
Given the high activity level (and connections) in the Latin market from the past … hard to imagine the Padres not having a number of more costly targets (with some level of commitment already made). Preller almost has to be working to add at least another $1MM (maybe more) via trade.
No idea how hard that is to pull off … would seem simple given the team giving up the allocation is really only giving up the right to spend and not really anything of substance if they don’t plan to spend to the allocation. Of course, other GM will not make this too easy and frankly will not take pieces off the scrap heap to help the Padres. Probably need to use a prospect with a reasonable chance to test the ML (e.g. a Lake Bacher, Kevin Kopps type) and can be stored in the MiL for a season or two.
#1408 · January 15, 2024, 9:12 am
Quote from brent wolff on January 15, 2024, 8:44 amQuote from fenn68 on January 15, 2024, 8:10 amQuote from MrPadre19 on January 15, 2024, 7:34 amAny rumors about Justin Turners market?
While he's not a favorite option due to his dodger affiliation he could be what we need.
A veteran bat that can play 3B/1B/DH available on a 1-2 year deal.
Anyone like any of these options;
Turner
Cron
Hoskins
Cooper
Depending on cost which would you prefer and why?
As with most of the FA … not much rumor on any of them.
I am sort of writing off both Turner and Hoskins with some the early estimates have them coming in at the $12-14MM range. Both can hit still (but Hoskins missed all of 2023) and both are now most suited as a DH … defense is bad. Someone will sign them in that zone and might even see Turner not sign with anyone if the money is not there … at 39 and a successful career some flexibility. (Note: a rumor that Padres are off Taylor for CF with his ask nearing $10MM … maybe that level is off limits for any FA).
Probably can get either Cron or Cooper for under $5MM … unless they sign first elsewhere. Cron (34) did not have a good 2023 with only 278 AB 82 wRC+ plus a noted poor fielder more suited for DH. Cooper was a little better in 459 AB 96 wRC+ … but also not a good fielder.
I guess I would go with Cooper (33) who in my mind a better all around hitter with some chance of playing passable LF. That with a low price point leaving money on the table for the other needed signs.
What is tricky for Preller he probably knows he has to fill three open slots and knows that filling CF and LF with a decent player will be costly … and needs to resolve them before a DH/1B. Plus, given how thin the back-ups will be even when he adds three starters … might want more flexibility in those adds move them around as injuries dictate.
Of course the wild card remains his view of Merrill, Marsee, and Pauley to start the season.
I'd like to see AJP sign the following:
- CF Michael Taylor/Aaron Hicks or Travis Jankowski (if Taylor isn't too pricey & $10m is too pricey, then Hicks or Jankowski will have to do). Taylor approximately $7m, Hicks $4m, Jankowski $2-3m.
- LF/UTL Jurickson Profar (approximately $5m)
- 1B/LF/DH Garrett Cooper (approximately $3-4m)
- DH/1B C.J. Cron (gambling on him being healthy & bounces back to be a quality hitter). Cron approximately $3.5-$5m.
That should keep the Pads under tax threshold and leave a little for a trade deadline pickup (hopefully). I'm not real sure about my approximation values. What does everyone think? Go Pads!
I don’t know the current thinking on Hicks (or Hicks thinking about signing options). If I recall, Hicks is a FA that still is getting paid by the NYY from his last contract … so could be signed for league minimum and that alone makes it a worthwhile gamble.
Might be strategic to sign BOTH Hicks and Jankowski … a switch-hitter and a LHH to provide some insurance in CF beyond the RHH Azocar. Then sign Profar (another switch-hitter) for LF (maybe with Hicks) but with positional versatility which is value to a thin bench. Frankly could get all three for less than $10MM opening a lot of options for a stronger bat for 1B/DH or wherever while still staying under the tax threshold with room for mid-season moves.
#1409 · January 15, 2024, 9:21 am
Baseball America has Padres signing Cruz plus 5 other international prospects. They have Cruz as a potential breakout candidate given his good work against Korea in the WBC. If it was for 700K, then likely a trade announced soon to get that international signing bonus allocation they need to reach 700K. Some MLB teams hardly even touch their signing bonus money, so should not be too hard to find a team or two willing to part with some of theirs for a live body with a hope of some potential to fill out a minor league squad.
Padres signed 51 international prospects in 2023 even after giving almost all their money to Salas and by my count, still have 16 others from the previous classes that haven't reached the Arizona Complex League (ACL) level. While some will be promoted to the ACL and others will be released this year, I'm sure they'll be able to sign another dozen or more at 10K, so I wouldn't be worried about filling out the 2 teams in the Dominican.
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#1410 · January 15, 2024, 9:53 am
What about Victor Robles for CF? In his walk year and only at 2.65M so wouldn't demand a top prospect (besides we gave the Nats 2 possible CF's in the Soto trade). Has some speed and hits LH pitchers very well so could platoon with a LH hitter. As I recall, plays a decent CF. Sign Jankowski for around 2M and we have CF covered.