Quote from Alex Tamayo on February 9, 2024, 10:26 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on February 9, 2024, 5:04 pm

Closers are a dime a dozen! F**k them! There are many major league arms that can get 3 outs without giving up multiple runs in one short inning. So absolutely NO on Jenson.

Suarez's days are numbered. No way he starts in SD with his contract.

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I have heard that multiple times, and yet even though the rule of saves took place 50+ years ago there is only two guys with more than 600 saves (along with a 89% convertion rate), the next guy has more than 100 saves less, we have seen plenty of guys in MLB that are great setup man for years, but when they are given the 9th inning job they are good for a few months, maybe  a season, but as soon as they face a bad stretch they can't do it anymore, if I am not mistaken the saves conversion rate is about 70% more or less, so It doesn't sound as easy as we might think, I wouldn't line Jansen either, don't like the guy, but, IMHO being a closer Is minimized more often than not, funny (don't want to say stupid) thing Is that the difference between Rivera and Hoffman in terms of success trying to get a save Is .03%, one was an unanimous HOF, the other one had to wait 3 years, and when he was elected he barely made It

Quote from fenn68 on February 10, 2024, 5:19 am

I a new piece from A J Cassavell where he is suggesting that the Padres are still seeking TWO SP and are still looking to bolster the OF. This confuses me … not the theoretical need but how to do that and remain under the CBT … they only have about $21MM wiggle room before any cushion to ensure they don’t get “forced” to go over with mid-season adds.

If those are the priorities, I don’t see any logic for adding a $16MM closer (or actually any one player for $16MM) and have to go with what would be a roster with multiple voids. In Jansen case he would be closing for a non-contender. Add that apparently BOST is seeking a Top 100 SP prospect from PHIL (who is the main team interested) for Jansen … so add the value lost of a SP prospect from the Padres who are seeking to add SP. IF Duran were in the deal … Padres would have to give even more. Just does not make sense for this 2024 Padre team.

Quote from fenn68 on February 10, 2024, 5:53 am

The other implications from Cassavell’s article (should not not sure that he has any better info the we do even as the Padres beat writer) are:

1. Seeking TWO SP suggests that they are not convinced Vasquez, Brito, Avila, Waldron can effectively cover the #4-5 SP roles to start 2024 … also the internal prospects are not in the mix to begin 2024. Does link with the reported interest in Lorenzen, Ryu, and Lauer … and will eat a fair amount of the remaining payroll if they sign any combo of those three.

2. IF that focus on adding SP … does that suggest they plan to have one (or more) of Merrill, Marsee, and Pauley in the line-up to begin the season? Not a lot of money to add THREE veteran players for CF-LF-UTILITY.

3. He did not see … at this late date … either Kim or Cronenworth being traded even with Preller’s history of late deals. I would agree given neither would get a major return to help in 2024 and would likely just create another hole in the line-up.

I guess if a priority is adding veteran SP to create a stronger #4-5 and move the current options to the pen (or minors) so they can become stronger backfills if any of the new starting 5 get injured (or just are ineffective) … the it is possible they could move a few of those displaced arms in trades (pitching is always a good trade chip) for at least some useful OF bodies as bridges to the internal prospects. If so, does hat suggest that the Padres have lingering concerns on the season long health of Musgrove, Darvish, and King plus the SP upsides (readiness) of Vasquez, Brito, Avila, and Waldron? Prospect not deemed ready until 2025?

The remaining money to spend is likely the pivotal point in strategy and since can’t force FA to sign Preller has to be “flexible”. I could see a strategy is how to get to the trade deadline in contention and make deadline moves (adds at 1/3rd the contacts) or call-up of the prospects after more seasoning . Given the other teams have their own deficiencies … if the Padres rely on the Core 6 on offense (fill with journeymen) and offer the strongest / reliable SP #1-5 good chance they are playoff contenders in late July.

Quote from BoosterSD on February 10, 2024, 10:39 am

Reading on MLBTR where MIN after adding to their roster, may now look to the Kepler and Vasquez situations.

Could there be a deal here for SD? Perhaps something could work out where SD gets Vasquez and Kepler, and MIN gets Crone, Higoshiaki, maybe Cosgrove, and a mid level prospect or two?

The money for Crone and and Higo should balance out the money for Vasquez, Kepler would just be an add in cash, about $10M. Cosgrove and a prospect gets Kepler.

Higo provides MIN with a cheaper back up C for one year until their hot prospect is ready. Vasquez is our back up, under control for next season as well, so could transition right into Campusano and Salas being ready.

Plus SD is now freed of the Crone contract, opening a spot for either a Kim extension or Merrill staying on the INF at 2B or SS depending on his defense or what happens with Kim and/or Bogaerts.

Quote from Randy Manese on February 10, 2024, 11:37 am

My view is that Preller would like to deal one of the SP prospects (Brito, Vasquez, Avila or Waldron) for an OF in some sort of multi-player deal that would not give up any of our top 6-7 minor league prospects.  Ryu would be a great option because we open the season in Korea, however, he has to pass a physical and be willing to take a slightly lower salary, maybe 12M over two years with an opt out after the 1st year.

If we assume Profar will be he utility and Preller is successful in trading for one established OF, then I believe it is highly probable that one of the three- Merrill, Pauley, Marsee-fills the other OF spot; Merrill and Pauley give us the additional flexibility to play the OF but neither has played any CF.

Agree that we likely won't trade Kim or Cronenworth until a couple of months into the season, at the earliest, hoping both establish more value to gain a better trade prospect.  By that time, Machado should be back at 3b giving us a number of option in filling out the infield and the bench.

Quote from fenn68 on February 10, 2024, 1:54 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on February 10, 2024, 11:37 am

My view is that Preller would like to deal one of the SP prospects (Brito, Vasquez, Avila or Waldron) for an OF in some sort of multi-player deal that would not give up any of our top 6-7 minor league prospects.  Ryu would be a great option because we open the season in Korea, however, he has to pass a physical and be willing to take a slightly lower salary, maybe 12M over two years with an opt out after the 1st year.

If we assume Profar will be he utility and Preller is successful in trading for one established OF, then I believe it is highly probable that one of the three- Merrill, Pauley, Marsee-fills the other OF spot; Merrill and Pauley give us the additional flexibility to play the OF but neither has played any CF.

Agree that we likely won't trade Kim or Cronenworth until a couple of months into the season, at the earliest, hoping both establish more value to gain a better trade prospect.  By that time, Machado should be back at 3b giving us a number of option in filling out the infield and the bench.

Given the market for SP … FA clearly over priced … and if you are not in the game for the big money guys (Montgomery, Snell) the trade value of the four Padres arms may be a bit higher than we should expect … not a major return but at least a legit ML player … after all they are at league minimum and have long control (unlike the FA).

So if Preller is betting on two of Snelling, Thorpe, Iriate, Mazur, or Bergert to take the #4-5 SP roles in 2025 … push for one or two ML veterans on 1 year deals and offer up one or two of the four current options for OF help … that could work for a more reliable 2024 staff while not having to force FA signing of the limited OF options plus takes some OF pressure off 2025 if the OF adds are multi-year allowing for Merrill in the INF (Kim gone) and Pauley (DH/1B). Complicated but possible.

Now who they trade may be a function of the quality of the return and the preference of the other team more that who we would want to trade.

Side: I think the trading of Cronenworth is not on the horizon … way too big a contract given his 2023 production … he may be more in the Hosmer situation than a viable trade chip … at least until he starts hitting above average and returns to 2B.

Quote from Jeremy Hill on February 12, 2024, 7:27 am

https://twitter.com/973TheFanSD/status/1757060264372109777

Quote from BoosterSD on February 12, 2024, 7:45 am

I have stated many times that there is something about Profar and this team that just works. His numbers are probably pedestrian at best as a Padre, but he brings something in that clubhouse that isnt seen in stats, but is present in the most important number, Wins and Losses.

Please bring him back.

Quote from BoosterSD on February 12, 2024, 8:18 am

Just released on MLBTR, Profar and SD have agreed to a one year deal. No financials at this time.