Quote from Randy Manese on November 1, 2023, 7:56 pm

Unless Arizona pulls out a miracle, looks like the off-season starts tomorrow - 2 Nov!  Should be a very interesting time for the Padres!  Trading opens up tomorrow and Preller and the Padres should be a popular number to call.  Because the World Series went only 5 games, expect a managerial choice to lead the Padres before the end of the week - want to get that all in place before free agency/exercise of options starts on the 6th or is it the 7th of November - always get confused on how they count 5 days after the series ends.

Quote from fenn68 on November 2, 2023, 1:07 am

Interesting MLBTR piece on the Padres taking out a $50MM loan near the end of last season … I speculate to address a cash flow issue. Padres down play it as “normal business” but that does potentially support all the rumors that the Padres are dropping payroll at least $50MM.

Enough bits in the article for a reader to go a lot of ways in interpreting the why and the implications. I was drawn to the fact the MLB involved apparently trying to minimize the loan requirement which links to a previous piece suggesting the Padres and MLB have an issue with the Padres debit servicing numbers now.

In a different report I heard that the Padres do not have any TV deal in place and MLB may (as in 2023) produce the TV package BUT will not pay the Padres for the rights (AZ seems to be in the same boat). I can see the other owners not wanting to pay to support the Padres and AZ.

Simply seeing a build of issues that confirm the plan to lower payroll … and based on my calculations … the current roster would leave little payroll space for FA signings (or maybe even exercising options as a priority). Makes the potential trade of Soto (the one big movable contract) even more logical and use some of his $33MM to spread around and upgrade various roster holes. Should add some reporting that beyond the player payroll … reports are that there are reductions coming in the front office on both the baseball operations and business operations side … that his its own implications on how the organization is run.

Beginning to look like part of the 2024 plan will require the pushing up of a couple of prospects … maybe sooner than desired … rather than signing some low end FA who maybe be no better … a challenge for the front office to make those calls. Might we see Snelling, Bergert, Merrill, Pauley, and/or Marsee in some combo on the opening day roster?

Also, hearing some speculation that Kim may become a trade chip … not making too much in 2024 but it is his last control year and his trade value is probably at its highest … maybe the other long term contracts will limit the Padres’ ability to re-sign him after 2024 and they do have Merrill / Bogaerts to handle SS going forward for years.

Hope they find a manager that can work for veterans such as Machado, Bogaerts, Musgrove, and Darvish while at the same time deal with large cast of rookies maybe here sooner that they should be.

 

Quote from fenn68 on November 2, 2023, 1:17 am

Quote from Randy Manese on November 1, 2023, 7:56 pm

Unless Arizona pulls out a miracle, looks like the off-season starts tomorrow - 2 Nov!  Should be a very interesting time for the Padres!  Trading opens up tomorrow and Preller and the Padres should be a popular number to call.  Because the World Series went only 5 games, expect a managerial choice to lead the Padres before the end of the week - want to get that all in place before free agency/exercise of options starts on the 6th or is it the 7th of November - always get confused on how they count 5 days after the series ends.

It is encouraging to see two teams in TEX and AZ who were just bad in the past few years vault into the World Series. TEX had their two big guns deliver (Seager and Semien) but both teams were filled with some very young players … some with rapid rise to the ML and even jumps from AA. Both had significant pitching depth holes yet worked through them.

Wonder how that “model” will influence Preller in his 2024 roster decisions?

Quote from MrPadre19 on November 2, 2023, 7:00 am

Just like us Tx signed/acquired big name stars and it didn't work...then filled in with their own prospects and got to the promised land.

Also going into the last couple seasons pitching has been their biggest question mark.

Amazing they did it without their biggest/most current acquisition in deGrom.

We just need our young guys to get here and produce for us to have our own shot.

Quote from fenn68 on November 2, 2023, 1:20 pm

And so it begins:

The Padres announced that they have claimed infielder Tucupita Marcano off waivers from the Pirates. Additionally, catcher Chandler Seagle and right-hander Drew Carlton were outrighted off the 40-man roster.

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Marcano returns to the Padres ... will be 24 and not all that impressive in the ML stints. He is listed as a SS/2B, LF ... not sure why the claim (but room on the 40 man so I guess why not).

Simplest is some middle INF insurance behind Bogaerts, Kim, Cronenworth, Merrill, Batten, Rosario over the winter. More speculative is that the Padres may want that insurance IF they are considering dealing one (or more) of those players.

 

Quote from Randy Manese on November 2, 2023, 2:14 pm

Batten and Rosario both hit from the right side, while Marcano is LH batter.  If Merrill not quite ready, Marcano can be a LH bat off the bench and is at least average to slightly above average in the middle infield as a placeholder until Merrill proves what he can do in AA over half a season or so.  Marcano has 1 option left but also had ACL surgery in early August, so could also be an IL candidate until healthy.  Batten and Rosario both have 1 option remaining.

Don't expect anyone to claim Seagle or Carlton so could still be on the El Paso roster in 2024; both have some skills but a RP pitcher coming off a semi-serious injury and an elite defensive catcher who can't hit aren't in great demand.  At least Seagle wasn't the Padres Moonlight Graham, pinch-hitting and grounding out for Juan Soto in the next to last game of the 2023 season.

Quote from fenn68 on November 2, 2023, 3:32 pm

In this 5 day exclusive window … wonder if Preller is negotiating with the agents of Wacha, Lugo, and Martinez to work out a more acceptable contract before they hit FA since expect all three to decline the player option side and unlikely the Padres take the club options on Wacha and Martinez.

Think Preller would have to go 2 years (at a minimum) … debatable on the dollars … to get them to forgo FA. All three were effective enough to warrant a return … and with three SP openings probably is going to be difficult to secure three new SP of similar quality under the assumed budget limits.

Quote from padscharg on November 2, 2023, 3:32 pm

Saw the Yankees cut Domingo German.

I think he is going into his 3rd arbitration year.  I know he didn't have the best year, but still got a lot of Ks, threw a perfect game and maybe Neibla can help him get better results.  He may be a cheaper option than other free agents for a back of the rotation starter...?

He has had some off-field issues though, so maybe not worth the headache?

Quote from fenn68 on November 2, 2023, 5:38 pm

Lugo officially declines his option (as expected) and is a FA.