Quote from Randy Manese on December 6, 2023, 10:45 pm

You'll have Baseball America's Minor League pitcher of the year and Milb.com's Minor League Pitcher of the Year on the same staff!  Plus holdovers Bergert and Krob and when they prove they are healthy, Lizarraga and Lesko!  Oh, and don't forget Iriarte if he needs to polish some part of his game (please not at El Paso!).

Quote from fenn68 on December 7, 2023, 2:13 am

Think some will see EP … doubt the Padres want to relegate any to the bullpen yet and would prefer to get each max starts and stretch out innings as a step towards the ML role … so max 5 in SA as starters? Lizzaraga and Lesko might just begin 2024 in FW. SA gets Thorpe, Snelling, Mazur, Krob, Irate … then Bergert to EP? Guessing there may be another lower profile arm the Padres may want to work as a SP in SA so maybe another to EP?

Adding to mix (but probably to EP) are the overload os SP options generated by this trade … the 3 ML pitchers plus Waldron considering that Avila is out of MiL options. Good chance someone gets optioned.

Did note that Preller in last night’s presser did say he was still going to pursue pitching (along with OF).

Looks as though ST (and the start of the season) will generate a lot of competition forML pitching roles in the second half.

Quote from fenn68 on December 7, 2023, 2:27 am

For the next moves would focus on a net set of transactions capping at $28MM increase to payroll … the amount that keeps them under the luxury tax. Getting more sense that is the mandate over the $200MM cash payroll.

At this point that would seem to lead them to multiple OF adds (only now Tatis and Azocar) … have to believe half (maybe less) will target Lee for CF as a multi-year solution. Profar a team favorite should be low cost (LF/DH/utility)?

Then sprinkle in a trade or two … Cronenworth would not only lower the AAV number if the return is another league minimum type (or at least low AAV). Don’t see them trading Kim or Suarez (yet). If the deal is right (probably for a bat) we might see one of the young SP moved.

So Preller does have a lot to do yet with a limited amount of money.

Quote from fenn68 on December 7, 2023, 4:59 am

Roster at only 34 after the trade and Rule 5 pick ... included are three "fringe" players for the 26 man without minor league options: Kolek; Avila; and Groome ... with the new adds from the trade going to be difficult for them to make the 26 man resulting in the roster dropping to 31 ... and even that includes some very marginal players who happen to still have minor league options.

Roster is wide open for adds ... budget is limited. Might that result in the Padres signing a lot of veteran FA to ML contracts but lower end rebound candidates in that $2-4MM range. OF is the need, so maybe Lee is the big money add and then a string of options in the mode of Profar? Hopefully better than in 2023 with Dahl, Engle et al. At least the fact that the Padres have a wide open OF ... agents / players should want to sign with the Padres for the greater chance of making the ML roster ... that may yield a better crop of candidates on either ML or MiL make good deals while minimizing costs. Have to fill in the blanks by taking every advantage they can get.

Quote from 84padres on December 7, 2023, 5:15 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 6, 2023, 12:37 pm

If we trade Soto and Grisham AJ must have some real plans for outfielders.

Must think has a real shot at Lee...then another trade.

I don't see Marsee or any other prospect ready to start '24....so

Bogaerts to LF ? Hannley Ramirez did it . If he doesn't want to play 1B  ? If they sign Kim to an extension and Merrill does reasonable well , then something has to give .

Quote from fenn68 on December 7, 2023, 5:37 am

Quote from 84padres on December 7, 2023, 5:15 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 6, 2023, 12:37 pm

If we trade Soto and Grisham AJ must have some real plans for outfielders.

Must think has a real shot at Lee...then another trade.

I don't see Marsee or any other prospect ready to start '24....so

Bogaerts to LF ? Hannley Ramirez did it . If he doesn't want to play 1B  ? If they sign Kim to an extension and Merrill does reasonable well , then something has to give .

Probably Cronenworth becomes the first decision point ... traded (drop his $11MM AAV) or HE shifts to LF. Bogaert does probably end up at 1B if Merrill shows up AND they extend Kim for 2025 and beyond.

I suspect high motivation to move a declining Cronenworth's $11MM AAV that would exist for the next 6 years. Not even considering the player return for Croney ... good chance they get better productivity via some FA signing of a legit OF for less that $11MM ... and on a much shorter commitment creating room for the league minimum prospects to arrive in the next year or so.

Quote from fenn68 on December 7, 2023, 5:53 am

As the Padres continue to work on building a complete roster with limited funds ... besides moving Cronenworth ($11MM AAV ... 6 years) should they consider moving Suarez ($9MM AAV ... 4 years). Big demand for RP in MLB so probably gets a nice player back beyond the benefit of clearing more cap space to redeploy.

I know the common thought is that Suarez is the Padre closer ... but is that a product of the narrative when he was signed t the extension and before the trade no alternatives. Looking at this ML work ... hard to justify Suarez being a closer better than some of the internal options.

Consider his 71 game (2 year) ML run ... 1 save in 7 opportunities. 2023 when on 60 day IL with elbow inflammation and at 32 is that a significant risk going forward for a closer who will be heavily worked in high leverage situations.

Really are the Padres sure that Suarez is a better option for closer vs Cosgrove (L), Wilson, and the new guy Brito? Where do they want to make the gamble ... OF or RP?

Quote from Randy Manese on December 7, 2023, 7:48 am

First order of business to me is to sign Lee.  We know he wants to be here so just needs a contract that is within reason to re-unite with good friend Kim, hopefully, not more than 13M per year and strung out over 5 years - somewhere around 60-65M total.  Kim "only" got 8M per year when he signed, so that may be working in our favor for signing Lee but maybe not for extending Kim; that would probably take moving Cronenworth and/or Suarez as Fenn suggests.  I think Kim's extension comes north of 13M, possibly up to 15M.  We can handle both these if we move at least one of the two - Cronenworth or Suarez.

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 7, 2023, 7:51 am

Would be a pretty bad look if we traded Suarez,considered best choice to Close,and we struggle all year to close out games and miss the playoffs.I know AJ doesn't operate on "optics"....but I just doubt we would trade him after bringing him back to MLB and then extending him.

Also think Crone needs to play and regain his value...they extended him for a reason and if he returns to his offensive output of a couple years ago and continues to play great defense we may want to keep him (esp if no Kim extension) or would be more able to move him.I don't like at our current situation trading anyone away and having to pay with $ or prospects to do so.

But if we can move him and "improve" the team somehow I'm fine with it......just doubtful though