Quote from fenn68 on December 8, 2018, 9:41 am

It was just a matter of "when" on the DFA of Asuaje .... 2B only / "older" / bad offensive 2018 / little versatility when Urias takes 2B full time. Might get claimed by a team with roster space (there are quite a few) since he has a minor league option provides potentially some insurance for a team with 2B issues.

At the end of ST (or any point during the season) ... if the Padres need to add a non-roster player to the 25 man (think Tatis, L.Allen, Munoz) they have the chance to put Richards on the 60 day DL and not risk a 40 man player.

So, as of now the INF is Hosmer - Pirela - Urias / Guerra - Garcia / France .... think that is all the INF on the 40 man.

Quote from fenn68 on December 9, 2018, 8:05 am

Winter Meeting next week .... a new 3B on the horizon? Did a quick look at the names we have been tossing around (excluding the prospects Senzel and Riley):

1. Seager (Seattle) ... the good is that he is the best defensive option out there (by a pretty good margin) and provides needed LHH power.  the bad is that he comes burdened with a 4 year big dollar contract. Seattle would have to eat a lot to make that fit the Padres longer term plan plus that 4 years for a 31 year old coming off a down season is high risk.

2. Camargo (Atlanta) ... the good is that we was the best hitter of this group over the past two seasons (wRC+) and the second best defender with a very positive dWAR plus he is still young with 4 or 5 years control on a low cost contract. the bad is that given his profile and Atlanta wanting to contend now .... probably not on the market and not likely the Padres have the pieces to satisfy the Braves.

3. Profar (Texas) ... the good is that Profar seems to have finally pulled it together and is not about an "average" player with wRC+ around 100 and dWAR around 0.0 plus he has the added value of playing SS/2B. the bad is that his has a short run of success and limited 3B time. 2 years control on a relatively low contract would be a good bridge to Potts (or some other alternative) plus Texas is clearly on the rebuild ... possible deal here.

4. Lamb (Arizona) ... the good LHH power and average overall offense and just 28. the bad is that he is a poor defensive 3B and coming off a shoulder injury. AZ is rebuilding and he (for now) is likely being shifted to 1B in AZ so should be in play with 2 years control and a reasonable contract.

5. Diaz (Cleveland) ... the good is that he is average offensive player with a high OBP (which the Padres seem to want) and only 27. the bad is that he is slight below average defensively and has little power. Long control and league minimum salary type. Blocked in Cleveland.

6. Franco (Philadelphia) ... the good is that he was an average hitter with power in 2018. the bad is that he is a bad fielder (plus Philly has always been trying to dump him ... a concern). Probably not on the market unless the Phils come up with a replacement.

7. Moustakas (FA) ... based on 2018 he also falls into the average offensively (105 wRC+) and average defensively (dWAR +1.0). LHH with power. Not a big market for 3B, so $8MM per year over 2 years might work (maybe only 1 year). Advantage of giving up no prospects (to be used for other deals) and ... if they really want to see in 2019 if Potts develops in AA first ... is that short term bridge.

A lot depends on their projection of Potts but as of now I am beginning to like the Moustakas option if he come over on the $8MM per / 2 years (or less). Second might be Diaz ... no great shakes but blocked in Cleveland and Cleveland has the OF need ... a reasonable deal should be there not costing SD all that much. Profar would work but I suspect Texas will hold out for more than he is worth given they do not have a ready 3B replacement.

Then there is always someone we never considered.

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 9, 2018, 9:00 am

 

I agree.

I don’t think we need a guy in a 3+ year deal.

Moose is going to weigh his options and probably not in any hurry to decide.

He would be ideal IMO if,as you say,we could get him on a 1 or 2 year deal.

While we have the prospects to trade unless we use them to get an obvious upgrade from Moustakas i’d

Just as soon keep them.

On your list only Camargo would warrant trading prospects for....unless the cost for Seager(both $ and prospects)

made it to good to pass on.

 

Quote from Booster SD on December 9, 2018, 7:29 pm

I dont understand why the Pads would have any interest in Realmuto at this point. I could see it last winter prior to getting Mejia, but dont understand it now. Especially with Allen doing as well as he is as well.

Quote from fenn68 on December 10, 2018, 7:16 am

Quote from Booster SD on December 9, 2018, 7:29 pm

I dont understand why the Pads would have any interest in Realmuto at this point. I could see it last winter prior to getting Mejia, but dont understand it now. Especially with Allen doing as well as he is as well.

Well this should be a week of "rumors" that are based on misinterpretation of what "interested" really means and / or just pure speculation by the media and / or subversive plants by agents and other teams to hype the value of players. Believe anything at your own peril.

The Realmuto "rumor" surprised me until I realized the first report that I know of came from Kevin Acee ... not the cornerstone of responsible journalism. Did hear follow-up from T.Gwynn and on TV8 ... likely just passing on the Acee note. MLBTradeRumors cites Acee and Dennis Lin. The "logic" is that the Padres want to win ASAP and Realmuto is a major asset (albeit for 2 years only). Depending on which rumor ... either Hedges or Mejia go to Miami  ... and Campusano is cited as the reason they can live with 2 years since he is the catcher of the future. Alternatively, the idea is Realmuto can be flipped for something the Padres want ... think Syndergaard. Given the level of ask from the Marlins to the other teams ... not sure the Padres would be better off net with Syndergaard (3 years) at the loss of something akin to Tatis / Mejia for 6 years. Don't hold your breath for this one considering the Mets don't want go give up Conforto or Nimmo or Rosario for Realmuto and certainly not two which seems to be Miami's ask.

A small note the the Padres DO NOT have Kiluchi high on their wish list ... that would make some sense given the depth of LHP near term and Kiluchi projected as a #3. For the Padres probably would be a mis-use of money without getting the desired top of the rotation arm ... better spend elsewhere.

Now add the Padres are "interesested in " Marwin Gonzalez (MLBTradeRumors project him to get 4 years / $36MM). He is 30 and did not have a great 2018 with his value being versatility. Thought is that he handles SS until Tatis arrives and then become the super utility option. A 4 year contract at $9MM/yr for a super utility player for the Padres is super dumb ... no real room in the OF given the current options ... no history of 3B .... Tatis / Urias at SS/2B better be playing full time. Better use of that money to upgrade the price to get a 3B and/or SP. Not likely to happen but rumors happen.

Quote from Booster SD on December 10, 2018, 7:32 am

I could see a 3 team trade scenario happening where NYM gets Realmuto, SD gets Thor, and MIA ends up with about 3-5 prospects and Hedges or Mejia.

Quote from Brian Connelly on December 10, 2018, 9:24 am

Quote from Booster SD on December 9, 2018, 7:29 pm

I dont understand why the Pads would have any interest in Realmuto at this point. I could see it last winter prior to getting Mejia, but dont understand it now. Especially with Allen doing as well as he is as well.

I This has "makes no sense at first, but when you start thinking about the implications it does, AJ Preller" all over it:

Marlins would presumably want Mejia's long cheap control over Hedges (plus more in trade).  If this actually happened, the #1 by far trade AND prospect C's "available" would both simultaneously be off market, with NO teams want/needing a C having gained one.   Guessing FA's Grandal & Wilson Ramos would sign very quickly above MLBTR projections after that... leaving Pads sitting there with RH Realmuto and Hedges.. with LH Austin Allen as backup.   I was already thinking that bat first LH Allen is a perfect backup/compliment to Hedges.  SOME contender is left out of musical chairs at C there... driving Hedges trade value way up?

The other thing I've noticed is, we all just assume with 100% certainty that a guy would never extend or re-sign with Padres, but if they succeed in building ongoing contender, why not?  Realmuto's already gone through a massive selloff once.  If Pads are arrow up contender with waves of talented young SP arriving, maybe the grass isn't greener somewhere else.

Quote from fenn68 on December 10, 2018, 10:26 am

A missing piece in the logic is what Miami would demand for Realmuto .... and given their demands from Houston - NYY - NYM - ATL - LAD (I guess others) the return would have to be a lot more than Mejia plus some prospects. Guessing they are not talking unless Tatis is included.

Miami will drag this out to the bitter end and play the contenders trying to directly get the best deal ... they have the most incentive.

Not sure how much it would cost to extend Realmuto ... money is first, second, and third on the priority list and as a FA he could pick an immediate contender if he choose rather than wait to see IF the Padres can improve enough to unseat the LAD. Basically he holds all the cards.

If I am the Padres not sure I would want to keep (or extend) Realmuto who will be 30 as he hits FA in 2 years seeking big money / long term (he will get that from some team) since the life expectancy / productivity of full time catchers over the age of 30 is a very high risk play (Molina aside). Rather work through Hedges, Mejia, Allen, Torrens, Campusano, Hunt, .... to get a quality ML catcher while saving the prospects / money to use to fill the large gaping holes at SS / 3B / SP ... plus not all that sold on the OF being "contender level" quality.

Sort of a corollary logic ... not really seeing any rumors on the potential trading of either Hedges or Mejia ... either would be a low cost / long control option for teams. Given the catching market (high demand / low supply of affordable options) would think that route would be hot. Maybe Preller wants the Realmuto / Grandal / Ramos dust to settle (at least one) to rattle the cages of the other teams and make a direct deal. Note: did hear that interest in Ramos is thin due to his less than desirable defense.

Quote from MrPadre19 on December 10, 2018, 10:26 am

Mejia to Marlins makes too much sense to actually happen.