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Offseason Thread
#601 · January 10, 2019, 5:31 pm
I too don't really understand the early signing of Kinsler as opposed to waiting out the market and just picking up some short term filler for 1 year on the real cheap.
I am assuming that ... at the latest .... the middle INF will be Tatis - Urias by July 1. Calling Tatis up about then gives him 3 AAA months of AB and clears the Super 2 date. Would not be surprised if he is not up earlier (mid-May?). If that is the assumed timeline ... probably not gone unnoticed by the FA (and their agents) and may just not want to sign with SD knowing they will be benched sooner than later ... especially if they are not a real 3B option. They do need to play to get a better contract at their next FA point.
Add to that if they see the Padres strongly in the market for a real 3B upgrade ... even a lower chance of playing time. Maybe Preller .... after discussions with agents ... just knew SD was not a desirable destination for any quality FA who actually wants to play. If that is the case, he may just opt for a low cost filler that takes a that issue off the board with a decent player who (at 35ish) may just be happy for a job and provide good bench (and mentor for Urias).
Actually an INF bench of Kinsler - Garcia(L) is decent to back up Urias - Tatis for the next two years.
Then there is 3B.
#602 · January 10, 2019, 5:32 pm
I still think that Kinsler will be playing some 3B this year....think about it
He doesn't have to have the range that he would need at 2B and he is a gold glove infielder....very easy transition to 3B plus he will still be a plus hitter. Given what we have had at 3B the last couple of years this is a very real possibility. Urias at 2B and whatever they decide at SS....whether it's somebody to hold down the fort ( Garcia , Guerra ) or Tatis out of spring training....
Veterans at the corners and the young lions in the middle of the infield.
The other screwy idea is to see if Renfro could play 3B......I mean they put Meyers there. If Renfro could actually field ground balls and learn the position he has the arm and hopefully he would continue to hit with power....25 knocks from a 3B would be awesome. Opens up the outfield for Meyers, Margot and Reyes and makes Renfro a player more along the lines of Marwin Gonzales and wouldn't that be a stroke of genius
As long as Renfro didn't channel his Carmelo Martinez when Martinez was asking what gave him the most trouble in the outfield and he said "Fly Balls"....hopefully Renfro wouldn't say " Ground Balls "
If the Padres stand pat with the current roster ....does Ty France get a look at 3B ?
I agree with other posters about it being a quiet off season so I just thought I would throw random thoughts around to break up the day 🙂
#603 · January 10, 2019, 6:13 pm
The reason that they felt "comfortable" in giving Myers a chance at 3B is that he has had some experience on the dirt. He came up as a catcher before switching to the OF and very little 3B in MiL. Renfroe on the other hand, probably hasnt been on the dirt since Little League.
If you want a quirky thought and to get the extra bat in the line up, try Hedges at 3B and let Mejia catch. And honestly, with the depth at Catcher in the MiL system, I seriously would look to see if Austin Allen could play 3B. IF you could get passable defense from Allen at 3B, and his LH power bat into the line up fixes a couple of problems.
#604 · January 10, 2019, 7:09 pm
Quote from 3fingersplit on January 10, 2019, 5:32 pmre: Kinsler ... "he will still be a plus hitter"
I don't think this is true ... https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kinslia01.shtml ... says OPS+ in 2017 was 92, and in 2018 was 87 ...
That tells me that he is no longer "a plus hitter" ...
I hope that somehow his "veteran leadership" helps Urias and Tatis ...
#605 · January 10, 2019, 7:10 pm
3 bits in the news today ...
Padres and LHP Robbie Erlin avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.45 million contract.
Padres and OF Travis Jankowski avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.165 million contract.
Will Middlebrooks announced his retirement from baseball.
#606 · January 11, 2019, 9:36 am
This winter there are a lot of RP on the FA market and quite a few "top end" types. However, saw one report that next winter ... although there will be usual long list of FA RP ... it is looking as though only one "top end" will be on the market (Betances).
If that is the case, would the sweet spot to deal Yates (who would be under control for 2020) be this coming trade deadline and even next winter. Demand never seems to go away but in this case supply is down ... result a better return.
Some something to consider.
#607 · January 11, 2019, 9:41 am
Here you go....classic bat flip from Tatis.....hope to see him do this soon in San Diego
https://www.mlb.com/cut4/fernando-tatis-jr-hit-a-walk-off-homer-and-flipped-his-bat/c-302604796
#608 · January 11, 2019, 7:41 pm
Quote from 3fingersplit on January 11, 2019, 9:41 amHere you go....classic bat flip from Tatis.....hope to see him do this soon in San Diego
https://www.mlb.com/cut4/fernando-tatis-jr-hit-a-walk-off-homer-and-flipped-his-bat/c-302604796
This is from a game that's part of the Domincan Winter League playoffs (http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/winterleagues/league.jsp?league=car) ... that explains how/why everyone seem pretty jacked about the jack! Next game is Saturday ... and they run thru the Carribean Series Feb 2-8. Beisbol!!!
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&sid=l131&cid=669 ... shows FTJ with slash of .263/.379/.488 ... tasty!
#609 · January 12, 2019, 3:17 am
Those are the numbers for the regular season only. He's doing better in the playoffs.
#610 · January 12, 2019, 9:57 am
Did quick view of MLBTradeRumors FA predictions and results are supporting what we have been speculating ... besides a ton of FA still on the market with just over a month to go ... the signings are consistently for shorter terms (e.g. 2 years vs. 3 or 1 year vs. 2) and a mix on AAV being similar or slightly higher.
Given the late date ... and the volumes still on the market ... we should be see a lot of 1 year deals in the next few weeks. Think SS (not necessarily for the Padres) but Galvis - Iglesias - Hechavarria - Escobar are all still out there and not hearing many teams interested in them let alone four teams.
Not a great time for FA.