Quote from Brian Connelly on September 15, 2020, 1:33 pm

If they resign Profar ... Garcia may be on the bubble but not until they settle the mix of all the back-up players ... so not so quick to drop him.

Five to fill:

1. back-up catcher: Mejia or Campusano
2. LHH DH: Moreland
3. Super Utility: Profar
4. bench OF (who can play CF): ?                     ANS:  No one (Was: Olivares)
5. bench INF (who can play all the slots)?      ANS:  Profar!  plus: 1B - Moreland, if 3rd C:  1B, 2B, 3B(?) - Nola PLUS JC can play all, and Manny/Fernando can play each other's positions.

 

If we have Cronenworth, Nola, AND Profar all 2B capable, which is Garcia's best (only?) field position, AND Moreland > Garcia as LHH DH, it's just really hard to see GG on roster.  Love him.  Great pro.  Highest & best use was exactly last night's role:  late game PH.

Definitely agree on #4.  NEED a RH, CF capable 4th OF.  I'm not saying Olivares for Rosenthal was a mistake; we HAD to get RP & I backed  Rosenthal idea....  but wouldn't it have been awesome if Kirby was healthy, re-gained his form, and we HADN'T had to trade Olivares?   Off to great early start with KC.

Quote from fenn68 on September 15, 2020, 2:32 pm

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 15, 2020, 1:33 pm

If they resign Profar ... Garcia may be on the bubble but not until they settle the mix of all the back-up players ... so not so quick to drop him.

Five to fill:

1. back-up catcher: Mejia or Campusano
2. LHH DH: Moreland
3. Super Utility: Profar
4. bench OF (who can play CF): ?                     ANS:  No one (Was: Olivares)
5. bench INF (who can play all the slots)?      ANS:  Profar!  plus: 1B - Moreland, if 3rd C:  1B, 2B, 3B(?) - Nola PLUS JC can play all, and Manny/Fernando can play each other's positions.

 

If we have Cronenworth, Nola, AND Profar all 2B capable, which is Garcia's best (only?) field position, AND Moreland > Garcia as LHH DH, it's just really hard to see GG on roster.  Love him.  Great pro.  Highest & best use was exactly last night's role:  late game PH.

Definitely agree on #4.  NEED a RH, CF capable 4th OF.  I'm not saying Olivares for Rosenthal was a mistake; we HAD to get RP & I backed  Rosenthal idea....  but wouldn't it have been awesome if Kirby was healthy, re-gained his form, and we HADN'T had to trade Olivares?   Off to great early start with KC.

Already had Profar in the mix ... so still two slots open (without Garcia) and don’t have two options now that fit better than Garcia (would want to ... but don’t yet).

Unless it is a player really that fits the multi-position role (like Profar or Zobrist was) ... really don’t endorse moving starters from the best position to a spot where they will under perform while backfilling with someone who will be lesser than the moved player. Once again invoke the Myers syndrome .... just because a player can be moved does not mean the player should be moved.

The idea of Nola at 2B does not excite me (even though Tingler did say that was possible). He was not able to make the ML as an INF ... only got there as a catcher. He is the #1 catcher (until Campusano arrives) ... why remove one of the better catchers in the game to under use him at 2nd base and put Mejia in to catch in 2021 and lower the quality of the more important catching slot. Don’t like Garcia ... get a better legit middle INF option t0 go along with Profar.

Quote from fenn68 on September 15, 2020, 6:31 pm

Maybe a different spin on filling the reserve roles since the starting eight seems set, Moreland DH, and if they resign Profar .... should the Padres expose Ona and Campusano to ML time ... apparently they showed well enough at the alternate site to justify a 2020 call-up ... they are legit prospects.

Get them acclimated to ML with secondary roles in 2021 and have them ready to step in when Pham and Moreland go FA in 2022.

Ona has a shot at RHH DH and some RF (think his arm is strong) in Myers needs a break.

Campusano may be ready for the back-up C role ... moving Mejia to more the DH role or a trade chip since having 2 reserve catchers with limited position versatility would be an issue.

If they went with Ona and Campusano (both should help vs LHP) ... Profar ... Moreland ... deal Mejia ... still room for one other utility INF/OF as the 13th man ... baring finding another alternative Mateo fills that role.

If they are close to ready ... that makes a nice bridge to 2022.

======

If they re-sign Profar, and since he has really looked to settle in defensively in LF, might they in ST work him some in CF (has the speed). Just as the emergency option but if he can handle it that may change the value / need for Mateo who I don't see as a long run key.

Quote from LynchMob on September 16, 2020, 7:54 am

I'll nominate Robbie Ray as a free agent signing to make ... speculating that we can get him to a pitching coach that will fix him ... he's very broken now ... but he's only 28 and K's a lot of guys!  He's gotta be fixable ...

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 5:18 pm

Based on his 44 AB with the Padres, beginning to think NOT picking up Moreland’s is a possibility. Yes, they dealt prospects (Potts, Rosario) but the basic need was a hot LHH in Boston to DH.

In 2021, Moreland will be 35 and a one dimensional DH who can’t hit LHP. With Hosmer back not going to see him at 1B. Not bringing him back saves a net $2.5MM and with Pham returning to LF ... they may be better served working through Mejia, Ona, Campusano in the DH role unless the re-sign Profar (which they should).

 

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 16, 2020, 6:38 pm

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 5:18 pm

Based on his 44 AB with the Padres, beginning to think NOT picking up Moreland’s is a possibility. Yes, they dealt prospects (Potts, Rosario) but the basic need was a hot LHH in Boston to DH.

In 2021, Moreland will be 35 and a one dimensional DH who can’t hit LHP. With Hosmer back not going to see him at 1B. Not bringing him back saves a net $2.5MM and with Pham returning to LF ... they may be better served working through Mejia, Ona, Campusano in the DH role unless the re-sign Profar (which they should).

 

The complete fall-off-a-cliff has been rough.  But the sample is so small relative to his career.  Also no excuse, but 10+ year career entirely in AL.   Not the same "experience" advantage as if he'd been traded to another AL team.

I'm 100% guilty of saying Profar might have a tough FA, but he's having a career "year", which even with the definitely needed "grain of salt" (sustainable from 60 to 162?) is simply going to push his earnings as a 28 y.o. SH super utility way > 2.5 MM.

I think the "fair" way to look at Moreland is:  who else can you get for that amount of $ that's likely to be =/> him based on CAREER #'s...

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 8:35 pm

At 35, does his career numbers really matter? Or does it matter he is taking up a roster spot as a DH vs RHP for a manager that seems to like rotating starters through the DH to keep them fresh.

Profar or not ... use that roster spot for a player that can play a field position over the course of a 162 game schedule. Without Profar .... Mateo (OF), Garcia (INF), and someone else for the bench if there is a catcher back-up and Moreland. Not good positional depth and there will be injuries and a need for games off.

 

Quote from JasonE135 on September 17, 2020, 12:32 am

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 8:35 pm

At 35, does his career numbers really matter? Or does it matter he is taking up a roster spot as a DH vs RHP for a manager that seems to like rotating starters through the DH to keep them fresh.

Profar or not ... use that roster spot for a player that can play a field position over the course of a 162 game schedule. Without Profar .... Mateo (OF), Garcia (INF), and someone else for the bench if there is a catcher back-up and Moreland. Not good positional depth and there will be injuries and a need for games off.

 

I expect Moreland to come back. Starting this year the Padres are no longer a rebuilding team. Tingler and Preller will want proven players who can be counted on. Moreland may not be great but we know he is able to hit reasonably well with regularity. Ona, Mejia, Campusano nobody can guarantee. They will get their chances next year to try to prove themselves and take the DH role from Moreland but it will not just be given to them. $3 million for one year is cheap for a proven guy. Any rookie is a risk.

Quote from Brian Connelly on September 17, 2020, 9:04 am

Quote from fenn68 on September 16, 2020, 8:35 pm

At 35, does his career numbers really matter? Or does it matter he is taking up a roster spot as a DH vs RHP for a manager that seems to like rotating starters through the DH to keep them fresh.

Profar or not ... use that roster spot for a player that can play a field position over the course of a 162 game schedule. Without Profar .... Mateo (OF), Garcia (INF), and someone else for the bench if there is a catcher back-up and Moreland. Not good positional depth and there will be injuries and a need for games off.

 

you've used this line a lot...  Tingler doing that was a function of NOT having a LH DH vs RHP.... in a 60-game season.  You keep guys fresh in a 162 game season by actually giving them a day off.  I get "always" having Machado or Tatis in the lineup, but during the dog days of Summer, guys will need a blow.   Who would be playing 1B right now if we hadn't traded for Moreland?  Moving Profar or JC there (with no Pham) creates another hole; likely they would have had to do that & start Ona in LF....

just b/c Ona is "hitting" .250 / .400 ... in 12 AB does not mean he's > Moreland vs RHP or "next year's DH".

Could Moreland be "done" at age 35?  Of course.  But have to look at stuff logically, not on 30-40 AB.  If Moreland IS done, it means that literally happened on the plane flight from Boston to San Diego, b/c he had an incredible first half.  He was BOUND to regress.  So is Tatis!  So will Cronenworth next year... not going to hit .325 over 162.   Austin Hedges season this year was a meaningful reflection of his entire career b/c the #'s were so similar.  I just don't think that's the case with Moreland's #'s so far in SD.

Problem with not having a primary DH is it really "is" a position.  Definitely the one that's most open to sharing, but in a longer season, think you want a "main" guy so you can construct your roster around that.  Many AL teams have been doing it for years; it comes down to if the guy you have is good enough to "just" be the DH.  Obviously that's fair to argue in Moreland's case.

I think Preller's trade was based on return of DH next year & was a 2020 and 2021 decision.  But the club option/buyout gives the escape clause.

To have a team where going into 2021:  every starter on the field is set (Pham/Profar debate still = 1), 1-4 SP set, and deep bullpen #'s provide competition likely requiring trades out, ONLY needs are:  maybe a RH closer, and best bench possible.