Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 11, 2023, 4:51 pm

Nice seeing Zavala and Salas get some MLB spring training action today..

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 11, 2023, 6:10 pm

Is Salas the youngest player in SDP history to have a ST AB?

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 11, 2023, 6:40 pm

So with the confidence shown to Salas  does he start in LE or even FW?

 

Quote from Henry Silvestre on March 11, 2023, 7:37 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 11, 2023, 6:40 pm

So with the confidence shown to Salas  does he start in LE or even FW?

 

I hear AZ but quick promo to LE if he hits well on an interview with a Padres scout.. after seeing him behind the plate and on it 1 AB .. I am thinking LE to start and FW mid season.. He looked ready defensively ..so unreal and smooth.. with outstanding targets and framing.. dude is near ready on the defensive end and comfortable looking in it.. I wouldn't be surprised if he sees time in 2024 in SD.. and almost 💯 convinced he starts in 2025 at age 18.. (6/1/25 turns 19)

Quote from Randy Manese on March 11, 2023, 10:07 pm

Weathers looking a lot better but needs just a little more consistency before he can take over a full-time SP role in the majors.  Velocity up and pitching with a lot more intensity.  Still hangs a few but mechanics much improved over 2022.  Hill looks as good as I've ever seen him look.

Salas looked very comfortable behind the plate for a 16 year old.  Can get the bat on the ball so don't think he'll have a high K percentage.  Arizona complex league doesn't open until June and the DSL just a little ahead of that so what do you do with the kid until then.  If you challenge him by Lake Elsinore placement, could really affect his confidence if he gets off to a bad start although he does seem pretty well grounded.   Got a few more weeks to figure it out but I think I'm leaning extended ST then ACL (stay may be short) then onto Lake Elsinore around 4 July.

As far as position players go, Lopes may have played himself on the Opening Day roster while Dixon may have played himself off.  Will need to open up some open 40 man slots if we have Dahl, Lopes and Teheran all make the team.  Right now my bench is Cruz, Campusano, Lopes and Dahl and it is between Azocar and Engel for the last opening day spot while Tatis is out.  Because he has options, I'm sending down Azocar and see what Dahl and Engel can do as a platoon even though Azocar has been very good in the spring.

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2023, 4:00 am

Guessing Salas goes to extended ST initially primarily to evaluate his hitting … be it in inter-squad games or exhibitions with other teams then get quickly moved up to LE on June 1 (his 17th birthday).

Padres really don’t like to put a prospect at a higher level just to see if he can handle it then move him down if he is not ready. However, in the next three weeks in games at minor league camp … he may just prove his bat is ready. So, maybe.

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Any guess when the Padres offer him a long extension? If he is in the ML at 18-19 … and showing the super star profile … could be a long one given Siedler’s comfort with long deals.

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2023, 4:33 am

If some of the non-roster players are added to the roster … not really an issue with finding roster slots.

Padres’ pitching has enough players without minor league options to force some DFA and Lopez should get sent back to TB. Add that there are enough fringe players that would not be problem to DFA (Batten, Dixon, Kerr, etc) if they are getting beat out by a non-roster add.

Still a couple of weeks before the decision and games at the end of ST are more of an evaluation tool as ML players start playing more and have progressed in regular seasons shape.

I would expect Dahl having the best shot. Initially with Tatis out he can play RF as a LHH option and he could hang on after Tatis returns if the Padres don’t carry the “extra” middle INF.

Teheran’s add would have a problematic ripple effect … pushes another pitcher to DFA (may optioned) then I don’t think they can option Teheran. He is going to have to keep impressing to get added and set the rest in motion.

Lopes may be the hardest to accommodate as a middle INF with Bogaerts, Kim, Cronenworth, and Carpenter all capable middle INF ahead of him. Not adding him would allow for all three OF candidates to remain and sort out the survivors until Tatis returns.

Long shot: Severino as the 2nd catcher if Campusano’s “minor injury” lingers.

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2023, 9:49 am

Padres reliever Craig Stammen suffered a torn capsule in his right shoulder Friday, as reported by the San Diego Union Tribune’s Kevin Acee. Stammen, who just celebrated his 39th birthday, acknowledged that his “playing days are probably over,” though it seems Stammen and the club have not decided whether or not to pursue surgery. The longtime Padres right-hander was in camp on a minor league deal this spring.

Quote from Randy Manese on March 12, 2023, 10:19 am

It's too bad that it had to end like that for Stammen.  Thought he had a chance for once last hurrah with a World Series team, but it was not to be.  Likely stays with the team in some capacity going forward.