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Spring Training 2023
#261 · March 24, 2023, 11:18 am
Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 24, 2023, 10:09 amMelvin just said that Engel hurt his hamstring yesterday. I would think that makes him unlikely for the opening day roster. I guess the question now is who gets the last bench spot while he's out.
It also sounds like Darvish is tracking towards starting the 6th game of the year. I would think that means Groome will be in the rotation for at least 1 start.
Avoid the conspiracy theory on Engel’s timely injury … good question on who gets that last slot. Sullivan makes a lot of sense if they want to slow walk Nola back into the line-up (and Sullivan can play corners) … plus on the roster so minimal disruption to just accommodate the 20 days without Tatis.
Since it is setting up a just a 20 day fill … not thinking a non-roster player is worth the effort to have the 13th man … so not likely Odor, Severino, Kohlway, Lopes, et al.
If they want more flexibility … maybe Dixon or Batten hang on for the 20 days.
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Unless the Padres have not disclosed something more serious, not seeing any 60 day IL candidates. More likely DFA of someone like Kerr, Batten, or Dixon assuming Lopez is gone for Dahl but Honeywell is retained.
#262 · March 24, 2023, 1:46 pm
Quote from Randy Manese on March 24, 2023, 10:23 amIf Engel goes on the 10 day IL (or is released), then from a hitting standpoint the best bets are Odor and Kohlwey, however, neither are on the 40 man. I'm going along with Booster's thoughts on keeping Sullivan as the last man on the bench because he can play OF and also c, which are two positions that might need a little more depth with Nola and Soto coming back from injuries. If that doesn't work out, we can always bring up someone else and DFA one of the RPs or put one on the 60 day IL.
Don't forget AJP always ..ALWAYS pounces on someone as final 40/26 are set ...aka Azocar, Hand, Yancey, Manea... others and Rogers.. some were straight DFA minor trades..some decent size trades.. AJP has been awfully quiet in the trade front this offseason...
#263 · March 24, 2023, 2:08 pm
Quote from fenn68 on March 24, 2023, 8:30 amBaring another injury (and expecting neither Soto nor Nola to go IL) the pre-Tatis 5 man bench should be:
Campusano - Cruz - Carpenter (L) as the baseline with Azocar - Dahl (L) - Engel.
Basically the non-roster add becomes Dahl because he had a good ST ... bats L ... plays 3 OF slots ... and will play until Tatis returns. (Lopez return to TB makes the roster slot). Do think he survives the return of Tatis ... the LHH and 3 OF slots gives him an advantage.
So then down to Azocar (optioned) or Engel (released). I know the easy call is optioning Azocar but I would keep him ... just see him has better right now than Engel. In 2021 Engel had a slash line of 224/269/310 and for his career 225/280/350 ... and at 31 his defense is not better than Azocar. I guess I am also influenced by the fact SD signed him as a FA for only $1MM (dirt cheap for any good ML veteran) with no other team outbidding ... so not really thought that high of by others. If they release him and another team signs him ... cost to the Padres only $250K ... if no team signs him to a ML contract might tell you that he is not that good and was not worth keeping.
So the Padres will have a 6-man bench until Tatis gets back. That gives Dahl, Azocar and Engel 20 games to fight it out for the last 2 roster spots. Should be fun!
#264 · March 25, 2023, 11:33 am
Musgrove is officially starting on the IL. That's probably good news for Honeywell.
#265 · March 25, 2023, 1:26 pm
Haven't seen the Musgrove to IL yet but I am watching today's game and Odor looks really good at the plate, both against de Grom and the LH RP. With Nola catching a minor league game today, I'm predicting that Odor gets that last spot on the bench. Will need another 40 man spot to open up to have both he and Dahl rostering. Pomeranz back-dated 60 IL?
#266 · March 25, 2023, 2:39 pm
Quote from Randy Manese on March 25, 2023, 1:26 pmHaven't seen the Musgrove to IL yet but I am watching today's game and Odor looks really good at the plate, both against de Grom and the LH RP. With Nola catching a minor league game today, I'm predicting that Odor gets that last spot on the bench. Will need another 40 man spot to open up to have both he and Dahl rostering. Pomeranz back-dated 60 IL?
Pretty sure they can only back date 3 days … and all the reports have been that Pomeranz is throwing again … so not likely a 60 IL candidate right now.
If they add both Dahl and Odor … returning Lopez should be one slot and guess they go with a DFA of either Kerr or Batten … both already optioned to AAA but would not be surprised if one (or both) were already put on waivers and are just waiting to be claimed or clear and get assigned to EP.
Figure with Engel ticketed for IL creating the opening day need for OF/bench the Padres probably already know who they want to add and get ahead of the process.
Although Odor has looked good … not sure they want a bench with Carpenter, Dahl, and Odor … all LHH … with Odor and Carpenter “limited” defensively.
#267 · March 25, 2023, 3:14 pm
Quote from fenn68 on March 25, 2023, 2:39 pmAlthough Odor has looked good … not sure they want a bench with Carpenter, Dahl, and Odor … all LHH … with Odor and Carpenter “limited” defensively.
There is plenty of defensive flexibility on this team. There are 6 guys that can handle SS alone.
Just take the best bats for the bench.
#268 · March 25, 2023, 4:10 pm
Now Acee is reporting that Suarez is likely to start on the IL too. It should be interesting to see what they do in the bullpen now. They might need to find a spot for Lugo or Tapia.
#269 · March 25, 2023, 4:47 pm
Quote from BoosterSD on March 25, 2023, 3:14 pmQuote from fenn68 on March 25, 2023, 2:39 pmAlthough Odor has looked good … not sure they want a bench with Carpenter, Dahl, and Odor … all LHH … with Odor and Carpenter “limited” defensively.
There is plenty of defensive flexibility on this team. There are 6 guys that can handle SS alone.
Just take the best bats for the bench.
Not quite as robust depth in the OF if no Tatis / Engel if you care about defense.
Who gets released when Tatis / Engel return? Don’t think Dahl, Odor, Carpenter, or Cruz can be optioned.
#270 · March 25, 2023, 5:00 pm
Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 25, 2023, 4:10 pmNow Acee is reporting that Suarez is likely to start on the IL too. It should be interesting to see what they do in the bullpen now. They might need to find a spot for Lugo or Tapia.
Sort of depends on how long they see Suarez out …
Not sure they want to go to another non-roster add NOW … wait until they clearly see a 60 day IL issue. However, like what I see from Lugo and Tapia has been good in ST (but his ML history is not great).
Snell - Martinez - Wacha - Lugo - Darvish - Groome (SP)
Hader - Hill - Garcia - Crismatt - Wilson - Honeywell (RP)
#13: Weathers or Lopez or Filipe or Knehr or Avila or Baez … for the short time Musgrove on IL.
Then another move (out of the first 12) when Suarez returns. Not really the scenario for adding a non-roster player (and losing roster player) for just a couple of weeks.