Quote from fenn68 on February 21, 2023, 4:09 pm

Not sure whomever is on the 26 man to replace Tatis for 20 days will ever see an AB … so that “body” may be irrelevant.

Expect Engel/Carpenter to start in a RF platoon to get them the max early AB before Engel settles into a bench role and Carpenter settles into a platoon role with Cruz.

For those 20 days … the assumed 13th regular season player MIGHT see some time but not play ahead of the starters. The 14th (Tatis temp fill-in) is just not going to play ahead of the others.

To start the season … regulars need max AB to get the themselves and the team in the groove and likely will play everyday. If they want the next up in case of injury (or mid season rests) those fringe players should be in AAA getting their AB. So, Azocar to AAA works setting him up for a call-up as needed mid-season.

Since to start the season Dahl and Schrock (non-roster) will not likely get playing time if on the ML roster and Padres would need roster moves to add them, should be similar to Azocar and start getting AB in AAA and IF hitting set-up a call-up as needed.

Think … since they will not play early … Dixon and Batten (on the roster) might be a good strategic move allowing the others to stay sharp in AAA ,,, option one when Tatis returns and the second when (if) they need to upgrade that 13th man with one of the AAA players.

In a sense if playing the long game … having the best fill-ins playing regularly in AAA makes them more game ready in case of an injury to a starter or the desire to start resting more starters mid-season.

Quote from fenn68 on February 21, 2023, 6:37 pm

Read the article that says Machado signing long term is “a priority” per Seidler. I do think it will get done.

However, in that piece Seidler / Preller are pretty clear there are financial / budget limits implying that maybe if they sign Machado they may not have the payroll to sign Soto after 2024 (or I guess pursue Ohtani after 2023).

If they are going for consistent contender status year after year … need to have quality at a lot of slots and not just get top heavy with a handful of expensive superstars backed by filler.

Add the reports that the owners / league are apparently getting together to discuss payroll spending (again) and potentially in the next CBA push for a hard salary cap (at the cost of a lockout in 2026). That could be an issue if a team has multiple big long term deals extending beyond 2026. Padres are in that area of concern now without adding more than extending Machado.

Need those prospect to deliver.

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 22, 2023, 4:56 am

I would suspect if they are able to pass a salary cap it will still be a very high number ($250-$350 mil)....MLBPA won't accept anything low plus salaries do rise each year...plus any ceiling will have to come with a floor to get MLBPA to sign off.

Would make MLB much more competitive.

Of course as Padre fans we always wanted a cap...but now that we are spending.....maybe not so much?

 

Quote from fenn68 on February 22, 2023, 5:39 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 22, 2023, 4:56 am

I would suspect if they are able to pass a salary cap it will still be a very high number ($250-$350 mil)....MLBPA won't accept anything low plus salaries do rise each year...plus any ceiling will have to come with a floor to get MLBPA to sign off.

Would make MLB much more competitive.

Of course as Padre fans we always wanted a cap...but now that we are spending.....maybe not so much?

 

Yeh, the Union will insist on a floor to go with a cap. Also expect a push by the Union for reducing eligibility for free agency down from 6 years to 5 (gets player to fair market value sooner), a significant increase in the minimum salary, plus a more liberal arbitration process.

Would guess the salary cap will be about the expected luxury tax threshold scheduled for 2025 but then not move up much for the duration of the CBA. Pretty sure there will also be a Union push for better sharing of playoff money … and pension / benefits.

So may be difficult to set the floor / ceiling without knowing the non-payroll trade-offs … everything in the negotiation has an economic value that gets traded off to get a total value benefit for the Union.

=============

If they set a ceiling below what a couple of teams havre on the books going forward (and the other owners will want that) … it will be interesting to see what restrictions. Are put on those teams to get them under the cap. Probably not “force trades” but possibly a limited new signings, or contract extension at a max dollar amount … maybe $5MM (just to keep a team functioning) … in that example the Padres would not have been able to extend Darvish or external Machado.

On the other side, might be trickier to get a low payroll team up to minimum quickly without just give money to bad players … so maybe a 5 year step up by year to the minimum coupled with a better revenue sharing formula among all the teams. If they fail to need the minimum … take away some revenue sharing.

Should be entertaining debate.

Quote from BoosterSD on February 22, 2023, 7:21 am

I have thought for awhile that there should be both a cap and a floor for salaries in MLB. I believe its the only one of the four major sports without one.

I agree Fenn, that a floor could/would/should be higher than some teams are sitting at now. Lets say for 2025, a minimum of $100M and a cap around $250M. And then giving them small window to work up to that floor number. I would think the MLBPA would want a quicker ramp, closer to two years. In essence, coercing the teams into the signing younger cheaper players to decent contracts, buying out control years to disperse that money. Which is what the MLBPA wants, money to the players quicker.

I could also see with the implementation of this "envelope", that MLB and the MLBPA could agree to the ability to trade draft picks as well. Allowing smaller budget teams to "sell" ML level players for draft picks, not just comp picks and international pool money. Allowing the smaller budget teams to work/thrive with a smaller budget. The smaller market teams can emphasize scouting and younger players, and the bigger budget teams to keep their model going as currently.

Quote from 3fingersplit on February 23, 2023, 5:49 pm

So tomorrow is the first game of spring training and will be televised on Bally Sport at noon. It will be interesting to see how long Bally continues to broadcast as they missed payments and are headed to bankruptcy. The Padres are one of 14 teams in MLB that has a contract with Bally Sport. The repercussions could be devastating.

Enjoy it while you can.

Quote from fenn68 on February 23, 2023, 6:59 pm

Quote from 3fingersplit on February 23, 2023, 5:49 pm

So tomorrow is the first game of spring training and will be televised on Bally Sport at noon. It will be interesting to see how long Bally continues to broadcast as they missed payments and are headed to bankruptcy. The Padres are one of 14 teams in MLB that has a contract with Bally Sport. The repercussions could be devastating.

Enjoy it while you can.

Some reports suggest MLB will step in to ensure game are available in the local markets … not sure if that means opening the MLB TV package and eliminating the blackout rules for those markets … just taking over the station until a new set of deals emerge.

A bit depends on how they are approaching bankruptcy … if more a reorganization to shed debut (but still operate) the issue could be more on reducing the payments to the Padres for the right to carry … that still in a problem for the Padres.

MLB will be really on this for their self interest and the thought they would move to their own MLB network of regional MLB outlets.

Quote from fenn68 on February 23, 2023, 7:02 pm

Saw a report that Hamels will not pitch during ST (just workout) then go to extended ST then go the the minors before being considered for a ML assignment, however, he has opt out rights at the end of each month.

Quote from Randy Manese on February 23, 2023, 11:15 pm

Don't think of the financial side too often but did a little research on Bally Sports.

It looks like Disney had to divest itself of regional sports networks (RSN's) when it acquired Fox Sports several years ago so it wouldn't be considered a monopoly in sports entertainment (it already had ESPN).  Bally Sports became the subsidiary of Diamond Sports Group that took over many of these and is now facing bankruptcy.   I wonder if the Justice Department would allow Disney to acquire just one team's broadcasting rights, i.e., the San Diego Padres, vice multiple RSNs.  Think of what that would be to get the Padres out there not only as America's team, but "the" International team.  I would guess there would be a lot more money coming to Seidler and the Padres for their broadcasting rights so they can keep up the quality of the team.  Ted Turner did it for many years with TBS.  Filing for bankruptcy is probably just a reorganization ploy but one can only dream!