Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2024, 8:52 am

Maybe why you wait out ST before making marginal moves ... Giolito (Boston) looks like will be out for the season with an elbow (surgery possible) and Gray (STL) will begin on the IL with a "mild" hamstring strain but we know hamstrings can be tricky healing.

Enter the Padres to "offer" some marginal SP support from their "excess" with maybe focus on Avila (out of options) or Morejon (options but unlikely to make the 26 man) for maybe something useful for 2024 (or the future)? Go bigger with maybe Waldron for something really useful for now?

Pitching ... even marginal ... is hard to come by at a low salary so the Padre options may be more interesting than we think and could yield a small over pay for their talents. Both Boston and STL have a lot of money into those pitchers ... not sure they want to pay up for replacements too.

Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2024, 9:21 am

In an interview, Shildt made in clear that the prospects (Merrill, Marsee, Pauley, Martorella ... and probably Rosario) will either make the roster as starters or be sent to the minors for development ... they will not be bench / part time. Think most agree with that.

Since the Padres area addressing 2-3 remaining position slots on the 26 man (CF/LF/DH) and a good chance they see Profar / Azocar as OF/DH bench (unless no better options) ... leaves open a couple of scenarios:

1. The prospects ARE deemed better than alternatives the Padres can actually get ... and by default are starters
2. A FA signing? However, we really don't know how much the Padres are willing to further spend now (vs during the season for injury coverage / mid-season adds ... trade deadline for a player like Burnes will add about $5MM) plus we don't know what the assumed better FA options are demanding (apparently still a lot if they are not yet signed). Don't know how the Padres actually view these FA going forward. Basically a big black hole.
3. A Trade? never know with Preller but not hearing anything for other teams that they are entertaining trading the kind of player that would interest the Padres for 2024 ... let alone the price for a deal. Black hole 2.
4. Non-roster invitees are more AAAA types but COULD be serviceable enough (with Profar / Azocar) to provide a bridge to the prospects arriving mid-season. Rely on the Core 6 and the pitching to keep them in the race until the call-up. Big gamble on AAAA types but could be the last option. Mercado, Mitchell, Locastro, Wade, ... ???

Time until the season opening (sort of ignoring the Korea set) is short and can't "force" options 2 or 3 to yield a major add ... so good chance we dance with prospects vs AAAA player or some combo to start the season although the prospects might have the edge as LHH with upside (even if we are not fully comfortable with that).

The 2024 Preller may just be different than the Preller of the past who at the last minute made some splash moves. The combo of lower payroll appears to be a reality and some legitimate prospects "near ready" and the 2023 that saw the Padres move multiple prospects faster than every before might just come together to have the future be now.

 

Quote from WindsorUK on March 5, 2024, 12:32 pm

So right now we're looking at Merrill in LF and Marsee in CF, with....Azocar as OF number 4....and Mercado..????..as OF number 5, DH, LHH PH???

Maybe catch lightning in a bottle with Mercado? See if he has maybe 100 good AB's left in his bag?

Quote from WindsorUK on March 5, 2024, 12:47 pm

Or is it Profar LF, Merrill CF with Azocar and Mercado in reserve?

Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2024, 12:54 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on March 5, 2024, 12:32 pm

So right now we're looking at Merrill in LF and Marsee in CF, with....Azocar as OF number 4....and Mercado..????..as OF number 5, DH, LHH PH???

Maybe catch lightning in a bottle with Mercado? See if he has maybe 100 good AB's left in his bag?

Maybe LF/DH: Merrill (L); Profar (#)

CF/DH: Marsee (L); Azocar

Then the question is do they keep both Batten (likely since he can step in almost every position and does have speed to PR) and Rosario (more a 3B/2B). Likely keep Batten and option Rosario. That leaves one open slot … probably not a position based decision … a strong bat? A third C if they want Campusano to DH more to keep his bat in the line-up?

Quote from WindsorUK on March 5, 2024, 1:08 pm

Watching Pads vs. D-Backs( free game on MLB TV)

Reynolds looking strong.

Quote from BoosterSD on March 5, 2024, 1:20 pm

I am thinking that Wade might be a good bench option, can play 3B, SS, 2B, and has some OF time as well. Is a LH bat something that SD is really short on at the moment.

I dont think both Merrill and Marsee are both making the team. One or the other...thinking Merrill and he is CF. In LF will be a combo of Profar and Locastro, with Azocar there for a late inning defensive sub.

Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2024, 2:16 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on March 5, 2024, 1:20 pm

I am thinking that Wade might be a good bench option, can play 3B, SS, 2B, and has some OF time as well. Is a LH bat something that SD is really short on at the moment.

I dont think both Merrill and Marsee are both making the team. One or the other...thinking Merrill and he is CF. In LF will be a combo of Profar and Locastro, with Azocar there for a late inning defensive sub.

Wade is surely in the mix … add that he can run well and seems to be a hustler.

Padres just added … on a minor league contract … veteran MLer Brad Miller … 1B/3B … LHH … 34 years old … so given his experience will be in the mix at some point. Coming off two poor seasons that followed some “ok” seasons. Maybe the 2024 version of Matt Carpenter? Adam Frazier?

Quote from fenn68 on March 6, 2024, 7:11 am

Reported that Eddie Rosario has agreed to a “split contract” with WASH … could achieve $4MM if incentives met.

So, off the board IF the Padres were even considering him … apparently they were not.

Sort of leaves only Belt as a LHH but have heard zero linking him to SD. Does that add to the idea that the Padres will be going with Merrill (LHH) and maybe one of the other LHH prospects? Options are fading away.

$4MM is not all that much in this market … maybe fewer see much of a future in Rosario than some thought. Also, might the Padres not being in on Rosario at that level suggest the payroll limit for 2024 is lower than being tossed around based on being under the CBT threshold.

A lot to “interpret” from this low end signing of Rosario by a non-contender.