Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2025, 10:10 pm

As a pure platoon player vs RHP in LF or DH ... Heyward should provide at least "average" offense in the bottom 1/3rd of the line-up ... and that is actually good in the scope of the rest of the line-up and the fact he is pretty low cost. With Joe as his partner vs LHP, expecting a combined wRC+ above 100 and a WAR slightly above 1 ... pretty good for the price.

Defensively Heyward still should be better than any of the alternatives as a LHH LF.

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2025, 10:20 pm

Ornelas will be an interesting watch in ST to see how the Padres strategically handle him.

He is hitting well in ST (but still early) ... has the style Rodriguez likes of contact to all fields ... at league minimum ... full 6 years control ... so a lot to keep him probably as the DH (either full time or vs RHP).

However, he does have a minor league option available ... so if the mix of alternatives (likely of players who cannot be optioned) is even equal ... maybe optioned to provide call-up insurance if someone is injured or fails. Either way, he is controlled for the year but some of the alternatives can opt out mid-season and then if Ornelas is struggling??? Also, no ML experience for a team that wants to contend may be a drawback.

Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2025, 10:30 pm

Tying to my last comment that the Padres plan to contend ... and considering really only two "open" slots on the position players ... DH/bench ... might the Padres be biased towards experience veterans (all things being equal) who have experience with playoff ball and maybe know the bench role better?

I was thinking a trade / DFA of Rosario and optioning Ornelas in favor of adding Iglesias (better INF reserve) and Gurriel (1B/DH) or maybe instead of Gurriel sign David Peralta (LHH) for the DH role. Wade, Diaz, and Joe are veterans ... so could they be more comfortable with an all veteran position player team to START the season?

Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2025, 10:54 pm

Switching to the pitching ... assuming Hart is in to start the season as a SP the starters are set.

However the pen may have some debate considering:

Hoeing (shoulder), Rule 5 Nunez (shoulder), and Reynolds (foot) are not getting their ST build-up and all could be out of opening day roster considerations and head for the IL/extended ST/minors. Hoeing / Reynolds have options but Nunez if not IL has to be offered back as a Rule 5.

Once past RHRP Suarez-Adam-Estrada and LHRP Morejon-Matsui-Peralta ... who gets the last two RP slots (think all the alternatives also have minor league options)? Do the Padres prefer to keep the potential next up SP options working extended innings in AAA vs ML pen? Do the Padres prefer to keep their better end of game RP options in AAA getting high leverage inning vs mop up as need in the ML?

With the initial assumption that the current crop of SP will consistently push at least 6 innings and the strong 6 RP ticketed for innings 7-9 ... combined with the early season schedule shaping up with one off day a week ... can (should) the Padres maybe strategically deploy the pitching options for a more prepared set of call-up as needed as the season progresses. Basically 162 game (6 month) thinking vs day 1 thinking.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 6, 2025, 5:19 am

Quote from fenn68 on March 5, 2025, 6:12 pm

Did see the note on his contract ... if he makes the club a base of $3MM plus $1MM incentives. Plus has the standard 3 opt outs if he does not and is sent to the minors. That is a pretty steep price for insurance on the bench when should expect the regulars to play almost every day (and Iglesias is not a DH option). No idea what the minor league portion of his deal pays.

So, in one view, Padres added a ST insurance policy (maybe also for April and May) at little cost. Hard to see them paying him for a bench role at that level ... considering Rosario and Wade combined would be less with money left over. D0 agree that Iglesias would be a better SS back-up than either Wade or Rosario ... nothing else really in the system.

Does make me think a trade that includes Rosario is possible .... maybe for a stronger option for the 9th bat in the line-up ... DH/1B?

Side: I think the Padres a initially committed to Arraez at 1B. In part to make him happy in an effort to maximize his hitting and maybe making it easier to extend him after the season. Padres really like his skill set and have very little offense coming near term internally. Might be the easiest (and cheapest) to re-sign among himself, Cease, and King.

The only thing that makes sense on the Iglesias signing,besides just veteran bench depth(although at $3 mil?),would be do get Arraez more DH time.

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on March 6, 2025, 3:14 pm

Cronenworth was the worst hitter in baseball with more than 150 PAs against lefties last year. Drop it to 100 and he's still among the worst. Iglesias has hit .300/.345/.433 off lefties for his career. Last year he put up an absurd .402/.455/.544 line against them in just over 100 PAs. They're still talking like Cronenworth is going to be an everyday player. I think it could turn into a platoon situation pretty quickly. Against right handed pitching Iglesias can bounce around the infield as needed to give guys days off. I would think we'll also see him come on defensively late in games regularly with Cronenworth shifting to 1B to get Arraez off the field when we have the lead. He should be a useful piece.

Quote from 3fingersplit on March 6, 2025, 4:49 pm

I made a comment over a month ago about the Padres signing Iglesias and why on MLB Rumors and I got blasted for saying it and lo and behold...Jose Iglesias signs with our Padres for about the amount of money I predicted and how he could fit in all around the infield. Giving Manny a day off and play 3B with Manny DH, Give Xander a day off with Xander DH, Give Jake a day off and Jake DH, Give Arraez a day off with Jake playing 1B and Arraez DH.  Jose Iglesias is a solid ballplayer and a great pickup in my opinion. I know that when I was still coaching, I loved having a versatile infielder that could play 3B, 2B and SS that always gave me solid defense, always a tough AB and could actually steal a bag and while Iglesias didn't play for me the Padres do have one that did that not only played 3B, SS, 2B but also OF and 1B and I'm hoping that coming home is a blessing...Connor Joe.

Quote from fenn68 on March 6, 2025, 10:09 pm

Think the biggest value in adding Iglesias is him being the insurance policy for SS if Bogaerts gets injured. No real ML level SS on the roster ... likely Wade (L) or Rosario ... Padres not going to move Merrill or Tatis ... maybe Cronenworth ... so that is very critical.

Now if they add Iglesias ... it has ripple effects. First, who does not make the 26 man? Probably one of Rosario, Ornelas (L), or Wade (L). Ornelas has a minor league option but both Rosario and Wade will have to be released.

This may get tricky. My first reaction is RHH INF for RHH INF and Rosario is the odd man out BUT reviewed how the Padres did against LHP in 2024 and 4 of the best 6 hitters vs LHP are gone (Profar, Solano, Kim, Higashioka) ... and LHH Cronenworth and Heyward are both very bad vs LHP. Actually both Merrill and Arraez were below 100 wRC+ vs LHP. Padres need more offense vs LHP considering that represents about 25-30% of the starters.

As it stands Joe covers Heyward ... maybe Iglesias covers Cronenworth ... would guess that both Merrill and Arraez play vs LHP (both above 80 in wRC+) ... that leaves the DH seeking an impact bat vs LHP (and ideally decent vs RHP).  Does that save Rosario ... and Ornelas gets optioned?

Can non-roster Gonzales or Gurriel impress enough to step in and displace Rosario? Does Preller have a final move up his sleeve to land a "9th hitter" who can fill that DH role effectively vs both LH and RH pitching?

So, as it stands, hitting vs LHP appears to be a weakness and a bit much to put that entirely on the offense from Tatis, Machado, and Bogaerts.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 7, 2025, 1:25 pm

I’m fine with sitting Crone against lefties…esp tough lefties.

Just not sure AJ and Schildt are.