Quote from WindsorUK on July 21, 2025, 1:01 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 20, 2025, 7:42 pm

Put your ideas here.

What do we think AJ’s plan is?

Was thinking…after all that’s happened in Atl already with the suspension and falling out of the playoff race early….would Atlanta pay 1/2 of Profars’ salary to move him for a couple prospects?

Pitchers maybe?
Would we even want Profar?

He does play out of his mind in brown….or was that enhanced?

 

 

 

Would love to see Profar back!

Regardless of his numbers last year,  guys enjoy playing with him, and seem to play better overall with him in the clubhouse/ dugout/ lineup.

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 21, 2025, 2:54 am

Like Profar but unlikely that the Padres would give up the quality of prospect needed to secure Profar AND have ATL eat a major portion of his salary ... which is around a $15MM AAV for two more years. Plus Profar is ineligible to play in the playoffs this season. Doubt ATL is desperate to move him. Padres don't have a ton to trade chips that other teams will want all that much for good non-rentals.

IF MINN falls out of the playoff hunt ... I would keep an eye out for Bader (a rental) who is plus defense in the OF and is hitting. If CINN falls out think Hays (a rental). BALT is out and apparently Laureano is a possibility (has a reasonable club option for 2026).  If Preller cannot secure an OF ... then maybe the A's and 3B/DH Andjuar (a rental). All RHH that should not cost that much in prospect cost or salary to the end of the season.

The better the trade target ... the higher the quality of prospects needed ... and other teams may just have a deeper array of prospects that appeal and can out bid Preller. It does not help that most of the Padres better prospects are still in the lower minors ... adding a lot of development risk and normally lowering trade value unless moved with a package of other prospects (to reduce risk) ... an issue if pursuing "better" trade targets.

Beginning to think the Padres better trade chips come out of the ML (or near ML ready) pitching ... cheap / long control has an appeal to other teams with less development risk than a deep prospect. Using one of Vasquez, Bergert, Kolek, Baez, or Nett would be a gamble based on the return of King and Darvish returning to his 2024 form but could yield that multi-year quality add. If on form ... Pivetta - King - Cease - Darvish plus one of the "others" is a pretty formidable rotation into the playoffs. (side: it is Vasquez who I would dangle out there). Probably would not go that route for a marginal rental though.

Quote from fenn68 on July 21, 2025, 3:27 am

I would think the way the playoff races are playing out ... making deals may be more difficult for Preller with a more intense need by contenders to upgrade.

Consider in the NL Padres are in the 3rd WC slot and the playoff pack is pulling away from the others. However, Cubs and Brewers are now tied for the NL Central (40 losses), Phillies (43 losses) is neck and neck with the Mets (44 losses), LAD (42 losses) are really struggling. Padres (45 losses) is right in the mix. With over two months to play can easily see any of those teams end up at the top of their Division and with the best record in the NL ... playoff positioning and home advantage. This should put all six teams the strong "buy" mode. If none want to deal with each other as completion (or give up ML talent) ... expect full push on talent from non-contenders.

Then in the AL ... a really tight race among TOR - NYY - BOS - TB should make them strong "buy" teams (especially since one likely will not make the playoffs.

Not sure the non-contenders have that much to deal (that help in a 2025 playoff race) and with a more intense set of buyers ... prices should be high. Apparently the Padres are not the only team trying to upgrade offense.

Quote from brent wolff on July 21, 2025, 7:45 am

I'm in the OF Harrison Bader from Minn. and C Korey Lee from CWS camp personally, thus not having to give up any major prospect capital.  Go AJP & the Pads!

Quote from fenn68 on July 21, 2025, 9:47 am

I heard that Acee is reporting that the Padres will not increase their 2025 payroll ... NET. So,

1. Padres may move salary (e.g. Suarez about $3 - 3.5MM for the remainder of the year) for a prospect then use that space to add in a position of need (probably for a prospect). I guess for a bigger window ...  moving Cease would clear closer to $5MM ... but harder to replace Cease with the uncertainty of King and Darvish than replace Suarez when they have Adam, Morejon, Estrada, and Morgan plus some decent other options to backfill (maybe Bergert or Kolek hit the pen).
2. Padres use prospects to add league minimum salary players (or at least very near league minimum).
3. Padres use a "good prospect" and link him to a salary such as Peralta or Matusi to clear some payroll space while moving an under productive player. Either one would clear only about $1.5MM for the remainder of the season (but will save money next year and maybe beyond). Use the space to add ... a player on the margin but who got about a $5MM annual salary for 2025.

That may shape our (and Preller's) thinking on targets for the deadline. Does also suggest that we may see a payroll drop in 2026 (and they have some built in increases for Pivetta, Machado, and Tatis) ... so resigning any of the FA to be becomes much less likely.

This is really making life difficult for Preller in trying to improve the 2025 team without hurting 2026.

Quote from BoosterSD on July 21, 2025, 10:55 am

Between Bader and Laureano, I would go Laureano if possible. And basically its because Laureano is cheaper both this year and on their team options, next season.

Quote from ultratvfan on July 21, 2025, 12:58 pm

This is the time of the year I worry about what AJP will trade away.

Quote from fenn68 on July 21, 2025, 1:57 pm

That opens up a fair debate on what prospect(s) would (should) Preller use to get a "rental" such as Bader, Laureano, or Hays? Then is that enough for the seller vs other team's offers?

Preller normally sets a value on the target and on his prospects (his view not the rankings) and tries not to deviate. In a playoff push he will likely stretch a bit but not go overboard and overpay.

Most of us tend to overthink prospects ... especially the non-top prospects. Preller could look at Baez or Nett (both ranked high) and not see the upside as much ... he may look at the lower system prospects and make the call they are too far out (and can be replaced via future drafts) plus carry higher risk of not developing (e.g. King or Hawkins).

At the core it is the value of the player being acquired in Preller's mind for a playoff push (or multi-year control). If it is a rental such as Bader, et al ... not likely Salas, DeVries, Mayfield, or Bateman but after that maybe although rentals (non-elite rentals) don't command all that much and could see the trade chips being in the lower half of the top 30 (or even not in the top 30 but showing well in 2025).

Quote from sportwarrior on July 22, 2025, 11:38 pm

A rumor dropped tonight that we're looking at domestic abuser Marcell Ozuna in exchange for Francis Pena and Ryan Bergert.

If I could speak on behalf of the Padres, I'd politely say "absolutely f*cking not."