Quote from fenn68 on July 28, 2025, 7:24 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 27, 2025, 6:33 am

Quote from brent wolff on July 26, 2025, 7:25 am

Quote from fenn68 on July 26, 2025, 6:23 am

Did see a few comments on discussions of deals that included Salas ... teams are asking and, apparently, the Padres are not rejecting out of hand.

Not that they are correct but most don't seem to be worried by his injury ... and value his potential "gold glove" defense. Can't tell how much value teams are putting on Salas in a trade or how much Preller would hold out for before considering trading him.

Reportedly Preller offered BOST Cease, Salas, and another MiL prospect for Duran. BOST rejected that. No confirmation.

If AJP made that offer and Boston rejected it, they are idiots.  I'd do that trade in a NY second if I was offered that as the Boston GM.

 

Guess it depends on who the other prospect(s) were. Cease is just a two month rental, and Salas is hurt and at least two years away. Boston is still expecting to compete this year and next. I’m sure they’d want someone they could plug-in next year as well at minimum for Duran who has multiple years of control.

 

Agree ... Boston is in a Wild Card position and, due in part to injuries, Duran is their starting LF and lead-off hitter. He also is low cost for his productivity and has multi-year control. Don't see adding Cease and losing Duran really does that much for BOST in 2025 let alone 2026.

Debate how much they need a SP ... but their prospects to a non-contender for that SP makes more sense for them.

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 28, 2025, 7:26 am

Cubs and Phillies both looking for high leverage relievers. I’d rather trade Suarez to the American league so he doesn’t come back and bite us in the playoffs.But I wouldn’t mind somehow getting Owen Caissie or Justin Crawford in a deal for Suarez.

Caissies K’s are worrisome so prefer Crawford.

But both would cost more than just Suarez so depends….

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 28, 2025, 7:44 am

Interesting that Bergert hasn't pitched in AAA in 7 days.

They had a postponement but apparently he wasn't going to start that game either.

Is this a sign he's about to be called back up?

Does this have anything to do with the trade deadline?

Inquiring minds want to know

 

 

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 28, 2025, 7:47 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 28, 2025, 7:08 am

Hoping AJ can find a way to trade Suarez and Cease to a contender(s) for prospects...then trade prospects for a bat and a SP controlled through at least 2026.

If the SP is even a decent #3 but with more control and the bat is starter material...we should improve this year AND,more importantly IMO,be set up better for '26-'27

I prefer this scenario rather than just emptying the Farm......again.

Work your magic AJ!

 

 

Hard to imagine "rentals" of Suarez or Cease would generate prospects that in turn will appeal enough for a non-contender give up a low cost / multi-year controlled quality SP or hitter. Especially, with other teams looking for the same profile for adds and maybe a deeper pool of prospects to offer. Getting a quality SP to replace Cease would be very difficult (costly) given the current market.

Letting Suarez and Cease to walk for basically nothing is not appealing but (like them or not) they do have value in 2025 for the playoff run ... so dealing them has to be in conjunction with offsetting upgrade moves.

Not sure that by mid-day Thursday Preller will have enough confidence in King / Darvish / Bergert to deal Cease ... take out Cease and think Pivetta, Vasquez, Kolek and "risk" arms. Not a playoff look.

Maybe more confidence covering a deal of Suarez ... but no real extended history of the other RP as closers and a lot of history of set-up men failing as closers.

I see two gambits. 1. Preller goes for rentals that will not cost any of the top prospects ... still be productive for a playoff run ... worry about 2026 in the winter. 2. Preller goes bigger and does deal some of the top prospects for better / longer control upgrade options.

Almost by default see gambit #1 playing out ... in part because the Padres top prospects are not that compelling for a trade (mainly. because almost all are very young and in the lower minors ... therefore carrying high risk). Again, if it is a good trade target for the Padres ... it is a good trade target for others who have potentially a better pack of prospect closer to the ML.

Quote from fenn68 on July 28, 2025, 7:53 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 28, 2025, 7:44 am

Interesting that Bergert hasn't pitched in AAA in 7 days.

They had a postponement but apparently he wasn't going to start that game either.

Is this a sign he's about to be called back up?

Does this have anything to do with the trade deadline?

Inquiring minds want to know

 

 

 

 

I did see something that had Bergert scheduled to start yesterday (same schedule as Kolek).

Doubt they are holding up pitching Bergert for any trade issues ... if they did the trade would have been imminent. Probably just a natural flow from when he was optioned and the flow of EP games ... with maybe an eye on getting him on the same cycle as Kolek if they need to make switch.

Quote from fenn68 on July 28, 2025, 8:17 am

Difficult to set a roster to win in 2025 while at the same time trying to keep 2026 competitive with payroll limitations. A lot of gambles, projections in play.

As it stands, 2026 SP could roll out Pivetta, Musgrove, Darvish, Vasquez, and one of (Kolek, Bergert, Nett, Baez, Waldron). Not bad ... not great ... but might allow for the dealing of one of those pitchers for help on the offense. However, for 2025 don't see those "others" being able to replace Cease (and Musgrove who is out) so maybe dealing one of the "others" makes some sense if the return is a quality bat, hopefully with 2026 value. Also, that scenario may be impacted by how much faith Preller has in re-signing King (or knows he will not).

RP as trade chips runs a pretty wide range ... with some knowns (should yield a good return) and some upsides (more like a good rental return). Again, 2026 looks to have some very good depth (some without minor league options) ... but are any ready to rely on in 2025? If yes, opens up a potential deal of Suarez but ... for a better return ... how about Adam or Estrada ... both are plus RP ... both have multi-year control at low salaries. Would have to get a cheap, multi-year bat and be comfortable with Morgan, Reynolds, Nunez, Rodriguez, Pena, Castro, Hawkins, or Neighbors stepping up to fill the void.

Basically three days until resolution.

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 28, 2025, 10:15 am

Quote from fenn68 on July 28, 2025, 7:47 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 28, 2025, 7:08 am

Hoping AJ can find a way to trade Suarez and Cease to a contender(s) for prospects...then trade prospects for a bat and a SP controlled through at least 2026.

If the SP is even a decent #3 but with more control and the bat is starter material...we should improve this year AND,more importantly IMO,be set up better for '26-'27

I prefer this scenario rather than just emptying the Farm......again.

Work your magic AJ!

 

 

Hard to imagine "rentals" of Suarez or Cease would generate prospects that in turn will appeal enough for a non-contender give up a low cost / multi-year controlled quality SP or hitter. Especially, with other teams looking for the same profile for adds and maybe a deeper pool of prospects to offer. Getting a quality SP to replace Cease would be very difficult (costly) given the current market.

Letting Suarez and Cease to walk for basically nothing is not appealing but (like them or not) they do have value in 2025 for the playoff run ... so dealing them has to be in conjunction with offsetting upgrade moves.

Not sure that by mid-day Thursday Preller will have enough confidence in King / Darvish / Bergert to deal Cease ... take out Cease and think Pivetta, Vasquez, Kolek and "risk" arms. Not a playoff look.

Maybe more confidence covering a deal of Suarez ... but no real extended history of the other RP as closers and a lot of history of set-up men failing as closers.

I see two gambits. 1. Preller goes for rentals that will not cost any of the top prospects ... still be productive for a playoff run ... worry about 2026 in the winter. 2. Preller goes bigger and does deal some of the top prospects for better / longer control upgrade options.

Almost by default see gambit #1 playing out ... in part because the Padres top prospects are not that compelling for a trade (mainly. because almost all are very young and in the lower minors ... therefore carrying high risk). Again, if it is a good trade target for the Padres ... it is a good trade target for others who have potentially a better pack of prospect closer to the ML.

Well I didn't mean we would get good enough prospects to trade "on their own".

We still have our own prospects as well that could be added to a package for a SP and a LF

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 28, 2025, 10:48 am

Maybe adding some extra intrigue is a report that Bergert may be called up to start tomorrow ... because Darvish may not be ready to take his turn (for now pushed back to Wednesday).

IF true ... does that cast doubt on Darvish going forward effectively and does that lessen the wisdom of deal anyone out of the SP contingent as King is still an unknown.

Quote from fenn68 on July 28, 2025, 11:12 am

Potential options keep getting rumored (speculated) ... now that St Louis has dropped back in the Wild Card and are playing a difficult series vs MIA ... do they make a quick shift to sellers?

Does look as though they will need both SP and RP for 2026 given the FA they have ... so arguable the Padres have matching pieces.

One suggestion was Preller actually adding to RP strength and try to add Maton (FA after the season) or Romero (LHRP as an upgrade from Matsui) ... neither on big contracts and Romero controlled for 2026.

The other suggestion was Brendon Donavan ... 28 LHH, controlled for 2026-27, $2.8MM salary 2025 (1/3 to Padres). He plays all over the INF and LF. An above average hitter and good defense ... so not a cheap add but has a few years of quality so not a shot in the dark.

LHH not ideal but still a major upgrade for the 9th hitter (and LF).

Considering STL dealt Edman last year and Montgomery the previous year ... both were controlled and good at the point of trade ... the store may be open.

Interesting thought.