The Padres officially named Josh Byrnes their general manager today, so the two-year-long Jed Hoyer era is over in San Diego. Here's the latest on the Padres as they prepare for their first offseason under Byrnes…
- Byrnes says San Diego will likely offer Heath Bell arbitration, according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (on Twitter). Bell is a Type A free agent, as MLBTR learned earlier today. If he declines arbitration to sign elsewhere, the Padres will obtain two draft picks in 2012. However, Bell has indicated that he will accept.
- Padres CEO Jeff Moorad explained in a statement that he holds Byrnes' predecessor in high esteem. “Thanks to Jed Hoyer’s leadership, we are in a far better position to win consistently in the future than we were two years ago." The Padres played to a 161-163 record in two seasons under Hoyer, though that's just one imperfect measurement of his contribution to the team.
- Jason McLeod, who left the Padres for the Cubs along with Hoyer, told Tom Krasovic of Inside the Padres that leaving San Diego is bittersweet in a Q&A about his time with the team.
- The Cubs offered Hoyer a five-year contract, which the Padres declined to match, according to Krasovic.
Somehow I think Jason will find leaving San Diego to be the most bittersweet come January/February.
Heath Bell knows he cant put up the same numbers that he did in Petco elsewhere.
Who cares, he can’t get paid the kind of numbers in Petco as elsewhere.
2009-2011 ERA:
At Home: 2.31
On the Road: 2.43
Yea… Bell’s clearly no better than 1996 Todd Van Poppel, without his Petco crutch.
I gave you that “like” out of my extreme fondness for Todd Van Poppel humor.
Still trying to figure out why Bell would accept arbitration, a one year deal, only to be traded in July, to find himself again as a free agent and one year older. Why not just go to free agency, and choose where you want to go.
Hate seeing the Padres in flux again in the front office. Hoyer and McLeod were a great addition and looked to be building a great future. I am not so sure of Byrnes and Hinch.
I feel the same way you do about Bell. No matter how much he likes living and playing in San Diego, if he gets a 1 year deal, he won’t make the season in San Diego.
As for Hoyer, when all of this Hoyer to the Cubs talk came up I wasn’t really impressed by him, but if he gave Moorad the chance to match the offer from the Cubs, then I regret saying anything bad about him. What he and McLeod did for the Padres in 2 short years for the future should not, and will not, be forgotten. I really hope Byrnes is as good as Moorad thinks he is and there better not be any deals between the Padres and the Cubs any time soon.
Jeez I hope not, I mean who off their roster would you want?
Well I meant it more from the Cubs side of things. If Byrnes has the nerve to trade any of the good young players Hoyer and McLeod have brought in over the last 2 years, he had better be ready for a linching. Oh and by the way, Starlin Castro would look awfully nice at short for the Padres, so there is at least one player the Padres would want. And before you say it, I know Castro won’t be traded.
Epstein, Hoyer, McLead, Brynes, etc. were all mentored by Larry Lucchino. He teaches his students well.
Jeez, I hope not, I mean there aren’t too many guys off their roster I’d even let into Petco unless they bought a ticket.