We already know that rookie GM Jed Hoyer is looking to add some starting pitching to his Padres' team, and now MLB.com's Corey Brock passes along a quote indicating that he's ready to add offense as well.
"I don't feel like you're ever all set," Hoyer said. "I think we're looking on both sides [pitching and offense]."
Brock says the team is reluctant to part with prospects just like everyone else, but the Padres could realistically shop closer Heath Bell for a package that includes a big league piece and prospects. Bell will be arbitration eligible next season after earning $4MM this year, and might get a little too rich for San Diego's tastes. Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson would then move up a peg in the bullpen pecking order, and the team likely wouldn't miss a beat.
The Padres survive with stellar pitching (MLB best 3.10 ERA) and defense (MLB best 31.5 UZR), though they have obvious offensive shortcomings. Their shortstops have hit just .234/.295/.338, their left fielders .196/.294/.288, and their center fielders .234/.328/.360, so they could have interest in someone like David DeJesus or Xavier Nady. Brock mentions that owner Jeff Moorad will consider adding payroll in order to make a move happen.
Dejesus, Hart, Guillen, Nady, Kerns, Podsednick, Willingham, Ross, Pence, Quentin, Maybin if the fish feel he is expendable regardless of some of there recent quotes regarding his future. Same goes for Quentin. Maybe with Tampa and the Upton kid having issues and money they could look at a match there as well. Peralta is another name to back Headley at third and add SOME help at SS however, the Padres are high on Everth Cabrera no matter what his over all line is. Having two DL stints really has not allowed him to show his over all worth. Jerry Hairston Jr. has also played well coming up with some very nice plays at SS and SOME clutch Ab’s.
The Padres will more than likely add a second-tier type player, like a Kerns or Nady. Unless the Padres are overwhelmed for a controllable prospect for Bell,(possibly a Maybin type) I doubt they make a “huge splash”.
David DeJesus or Austin Kearns would work just fine IMHO. Padres need a productive bat who can also earn their keep with the leather.
Dejesus isn’t bad, but we need a guy that can hit LHP. Dejesus being a left handed hitter struggles with that.
Kearns has had a solid year, but I am not convinced that he can continue that in the second half, especially playing in Petco.
I realize that Dejesus has decent splits vs. LHP, but he is also a slap hitting. The point I was trying to make is that we need a bat that can hit LHP and drive in runs. If you look at his extra base hits vs. LHP it is minimal. It could be that I’m just not sold that he would play well in Petco.
Well, PETCO is going to suppress any hitter (see Adrian Gonzalez). That’s just what the ballpark does.
To me, driving in runs means slugging pct and HRs. That’s not Padres ball however.
The Padres win with defense and by manufacturing runs. What they need, IMO, is a player that doesn’t make outs. DeJesus’s high OBP fits the bill perfectly. His glove work in LF is also commendable. He’s also relatively cheap and controllable for another year.
I think Kearns could be had for a mid-level prospect which means the Pad’s current roster stays in tact. Even accounting for PETCO, his bat will be an upgrade. Enough so to offset his average defense.
Getting rid of Heath Bell would be crazy.
Crazy…maybe. I think it depends on what you get in return.
I’m much more a fan of moving Adams.
I would agree about Adams.
Yet again the equation becomes about trading quality for lower payroll.
Mike Adams for Jose Guillen?
No, even with the Royals eating his whole contract. Not worth the drop in defense
You could get much more for Adams than Guillen. I’m not opposed to the idea, but you could get him for a player that does not affect the ML roster.
I have absolutely no idea why San Diego would do this trade.
I doubt Dejesus would bring anything that we don’t already have, we need a Bat not just another Outfielder who plays D, can run alittle and contact hitter….we have that already. We need some Power…someone who can hit behind A-Gone – I just hope it’s Not Dejesus, I’m not a big fan, he cant hit the ball out at Petco. I wish Adam Dunn could play the outfield…he’s the only monster that can make Petco look like a normal size park.
Heath Bell Straight Up for Dunn would be sick but not gonna happen…
I’m so glad we are at this point of wanting to add a bat, Trades are so exciting … Last year Peavy deal felt like a blow to the heart but we got good players in exchange. Cant wait to see how this unfolds…
Where are all those people who said I was crazy for thinking Heath Bell was missing on the “Best reliever available” thread? ;).
As I have said before, an above average hitting RHOF and a decent prospect might get this done.
I think DeJesus is a perfect fit in SD. As a Dodger fan I would prefer such a deal not to happen. I also believe Heath Bell is very expendible with the stable of arms the Padres have.
IMO a 3-way deal with the Twins makes alot of sense……
Padres acquire:
David DeJesus
Twins acquire:
Heath Bell
Royals acquire:
C Will Ramos (MIN)
PTBNL (SD) – a pool of 3-4 pitching prospects
just my .02
Tx
As a Royals fan, that’s interesting. Ramos to KC has been discussed before, but the Twins probably don’t like Bell’s potential salary in his arbitration years just like the Padres. The Padres will want much more than DDJ for him, although I think he would be a better fit than some have said. I like it from the KC perspective, but the Royals in their infinite wisdom will be paying Jason Fracking Kendall $3.75mil next year, so they will probably keep playing him every night even if Johnny Bench was raking in the minors. Heck, they have a catcher in the system right now (Manny Pina) who is better defensively who could hit about the same.
if Nick Masset continues to struggle for the Reds, I wouldn’t be terribly shocked if the Reds were interested in Heath Bell. With Chris Heisey proving to be valuable enough, I think Jonny Gomes could be made available to the Pads as a centerpiece.
Gomes is such a sparkplug though that management might not want to see him gone.
I dunno why I posted the Royals need to pursue one of SD’s pitching prospects? Actually the Royals need one of SD’s OF prospects. I do not see the Twins offering one of their multiple OF prospects to a division rival. Specifically the Royals need a bat like Jaff Decker. If Hoyer deems him untouchable there are other alternatives in the SD system like Everett Williams and Rymer Liriano. Williams and Liriano are further away from The Show, but both posses greater tools than Decker.
I would think if Moore plays his cards right he migt be able to pry Bell & OF prospect from SD, then flip Bell to Min for a much needed advanced catching prospect and another prospect. If everything fell into place Moor could land 3 prospects for DeJesus.
Tx
The ONLY way I could see Decker moved is for ANOTHER top prospect of need, (possibly a more athletic outfielder) but there is no way he (Jaff) is getting dealt for a player like Dejesus. I highly doubt the Padres will move Williams or ANY top end arms in their system. Giving up your closer (one of the better in baseball) Heath Bell… and Baseball America’s #50 over all prospect for essentially David Dejesus? NO WAY!
I am predicting Padres Try to Sign Dye for 1-2 Mil and Trade Bell for a Starter with the same Salary as Bell and a prospect. Wouldn’t cost them much since they said they are looking to spend 3 Mil or Less on all these moves….
Dye would be absolutely atrocious in Petco’s OF, and there is no guarantee that the guy can hit either, did you check out his 2nd half stats from last year? .179/.293/.297
Why would the Padres shop their all-star closer in the middle of the year when they are on pace to win the division? That sounds ridicoulous to me. Am i dumb or no?
DDJ would be perfect for the Friars.. good defense, doubles power, good average.. perfect in my eyes. Bell is expendible.. Gregerson can close, Adams setup and we’d be just fine. If we can somehow get DDJ and, say, Jeremy Guthrie from the O’s.. if we can get the Reds to cough two prospects for Bell.. one to KC, the other to the O’s.. but this is prolly not gonna happen; four team trades are very rare in MLB.
Jermaine Dye is old, his defense is atrocious, and even his bat isn’t what it used to be. I’d rather just keep our young guys.. least they hold the promise of getting better perhaps.
I agree! This isn’t the way to get things done. We need to add to the winning formula not trade one ingredient for another we don’t know will work or not.