The Padres are interested in in third baseman Pablo Sandoval, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports. Sandoval has also been connected to the Giants, Red Sox, Blue Jays and White Sox.
The idea of the Padres as contenders for one of the offseason’s top free agents is somewhat odd. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported last week that the Padres were listening to trade offers for young pitchers Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross, not a strong sign that the team was considering spending big in the free agent market. They have been connected to Yasmany Tomas, although Tomas is only 24 and might be seen as more of a future-oriented signing than Sandoval would be. (It was later reported that the Padres were not likely to sign Tomas.)
The Padres currently have Yangervis Solarte, who’s coming off a productive season, slotted at third base, although the versatile Solarte could be moved to a different position if the Padres were to sign Sandoval. The team traded longtime third baseman Chase Headley to the Yankees in July.
I am shocked. I know the chances of him going to SD are slim, but the fact that the Padres are connected to top free agents is odd
Preller has the full backing of ownership, this is the best thing to happen to the Padres since they traded for Caminiti!!!
Hopefully he can find our new Caminiti/Vaughn combo.
This is the most random headline I have read all day.
wait am i being played? this isnt one of those “how would you react tv shows is it?
Until the Padres actually sign a marque Free Agent Position player I am not buying it. Its all talk until the Padres do something. The Panda Bear would be very popular in San Diego.
He has always hit well in that ballpark… but this makes no sense.
Even if Padres make an offer .. I doubt Sandoval will pick the pads .. He’ll go to the east coast. I think he’ll sign with the Red Sox
I think that this is awesome. It’s refreshing to read about top tier free agents being sought by teams not normally in the mix.
Playing matchup with 3 of Gyrko, Cabrera, Amarista, and Solarte up the middle would probably end up a great idea if you ask me. Panda’s always been a good gap hitter, this would just be a fascinating move if it happened.
hahaha no way Sandoval is signing there. Padres should focus on
Yasmani Tomas.
They are also “interested” in Jon Lester and Max Scherzer, right?
Simmer down Derek Jeter. :). The Padres don’t need pitching. 🙂
This AJ Preller is a breathe of fresh air for Padre fans. Whether he gets Tomas, Sandoval or non of the above, just hearing the Padres being involved should get the fan base excited. Apparently Fowler, the Seidlers and the O’Malleys are putting some faith in Preller. Go Padres!!!
Agreed. It feels weird seeing our name all over the place. That said, I don’t want Sandoval. Not complaining, though.
That is pretty sad if you guys go for the Free Agent kool aid the Padre FO are selling. Until they actually sign someone of significance, I am not allowing myself to be carried away. This is probably a PR move, a strategy to make the fans think things have changed in Padreville. Its all talk until it isn’t.
Yoda, is that what you think the John Moores/Jeff Moorad co-owners are doing? You realize the controlling majority of the team was sold in late 2012 to a group connected to the Dodgers’ O’Malley family, backed by equity investors, right? What makes you think nothing has changed with the “old” Padres?
I do realize the Team was sold Bunion and I also realize that the new ownership group has conducted business very much like the previous two ownership groups. Unless and until I see a significant detour from the old methods and a few more legit MLB players in San Diego, I will refuse to drink the Brown Koolaide. But hey, we got a new video board lol.
This is kinda weird, but think in SD’s rotation , they need Offense and will be really good.
Yeah, when you factor in the “win now” pitching and the minimal obligations on the books, it might not be as far-fetched as it seems at first glance.
Without giving up a SP for Pablo I’d say do this for six yrs and if he can produce four of six yrs its worth the $100M for 6 yrs.
I like hearing this but I see thomas as a better option. Thomas has flexibility
Tomas should be the Padres’ main focus.
With all due respect, Moncada should be the Padres main focus.
$80 mil?
Tomas is just money. Moncada is about the same money and a loss of the ability to sign any players for over $250k in the International market for 2 years.
No Moncada is too young we need some offense now not in four yrs
OK, sign Sandoval for now and Moncada for 4 years from now. I do not think Tomas is going to make this team a legitimate World Series contender, nor will Sandoval, so I would rather Moncada because his skills better suit Petco and he should be ready when most of the other good Padre prospects are ready to contribute.
The Padres spending money? Believe it when you see it.
They spent $90 million in 2014 and have said they are willing to increase that to between the $95 million the Rockies spent and the $112 million the Dbacks spent. They have about $63 million spent for 2015 right now if they sign all their arb eligible players and they probably wont do that. Several will be non-tendered or traded. That leaves them a lot of scratch to spend.
Please don’t go there, Pads.
I really do not think you have to worry.
Why not? The guy can play 3B and if the contract is for 5 or 6 yrs with restrictions on physical conditioning I’d say YES as a Padre fan we need some offense, he would fit in the three hole or four hole
Sandoval has been brilliant in the postseason, but he’s not the same player during the season. This year he had a .739 OPS. Plus, he’s a Giant. The Padres need to acquire a marquee player who is not a Giant.
A .739 OPS would have made him the third best regular on the Padres last year. The TEAM OPS was only .634, last in the league.
Rosenthal also said that the Padres were out on Tomas, but they were one of the 4 teams that met with Alou during the GM meetings.
While I doubt the Padres are in on Panda, I do think they have $30-40 million to spend this offseason and Kennedy being traded will make that closer to $40-50 million. You can get quite a few players for that kind of money.
I’ve read many columns and articles where Heyman’s “news” sure seemed like it had been planted by a player’s agent. This might be the first time where I have to assume it isn’t necessarily a bad tip. Nobody would believe that the Padres are willing to shell out in excess of $100 million for a single player until the press conference takes place. Sandoval won’t overhaul the roster completely but they have to start somewhere.
I would believe it. I know the cheapskates John Moores and Jeff Moorad are gone, and the new majority owners have money. Even the minority owners, who were part of the Moorad group, had over $100 million to buy a majority interest, when MLB stepped in and refused to approve Moorad. The Padres have new owners, and they have money. What went on before, with previous owners, isn’t transferable.
Throwing our names around like this may also come as a small benefit in signing someone like Tomas. Even if we offered more money than some of those other teams, he still may not pick the Padres over the Phils, SF, etc…. but if he and his agent see that Preller is serious about moving this team into a new direction, a strong offer as well as interest in other higher profile types may be something that could sway his opinion.
In my view, a guy like Tomas would be crazy to sign with the Padres, given what Petco Park does to a players offensive stats. If Tomas is as advertised, he has one very huge payday waiting for him at age 30 – 31 and hitting at Petco Park for this years would surely dampen that.
Didn’t hurt Adrian’s numbers. He averaged more HRs in SD than BOS or LA.
And even before they moved the fences in !
Adrian hit high line drives. Those will go out anywhere. It’s the guys who hit those moon shots who find the ball doesn’t carry.
lol ok. So why didn’t they go out in Boston or LA?
They did! Adrian hit 27 HR his only full year in Boston, and he hit 27 last year in LA. When he hit 30, 31, 36 and 40 homers for the Padres, he was using a swing designed to reach the seats in left at Petco, and it worked elsewhere too. After 2010 he changed his swing to hit to all fields and the homers went down, while the RBI and average went up in Boston. He said he tried going back to that swing, but didn’t feel comfortable with it anymore.
As far as building excitement goes, Sandoval is probably the best player that the Padres can target. He’s a veteran with playoff and World Series experience, he’s a big personality that the team can put out front and center and the sponsorship deal with the San Diego Zoo writes itself. Sandoval could be to the Padres what Werth was to the Nationals – a declaration that the team is done being a joke (even if it’s a pricey declaration).
Strange that Pablo actually hits worse away than he does at home… Was hoping that a team could dream on increased numbers being away from a pitchers park.
He hits as well at Petco as AT&T. In pitcher’s parks, runs are at a premium, and he rises to the occasion with runners on. That’s his real value.
What’s the next thing we will read? Rays Interested In Jon Lester? Astros Interested in Max Scherzer?
I could see the Astros being interested in Scherzer, they have the money to sign him. Luhnow also said that he would go all in for the right player, even if they received a qualifying offer; it all depends if they see Scherzer as “the right player”. It may not be as far-fetched as you think.
IF the Gnats sign Tomas Pablo will more than likely go to either BoSox or Pads. I feel Pablo will stick to the West Coast , Padres could offer 6 yrs $100MM, with some restrictions on physical conditioning
Lol… no way that happens… The Padres are probably contacting Bip Roberts and Dave Magadan right now, to see if they’re willing to play again for the m.l.b. minimum…
Padres ownership are not going to give up their copper stacks for free agents… no way!!
ahhhhh i love the offseason haha
Why do people think this is weird? Padres have loads of money. Very little committed, and a new TV contract IIRC. Panda hit well in a pitcher friendly AT&T, so I doubt Petco would bother him too much. Of course, this is probably all just leverage to up the Red Sox or Giants’ offer, but still.
Somebody’s agent is working overtime, salting up far-fetched rumors designed to make the Giants pay.
ESPN would love this seeing how the Padres home opener is against the Giants.
Ha! Don’t believe this for a second. This is just posturing, get the Giants to up their offer even a lil bit
Hm. Maybe this means we’re actually trying to secure ball player who can help us win. As opposed to the Seth Smith’s of the world, who look good on a team full of .200-.220 hitters. I am intrigued.
Seeing is believing. These rumors are daggers when they don’t materialize. The Padres certainly have a lot of room to grow their payroll looking forward. They desperately need a franchise guy. Letting Adrian Gonzalez go was a huge mistake. With that being said, it would be a breathe of fresh air if he went to San Diego. The team has no star power and more importantly, no offense. There has been no reason to watch the Padres for the past two years, Sandoval would change that both because he is an established star and because he would bring a much needed bat to the lineup.
Yeah I don’t believe this for a minute. Panda’s agent is just adding an in-division “bid” to the mix to make the Giants cough up a couple extra mil.
There are four reasons Panda would leave the Giants: 1) A ridiculous contract offer; 2) The chance to pad his stats in a hitter-friendly park 3) The option to DH when his weight finally kills his fielding abilities a few years down the road, 4) A deep-pocketed team that is ready to load the roster and go all-in on a championship run. The Padres can offer him none of these things.
1) one team’s ridiculous offer is another team’s calculated risk; 2) his value is defense and clutch hitting that plays everywhere; 3) when he can’t play the position he can always ask for a trade; 4) the new ownership has plenty of cash, more than Moorad ever had, and their connection to the O’Malley family should tell you they know how to build a winning team without loading the roster like the Guggenheimers did with the O’Malley’s old franchise.