The Padres are “pushing hard” to trade big-name stars, executives from other teams tell Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Obviously, Justin Upton, Will Venable and Ian Kennedy are clear trade candidates, since those players are due to become free agents after the season. But James Shields, Andrew Cashner and Craig Kimbrel, who all are controlled beyond 2015, have also come up very frequently in talks, according to Heyman. Other possibilities include Tyson Ross, who’s due for free agency after 2017, and Joaquin Benoit, whose contract contains a club option for 2015.
This isn’t the first time that any of these players have been mentioned in trade talks, of course, but rival executives now seem to think the Padres could be even more active at the deadline than had previously been anticipated. Given how aggressively GM A.J. Preller remade the team last offseason, it would come as little surprise if he were itching to make another round of big trades in the midst of what’s turned into a disappointing season.
Heyman adds that another potential motivation for the Padres to make trades could be to reduce payroll. (ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote earlier today that the Padres were feeling “pressure” to shed payroll beyond 2015 by making trades.) Via Cot’s Contracts, the Padres had an Opening Day payroll of about $108MM this season, about $17MM more than their 2014 figure. Trading someone like Shields, whose contract is backloaded, would help the Padres reduce their already significant payroll obligations for 2016 and beyond.
God as a hot stove fan I love AJ Preller.
It’s like he’s playing fantasy baseball.
He realizes this is his keeper league, right?
Considering the off season and what he does at the deadline id say no.
As a Not-Padres-Fan, I love AJ Preller.
I just don’t get it, why blow it all up already. The Padres aren’t suddenly going to go bankrupt if they keep everyone this year. Try again next, and if it’s the same story, sure – fire sale away.
Or why even do it to begin with? Just float on mediocrity like the Reds. Win some here and there. But basically just be there.
I like AJ the scout but I’m seriously confused about AJ the GM
I like AJ the manager.
braves say thanks to AJ and the Padres. Completely rebuilt our farm.
I doubt there would be much interest, but I assume they are trying to shop Kemp, as well?
They’d have to eat soooooooooo much salary. It would probably end up defeating the purpose. Better off hanging on and seeing if he can rebuild his value
I’d love to find a way to swap Choo for Kemp. Similar contracts. AJ might consider it if JD sent money and a b level prospect with Choo.
Kemp has about 73 mil left over 4 and a half years that isnt covered by the dodgers. So choo is another year and another 30 million dollars. That is not similar.
AJ is going to push so hard trying to trade these players that all of their values will be so low.
he’s trying to psych out the players – the louder the trade rumors, the better the team seems to be playing. Just wrapped up a 6-3 homestand
Yes, he’s a true genius.
Ah, Preller. You give me the schadendreude.
Two things here:
1) I had a bad feeling in the back of my mind that if things didn’t work out to start 2015, the Padres would look to trade Shields in order to save money. Seems that part of signing and keeping him throughout that deal (which was the largest in club history) was contingent on them making the money to do so. Whether or not that’s true, now they look like they’re trying to cut bait, which is not a good precedent to sit with future FA’s. It would also be tremendously disappointing to see such a good veteran leader and clubhouse guy get shown the door like that.
2) Although it was great to see Preller make the Padres relevant again (at least temporarily) I don’t think it’s the right answer to tear apart the team as drastically as he built it. Yes, Upton, Venable, Kennedy, even Benoit should all go, but dealing Shields and Ross as well just seems overkill.
I really don’t like that they are looking to deal Shields. Its like a teenager who bought all this nice stuff but overextended their credit and now panics and needs the money back.
That’s actually a really good analogy.
I can understand wanting to get rid of Shields salary but Ross does seem like overkill
Ross is probably only being talked about because he’s also likely the most asked about. I’d have to assume he’s not near the top of the list of players they really want to clear out in particular.
Also, shopping Ross with a guy like Upton or Venable gets you more since he is controlable beyond this year and the others are rentals that really won’t command too much on their own.
Ross probably has the highest value on the team (outside of maybe Myers, but he isn’t being traded while he’s on the DL), other teams are going to ask, so he’s going to listen. I don’t feel like he’ll be moved, but if he is, we’ll be getting something valuable (and probably MLB ready) in return. Outside of maybe a trade to LA or LAA, I don’t think they bundle him with a negative asset (ala Kimbrel) because I don’t think they’re desperate to save money; they want to free up some space to make future moves, not permanently shrink payroll to pre-AJ levels. I think one of those negative-asset deals might be with some of the pending FAs; something like bundling Jedd with Kennedy for a few prospects (or even a bit of salary coming back) could make sense.
Shields will be just fine. He can go be a millionaire in a new town and play baseball every 5th day.
I have no doubt he will. My point was first, the Padres are going to look very bad – both to fans and potential FAs – if they give up on a guy so quickly. Second, when Shields signed, he made it a point to emphasize how he really wanted to be in San Diego, for both baseball and familial reasons.
I can understand that but he knew he was signing a fat contract in a small market. When small market teams lose the first thing to go is the guys with pay checks. Ownership looks out for their bank account above all else.
That cuts both ways. Ownership extended the payroll to fit Shields in; they made a clear gesture to him that they wanted to be a serious team with a big-boy payroll, and now less than one season into that experiment it looks like they are trying to cut ties with anybody with a seventh digit in their salary.
To go from “trade for ALL THE PLAYERS!” to “trade away ALL THE PLAYERS!” in six months is very strange behavior. At this point I don’t even know if the Padres organization itself knows what it is trying to accomplish.
The national media and ” rival execs” are saying the motivation to shop everyone is to shed payroll. Ownership has stated more than once last week shedding payroll will not be the reason for trades. Trades will only happen if the moves can improve the ball club. Someone isn’t telling the truth.
Great points. Whether or not it’s true, it just looks like there isn’t a plan. If there is one, boy does it change in a short amount of time. And it’s very hard to achieve sustained success with that sort of volatility.
San Diego is NOT a small market.
I agree 100% marinest21. It looks terrible. To charles stevens I wasn’t saying shields won’t be fine, obviously hes going to be more than fine the rest of his life. It looks very bad for the Padres organization that they sign someone to the largest contract they have ever given out and then want to ship them out immediately because things didn’t happen to go their way immediately.
If I’m a player going into FA and looking to sign a multi year deal a big factor is stability. I’m gonna buy a house, start kids in school if I have them, etc. And then to get turned around and shipped out 6 months later when you think you are finally settled?
It’s not that big of a deal really though. Shields is an aging guy, and has been on competitive teams and wants to win. They will trade him to a contender…he has an opt out clause in his deal after next year as a way to bet on himself. It will just suck that it didn’t work in SD, but if they deal him now he can find a new home after next year…meanwhile playing on competitive team (most likely). And if he like wherever he’s dealt (how could he not like being a Cub or another up and coming team?) he can opt in and get PAID the last two seasons of his deal. It’s backloaded as heck.
“It’s backloaded as heck.”
That’s funny. Preller does that figuring that if Shields doesn’t work out, he can always trade him. The problem is – no one wants to take on the bloated portion of the contract. Though it is a bit stunning to see this happen 1/2 year in – I don’t recall a name player being signed to a long-term contact, and then being openly shopped at the first trading deadline. Must be a few, I just can’t recall.
A similar move would be the Marlins trading away Reyes, Buerhle, and Johnson to the Jays just one year after they signed the first two when moving into their new ballpark.
LOL
Yes, but at least those guys got a full year in.
I agree with your second point. The only player they would “miss” is Upton and he hasn’t exactly had an outstanding year. If you thought you had the team to win it all, then why trade them away after one year? Build around the strength of your team (pitching). Ross, Cashner, and Shields is a pretty good start to a solid rotation. Improving the defense up the middle will go a long way. No they will not be an offensive juggernaught, but they can compete for a wild card.
The quick turn arounds never works with a huge roster overhaul, some of it must come organically, and for that to happen there has to be continuity.
Preach, you hit the nail on the head. And with 3 different owners and 4 different GMs in the past 6 years, the Padres have seriously lacked continuity. Preller’s behavior doesn’t necessarily help that cause.
Meaning some late night Trading going to happen tonight.
Alonso to Pirates for Henson?
Venable to Mets for Wheeler and other?
Kennedy to Cubs for Lake,Baez and other?
Ross and Kimbrel to Nats?
Cashner to Rangers?
Benoit to Astros?
Shields to Baltimore?
Ha, Wheeler would garner at least J. Upton and possibly Kimbrel. Wheeler is controlled for too long to just get a shiny turn in Venable.
I doubt they’d be willing to take on Kimbrels salary
Venable for Wheeler? Kennedy for Baez?
If Venable nets you Wheeler plus, I’d love to hear what Benoit and Shields net you in your other proposed packages.
Horrible trades…
someone ban this troll
Bucs value their prospects too highly to trade Hanson or Alonso. Now, add Cashner to that and I’d take it in a minute.
Nice try Scannton
A.J. Preller goals for 2015:
– Become most liked guy in a city
– Become most hated guy in a city
Continue to be the Kardashians of MLB.
To the Jays: Benoit, Shawn Kelley and Leake
To the Pads: Richard Urena and Jon Moscot
To the Reds: Miguel Castro, Dwight Smith and Brandon Maurer
Maurer has 4 years worth of control- no way they trade him for that. Plus, Benoit is gone he becomes the 8th guy…..they’re not trading their 7th and 8th guy.
I thought the Padres were probably getting the short end in the deal. They could have their SS for the future in Urena however
I see the Mets pushing for Kimbrel. Not because they don’t trust Familia, but because they’re bullpen would become lights out.
Castro and almora and cash for Ross and kimbrel.
The Mets are broke apparently. Better ask for a cashiers check.
Huh? That’s a Cubs and Padres trade though?
As a Braves fan thanks to AJ…he rebuilt our farm system in 1 off season. Upton’s are lazy, mile stones hanging around their franchises necks. Still miss releasing the Kimbrel but Wisler has been fantastic.
I saw John Hart and Mike Rizzo lining up to deal with him. I’m sure just about every GM in MLB would like to get in on these dumping he’s trying to do now. He bought at $1.35 to the dollar, now he’s selling at 80-85 cents to the dollar.
Must be rough being a Padres fan. From “all in” to “tear down” in half a season.
It is tough, but you just hope that your GM has a plan and it works.
Also, I knew that Preller going all in wasnt going to work. It was a team with multiple big names, then you have Middlebrooks, Amarista, and Gyroko as your starting infield. And you have one of the worst defenses…
With Jesse Hahn ready, Padres as a organization should’ve of waited a year or so for Ross, Wisler, Turner, maybe Renfroe, etc … Then fill those holes in the team
EDIT: I was responding to that Soler guy
Thats the thing, this pitching they are trying to trade could have just been surplus. Keep the ross brothers, wisler, hahn, efflin ready next year. Imagjne that young staff and then just trading cashner, ian kennedy and benoit for some prospects.
That just makes me sad… Lol
I’m a Padres fan and I’m fine with him tearing down the team. The team is going to be horrible next year anyway and with no prospects, I rather see him trade for prospects.
You would have loved the ones he traded away.
Said it when the deal happened, still think it today; Ross will be the best player in the Myers trade when all said and done
Were you excited when he aquired all these guys?
Nope not at all… Padres haven’t had that much depth in their farm system in a long time… Then to see them traded away, I was very disappointed.
as a Padre fan, I’m cool with everything that has gone down. We had legitimate major league position players this year. Haven’t panned out as it was expected, but they have pieces to work with now in deals and whatnot. I don’t know where you live, but name me 2 o4 3 Padres position players worth paying money to see in person? I’ll wait hahaa. We’ve had pitching, but nothing else since we moved to Petco.
As a Braves fan I like the ones you traded to us very much. Wisler looks great, Jace P has been great too.
Not really tough. It’s the most excitement us Padres fans have had in years. They aren’t selling just to save money. I see Preller learning from mistakes but being bold still
How about this trade:
Jays- Cashner,Benoit, and Kimbrel
Pads-Pompey,Barreto, and another prospect
To get all 3 of those guys Jays would have to give more then that.
The return to the Padres looks a bit on the light side.
Maybe but it would solve 2 problems
1-CF and SS
2- It would save us Money we don’t have
The Blue Jays sent Barreto to the A’s as a part of the Donaldson package.
The site i’m looking at must not have a updated prospect list sorry
Franklin barreto was in the donaldson trade…
Astros- Ross,J.Upton
Pads- Phillsps,Moran and 1 or 2 mid prospects
I think Houston is content with adding smaller pieces now that they have Kazmir.
Doubt the Padres will be able to trade Shields. He has negative trade value.
As a pads fan I hope we keep him, for 1 for his leadership and 2 to have a chance to maybe bring in other free agents.
Its close. The durability helps but its doubtful he will be worth the 3 wins per year he would need to be worth the money.
At $21m a year through his age 36 season, I doubt anyone is itching to give up a substantial return for Shields. Even if we could trade him, the return probably wouldn’t help us much.
You are WestCoastRyan on Padres boards. Only person that has ever said those words is you.
Preller will obviously make some moves but payroll isn’t an issue. Ownership already mentioned it will go up next year. What Preller is doing is freeing up as much as possible to have more to work with. I doubt he trades everyone but why not dangle every piece and see which gets best bite?
Don’t think they should sell.Seven games out after today.Nineteen out of there next 22 games are against teams with losing records.the 3 teams in front of them are the mets which they play starting Monday,Giants and Cubs.The the giants have a real tough schedule coming up and San Diego could pick up a lot of ground there. Also have 6 games head to head with GiantsLastly the Cubs also have a tough schedule coming up.Really think it would come down to just beating out the Giants cause lets face it the Mets and Cubs are not going to make the playoffs.
What happens when Shields,Ross,and Cashner beat the Met this week.The Padres will be about dead even with the Mets at that point.
All three pitching great in the past month
All the streets in your town must be lined with gumdrops and the rivers run with blueberry wine
I said the same thing a week ago, but when you can’t beat contending teams… There’s no point of standing pat. I can’t remember the last time Padres beat the Giants or the Dodgers in a series. Matter of fact, the last time they won a series vs. a winning team was June 3rd versus the Mets. After the series loss vs the Giants, I think that was the final sign that they should sell.
The same people that were saying Preller is god in the offseason are now the same ones bashing him.
I honestly think Preller did decent up until the kimbrel-upton trade. The defense of Upton/myers/kemp made me cringe but it was a risk worth taking with the offensive upside they potentially had. Trading for a closer so early in the season was where he went wrong and not to mention at a huge cost.
Keep Shield’s and Ross, trade only the FAs to be. No need to have a fire sale and try to rebuild the whole system in one season- simple as that.
i don’t understand this team,this year they just went out and got these players and now they want to unload them