The Padres haven’t yet shut the door on free agent right-hander Fernando Rodney, according to Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). The Friars may, in fact, try to lure Rodney to San Diego by offering him the opportunity to close games. San Diego has been connected to Rodney on and off for the past couple of weeks. While the 38-year-old Rodney had disastrous results in Seattle last season — he logged a 5.68 ERA with 7.6 K/9 against 4.4 BB/9 and lost the closer’s role before being designated for assignment — he had a nice turnaround following a trade to the Cubs. While it was only a sample of a dozen innings, Rodney yielded just one earned run and recorded a 15-to-4 K/BB ratio in that time. Although the “Fernando Rodney Experience” certainly wore out its welcome in Seattle, the right-hander has drawn interest from the Blue Jays and Cubs as of late (though the Toronto connections pre-dated their acquisition of Drew Storen).
A couple more notes on the Padres…
- Specifics of Alexei Ramirez’s reported one-year deal with the Padres have yet to emerge, but Lin reports that the contract allows San Diego to at least consider making further free-agent upgrades. While the Padres are reluctant to pursue players with draft pick compensation attached, according to Lin, the club could look for upgrades in the bullpen or in the outfield. Lin also notes that GM A.J. Preller has long been a fan of Ramirez and was dispatching scouts to keep an eye on him as early as April of this past season.
- Right-hander Brandon Maurer will report to Spring Training with the opportunity to win a job in the starting rotation, Preller told MLB.com’s Corey Brock earlier this week. “One of the things is he wants to do it,” Preller explained. “You put a lot of stock in that.” Maurer, of course, came up through the Mariners’ system as a starting pitcher but struggled in multiple big league auditions before dominating upon a transition to the bullpen. While Maurer is striving for a starting role, offseason pickup Drew Pomeranz will probably work in relief, according to Brock.
Why not take a chance if he comes cheap?
Does Pomeranz not “want to start” or are they not putting any stock in that?
It’s good to see the Padres trying to avoid signing players that will make them lose draft picks. It looks like Preller is going to start filling the system with his own picks after emptying the farm last year.
Fernando bleepin Rodney!! As a Mariner’s fan, Rodney was a heart attack in every outing! Pads fans, if you sign him, make sure you lay in a supply of antacids and packs of smokes for when closes!
I just hope ownership keeps him around to see this through.
Another 4th place finish with payroll north of $100 mil isn’t gonna look good.
Padres need Myers to get 500 AB’s just to have a shot at staying out of the cellar in 2016.
Padres current payroll is 76 mil so idk where your getting this 100 mil from….
From, you know, literacy.
Personally don’t see Rodney as a fit on this team once so ever. Coming off a bad year with him creeping up near the 40’s, he has a lot of miles on that arm. I’d rather see us grab someone else, still quite a few available relievers that used to close recently who were acquired to move to the set up role who could be had for pretty cheap and transitioned back to the 9th inning. Casey Janssen, Tyler Clippard, Brian Duensing, even Greg Holland, I know he is coming back from Tommy John but since we aren’t competing anyways why not sign him to an incentive based deal, 1 year with an option for cheap and let him work his way back. Idk, I think there are other options that make a lot more sense than Rodney do.
This is hopefully a cheaper solution to Jaquin Bentiot
I don’t know how many of you saw this article but it’s pretty informative and describes how what Preller has done shouldn’t be looked at Terribly. More of a shuffle in the farm system with guys he liked better than we had when he took over, pretty good piece. Check it out.
mlbdailydish.com/2016/1/14/10772198/aj-preller-sti…
Padres current payroll 76 mil and here is our starting lineup. Jay LF. Myers 1B, Kemp RF, Upton CF, Ramirez SS,Norris C, Solarte 3B, Spangenburg 2B, Shields P. Hopefully we can get Renfroe to compete in ST or maybe sign another OF to platoon with Jay, not a bad lineup compared to last year with the payroll being almost a 1/3 less..
Current payroll, without Ramirez or Rodney’s salary yet included, and using the $10M arbitration forecast for Ross, is just a hair over $88. Figure once the other two get reported, you’re at ~$94. Then you pay for the other 13 spots on the ML roster at league minimum and you’re at $101.
The kid Jabari Blash who his 32 bombs in AAA last year for the Mariners we took in the rule 5 draft will probably start in left field. Jay and Upton with share playing time in Center depending on Lefty vs Righty match ups. The team seems pretty stoked on Jose Pirela who is just like Solarte, can play the whole infield but not great at any spot but he can hit. Reggie Jackson called him the best hitter for the Yankees last year in spring training. So I can see Alexi Amarista’s days numbered because that’s what his role is, just can’t hit like Pirela.