The Padres have signed right-hander Carlos Torres to a minor league contract, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The deal includes an invitation to the Padres’ big league Spring Training camp.
Torres, 36, posted a 6.52 ERA over just 9 2/3 innings out of the Nationals’ bullpen in 2018, his lowest innings total in any of his nine Major League seasons. It was a far cry from Torres’ usual workhorse performances of recent years, which included an average of 68 appearances and 77 innings per season from 2014-17 with the Mets and Brewers.
Torres’ walk rate and strikeout rate both took negative turns in 2017, however, and he was only able to land a minors deal from Washington last offseason. (The Nats picked Torres up after he was released from another minor league contract with the Indians during Spring Training.) Torres did have some good Triple-A numbers last year, however, so there’s some reason to believe that he could bounce back in 2019. At worst, he’ll provide some additional veteran depth in what should still be a strong Padres bullpen next season.
Very good signing by the Padres.
At worst he won’t make the team…or I guess worse than that, he makes the team and despite providing depth, also pitches poorly enough to decrease the likelihood that the team wins games in which he throws. I’d say at best he provides depth for what is already a strong bullpen. Nothing to lose…we will see. A couple of years removed from being productive.
Him making the team and pitching poorly would be a good thing cuz it increases the team’s draft position
From a purely tanking perspective, of course. I just think they are trying to turn the corner. As much as it hurts the draft to be a .500 team, clearly they would like to see movement in that direction, and maybe there is some benefit to heading into 2021 with a little momentum? Both on the field and in the stands? Possibly being able to show free agents in a deep class next offseason that improvement is actually happening- would be a good thing? That said I am 100% against any moves to make the team better in 2019 (only) that remove legitimate prospects from the organization.
“Momentum” lol, after all those times in this millennium that the Padres have gotten hot in September, said they hope to carry that momentum into the next season and then stumbled out of the gate in April. Playing well in one season has ZERO bearing on how they will play the following season.
You are right historically, but this situation may be different. I’m not only referring to the morale or attitude of the players on the field. It’s also about fans who have been asked to be patient through a rebuild that has been massively hyped because of international spending and prospects who have national attention. I think that there is probably a pretty large sample of teams that have progressed from last place to the middle of the pack, to the top of the division and benefitted from the progress made in the intermediary year…I do not have the stat to reference, but I bet there are plenty of people in the organization who think their young guys would benefit from a season where they were competitive, if still not relevant in September/October. I know there are fans who would see this as a step in the right direction. I already said that I would not want to sacrifice prospects to move to 3rd place, but there may be benefits on the field, in the clubhouse, and in ticket sales.
They don’t benefit from the progress made in the intermediary year. They benefit from the progress made from then to the next year when they are contending. if that doesn’t happen, the progress in the intermediary year is worth much. “Confidence” or whatever you call it from a respectable but still not contending season doesn’t do anything unless you can build on that improvement via key additions and young players making the necessary adjustments. The Padres brass said what you are saying pretty much every year in the ’00s and then the team yet again stumbled out of the gate in April.
And don’t you think that 2020 is kind of the year that they have show they are going for it, and by that I mean competing in the division? I agree with most of what you are saying. I’m 40 years old. I certainly remember plenty of silver lining frame jobs about the last 2 months and how well the kids played or a signing of Brian Giles, etc. I just think that THIS group could benefit from playing better in 2019. Any draft guy is 3 or 4 years away anyway., back to your original point.
I just don’t see it that way. I heard the whole “confidence” thing a million times during the ’00s and I think that if 2020 is the year the team finally makes some noise, a poor showing is 2019 won’t change that.
San Diegans only go to games when the team is in first place, and even then they will sell their season seats tickets during the playoffs and World Series to make money, there’re always more fans of the visiting teams than their own, the Padres were blessed with getting the new stadium financing during the afterglow of the 98’ World Series or they wouldn’t even still be playing in San Diego, the only reason they’re still there is because fans of real mlb cities like to plan their vacations around their teams playing in vacation cities like San Diego.
Even if the Padres won the N.L. West 10 years in a row they wouldn’t be in the top 10 in attendance.
All of this was true of the Chargers as well, the only difference is they weren’t smart enough to secure financing after their January 95’ Super Bowl appearance.
They also signed C Chris Stewart to a minor league deal the other day when they officially signed Torres. Don’t think he makes to squad but another veteran who can push Hedges and Mejia in spring training and will provide quality depth at AAA Incase he is needed due to an early injury or something unforeseen.
I liked Stewart when he was on the Yankees. Felt he was good for Cervelli’s development.
Maybe Hedges gets traded for a SP or 3B that makes more sense
Still playing draft position card like that makes difference lol
Oh, if he could be another scrap heap win. Probably not. Enjoy EP
Big moves being made by the padres to improve their competitive window starting in 2018…. or wait, they changed it to 2019. Oh crap, no, it’s 2020 they want to be competitive now…. wait…. 2021 people, watch out!
If any team can turn him around it’s the Padres. They had the sixth best bullpen OF ALL TIME in 2018 (based on fWAR) and they did it with guys plucked off the scrap heap – Hand, Cimber, Yates, Stammen, Strahm, Erlin, Castillo….they got all those guys for basically nothing and turned them into a dominant unit. Only Cimber was drafted by the Padres. It would be interesting to see what they’re looking at when selecting these guys – obviously they see something in spin rate or pitch type or velocity or something that they’ve been able to exploit incredibly well.
Proof that elite bullpens dont win baseball games.
Well they are an integral part of winning teams in this era. The Padres had a terrible starting staff and a pretty terrible offense too. Those things are important as well.
Padres fans are hilarious.
Not as funny as trolls with funny hats or people named Leo. Leos can be pretty funny, though I think their main trait is usually the need to be desired and wanted. It makes certain Leos come off as lacking confidence, desperate for attention even.
for lack of activity, its laughter over how they say the same sad song to their fan base year after year. We need two SP’s, 3B and maybe we’ll reach .500 finally.
Still waiting on those FA signings or trades that AJ been talking to the press about, or is this just another smoke and mirror year again. This team needs to be at .500 or AJ will be on the hot seat no matter how many great minor league signings. Until they make the bigs and stay it don’t mean a thing..
I think it will be Green on the hot seat first…despite not having a pitching staff. Preller has bought himself time with the people that make these decisions because evaluators all over the game deem theirs to be the deepest and highest rated system. If these guys start graduating and do not perform, that will change, but clearly management wanted Hosmer, however horrible last season was. That’s not just AJ saying “this is my guy.” The drafts of these pitchers, international signings, and a lucky trade for Tatis at least buy Preller a couple more years in my opinion, regardless of what the record is in 2019. I see Green being fired if they don’t make huge strides this year. Since the minor league pitching probably won’t make a huge difference, and they have not bolstered the staff, it’s likely that it will not happen. Whoever is managing the Padres in 2021 if guys do what they are projected to do, is going to look pretty good. Having 4 of the top 10 left handed pitching prospects in baseball is pretty scary. Top 1 or 2 prospects at their positions at C, SS, and 2b doesn’t suck either.
I think the fans are putting way too much emphasis on the farm guys, only two in seven make it of the top 100 in the Big Leagues and stay, we need some strong SP’s via trade or FA’s and pick up a good 3B.
Good thing they currently have 10 in the top 100 then..
Too much emphasis on the farm? It’s the first part of the rebuild, of course this is what we are talking about now. Next will be the MLB roster laying waste to the NL!
OK AJ its a lot of propaganda coming forth here, the first step is to W 70 games then 80 games then in your lifetime 85 games
IF they have 10 in the top 100 two of them should make the Bigs this year or next, then what? another 70 W season lOL
I thought you said 2 out of every 7? Now it’s 2 out of every 10??
Yeah Green will be fired first if the team doesn’t start improving, and honestly I wouldn’t mind seeing him leave. His schtick is starting to get old.
What Preller needs to do now is start making moves to help the team transition out of the rebuild as the prospects start graduating. The farm looks amazing, but I think we all know some of these guys are going to bust. Thats why they need to make other (smart) moves. I hated how the Syndergaard trade fell through, and then the recent trade rumor involving the Indians and Reds for Senzel fizzled. It’s frustrating as a fan because those types of moves are what the organization needs to start making, not signing a guy like Hosmer to a big contract because of his “leadership” skills.
Green will be fired when Preller thinks they are finally turning the corner. It seems to be the way of the rebuild. One type of manager to oversee the rebuild and then the bigger name to come in a reep all the benefits – put it all together
Green has done a good job, but I don’t think anyone saw him has the manager of the next good Padre team
True, this does tend to be a trend with rebuilding teams. I could see them bringing in a Joe Maddon-type manager once they start contending, and they’ll just kick Green to the curb.
Neither Green nor AJ will be on the hot seat any time soon PF. They were just extended when there was no urgency to extend either of them. AJ’s original contract hasn’t even expired yet.
Green has one yr after the 2019 season maybe two at the most, he’s making peanuts to some of the other Mgr’s so no biggie firing him after this season
Earliest I can see Andy going is after the 2020 season. There was no reason to extend him when they did.
I think Torres has a legit shot at making the club. They lost a couple of guys and have a need for another veteran in that young bp. Remember what they did with Stammen a couple of years ago. Very similar situation. Huge upside for the Padres here and Torres gets a shot at a bounce-back campaign.
He pitched great in 2017…our next mid season flip. People said Brad Hand wouldn’t make the club either.
Awesome move! Add potential ‘pen depth with minimal risk. Balsley can resurrect anyone with an arm still attached.
Balsley is Jesus
Red Rooster, Lets keep Jesus out of the picture
I bet they said the same about the Titanic that even God couldn’t sink it, I’d watch your wording
We need SP not more RP’s none of us need to go through another 66 W season in 2019
Better than being stuck around .500
Your reply is humorous why not just cave in then, you first have to hit .500 to make the next season WC, your thinking is not logical
I wonder if the Cubs and Astros would agree
This is the big free agent signing that ben higgins was talking about this morning on 1090.
Now the FO is saying they need to slow down on their spending, what? They want the fans to feel sorry for them, poor billionaires. Such a waste of a nice stadium
Always good to see a K-Stater in the transaction wire, even though he’s struggled the last couple years after having a decent run. Our major leaguers are few and far between, so we take what we can get. GO CATS!