The Padres, along with the Braves, have thus far born the brunt of the burden in stoking the hot stove fire, but San Diego doesn’t anticipate being players at the top of the free agent market, per The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee. Given the enormity of the task ahead of them – dethroning the Dodgers from their perch atop the NL West – it was natural to assume GM A.J. Preller might go for the hat trick and score another big ticket free agent. Plus, hometown kid and confirmed playoff ace Stephen Strasburg is taking meetings, and the Padres could use a slide-stopping ace to stabilize their young rotation. But alas, the Padres don’t plan on meeting Scott Boras about either Gerrit Cole or Strasburg.
Two nine-figure free agents and the promotions of top prospects like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Chris Paddack could not stop the string of losing season for the Padres in 2019. They stretched their streak to nine while reaching 90 losses for the fourth consecutive year. The good news for Padres fans is that even though they don’t plan on attracting another top tier free agent – help is on the way. Per Acee’s sources, Preller doesn’t feel compelled to sign a top free agent ace is because he is confident in their ability to grow them from the ground up. Both MacKenzie Gore and Luis Patino have the potential to join Paddack atop the rotation in the next couple years.
Gore, 21 by Opening Day, made five starts in Double-A after blistering High-A with a 1.02 ERA in 79 1/3 innings. That’s not a typo. The young southpaw gave up just 36 hits, 20 walks, and 9 earned runs while playing for the Lake Elsinore Storm. He struck out 110 batters, good for 12.5 K/9. He is baseball’s 4th best prospect per Baseball America and MLB.com, #5 by Fangraphs.
Patino ranks as the 30th best prospect in the sport by MLB.com, 26th by Fangraphs, 29th by Baseball America. Though eight months younger than Gore, they’re on the same development track as of now. Patino registered a 2.69 ERA in High-A while little more than four years younger than league average.
Needless to say, the future is bright in San Diego, but there are pressing concerns for the present still on the docket. Preller is on the lookout for at least one reliever, potentially a starting catcher, while adding another rotation arm remains in the mix. Financially, it’s tight. They may look to shed some salary in the coming days. The payroll has already climbed north of $140MM. Per Cot’s Contracts, they ran a $97MM payroll on Opening Day last year and only once have they opened a season with a payroll over $100MM (2015).
hopefully this signals Strasburg’s return to dc.
Agree—it will be a regrettable signing for whomever does so.
Why?
Age and injury history. He’ll be lucky if her has another 33/180 season again in his career
Simply: guy is 31 years old, has a significant injury history, only sporadically clocks over 150 IP (I typically put little weight in walk-year stats), has Scott Boras as an agent (who is basically a high-priced used car salesman whose clients are routinely bad deals for teams) and he will seek and receive a long-term deal. Truly any reasonable person can see that signing this guy is a significant risk.
always pretenders!
Starting to look that way. Another article on MLBTR hyping up the Padres farm. Without results it’s kind of hard to take these continuing evaluations with more than a grain of salt.
my son went to school and works in s.d. he goes to about 10 pads games with his co-workers.
And…?
to bad they don’t go to a real team
Gee, that’s swell that your son, of whom we are all so proud, goes to baseball games. Is that a “thing” in San Diego? Hope it catches on. I would like to go to baseball games, too.
Padres and fans love prospects they all turn into stars in their eyes.
you’re doomed to fail if your starting hopes rest on a bunch of mid-minors players.2019 Gore looks a lot like Whitley from a few years ago.
How so?
Gore is a freak
Gore will suck because padres don’t teach they draft and expect success.
Gore is already the real deal
Can we let him pitch more than 21.2 innings in AA before we give him the Cy Young?
Yea the “real deal” had an ERA above 4 and gave up almost a hit an inning in his small AA sample size.
Kinda disingenuous of the author here to mention how well he did in A ball but never mention he got smacked around in AA
Unfortunately, that kind of cherry-picking is rampant among many of my fellow pPadre fans. Their baseball sense and common sense takes a back seat when they’re wearing their uber-Preller’s Prospect hats.
The Dodgers have it so easy. With the Giants rebuilding they have no competition in the NL West. The Padres, Dbacks, and Rockies never do what’s necessary to really go for it. SD has been looking for a frontline starter for 3 seasons now. Strasburg is there for the taking for they’d just spend. Guess the NLW will just have to wait until the G’s are good again for the Dodgers to have true competition in the division
How are the Giants rebuilding?
Poorly so far.
Says a Dodger fan…here’s the opinion from a Giants fan:
The minors lept from the bottom to middle-of-the-pack in one season. In two years those guys will be playing CF, 2nd base, catcher, and SS. Look up Ramos, Bart, Webb, Bishop, and especially Marco Luciano.
After 2021 the Giants will have all those bad contracts gone and a whopping $40 million in committed salary.
In 2020 the Giants just need to sit on the sidelines and play some of these guys they have had sitting on the bus between in AAA and SF (Davis, Shaw, Beebe, et all) to @#$@# or get off the pot. It’s clear it’ll be another season of the Dodgers winning the division and getting knocked out of the playoffs. I think that’s 5 years in a row now? I’d compare them to the Atlanta Braves but the Braves at least won a World Series.
So, yeah, it’s going okay.
DBacks have actually been really impressive the past few years imo. They’ve managed to get younger, cheaper, and better on the fly while not sacrificing their record.
They could be the Rays or As of the NL West
Good, now maybe the irrational media frenzy pushing Strasburg to the Padres will stop. He’s not going “home” folks. Neither is Cole.
He’s not going to 333 w 35th either
To the surprise of no one.
Noooooooo… now Strasburg and Cole will be homeless since the Padres don’t want them. Poor guys!
Dayabeedus
lol
Ah chick mah blud shurgur
Strasburg ,Cole, and Rendon are going to contenders! That’s why the Angels and Padres are a long shot for them.
Strasburg, Cole, and Rendon are all Boras clients. All 3 will go to the highest bidder.
Boras is not happy about last offseason, outside of maybe 1 or 2 clients…
Boras did not control the market last year. That combined with teams not wanting to spend on players age 30+. This year he represents the top 3 with several others in the top 12-15. Seems like a different market this year as teams so far have handed out big contracts.
Look at what Moustakas got the last 2 years and look at what he got this off season.
So they try and try and try to get a front line starter every year for 3 years and now they fine with what they got???
I dont believe it, until stras signs I am going to believe they may go get him. This probably depends on shedding some payroll.
I do believe the offense is still worse then the pitching staff overall.
The offense AND defense didn’t get better. And Preller has demonstrated a lack of ability in acquiring and identifying ML pitching.
Well Stras resigned with the Nats so…
We see it a lot on this site but I agree with the sentiment that Preller is a really bad GM. There’s no excuse for that Hosmer contract and his trades recently have me wondering what he is trying to do as far as constructing their roster. With all that young talent they should be cashing in some of those chips for top quality big league talent. I just dont understand some of their moves and non-moves. They should have passed on Hosmer and put Myers at 1B, since they’re stuck with him anyway. If they didnt sign Hosmer they could have gone all-in on Cole this year and/or Betts next year.
Betts’ contract is going to be historically disastrous.
Padres think 1 year at a time, they never look who is a free agent next 5 years. They signed a free agent for no apparent reason. Trade a play with 5 years of control for one with 2 years ar a higher cost. Never played rookies when they bring them up and wonder why they suck.
Tbf, at the time, the rumor was that the Hosmer signing was a mandate from ownership.
Still, the fact that they’ve been rebuilding for half a decade and only really have two young guys producing at the major league level is on Preller.
The “rumor” was also that it was’nt Preller’s fault that he got suspended by MLB. Twice.
Phillies2020…obviously you don’t think Pham is a top ML talent but he’s pretty damn good.
Pham is going to be 32, and is showing signs of decline. We overpaid a lot. And I’ve always liked Pham.
Strasburg will sign with Nats, Cole w/ yanks, SD will finish 2nd or 3rd in west, on the coattails of LA
Hey jock strap, daing straight my Padres are gonna be on the Doyers’ coattails. We’ll still be there in October to lift those coattails for whoever they’ll be matched against—that’ll make their keysters more readily available for their annual playoff (t)humping. Boy…it sure is ironic ain’t it—being on top April through September only to end up underneath in October!!! Credit my Padres with an assist.
Go all in on machado……. and it stops there. Congrats SD fans.
The Hosmer and Meyers contracts are the problem right now, not Machado.
If SD attached Gore to Myers and Hosmer, I’m certain the Jays would eat all the salary owed
Myers wouldn’t be worse than our current OFers and Hosmer can play 1st.
We have hardly any cash on the books so eating the money wouldn’t hurt
Getting Gore would be worth it I feel
No chance the Jays would take on both of those contracts.
For Gore?
How could you refuse in the Jays position.
They desperately need young controllable pitching
They need OF help
They technically need a 1st baseman
They have TONS of payroll space for the next 3-5 years
It all adds up to SD having to give us Gore if they want to spend big on Stras or Cole
Yeah, and I want the sky to rain free beers. You must be high if you think the Padres would even entertain the idea. Preller already said Tatis, Paddack and Gore are virtually untouchable. There’s no way the Padres would ever make that deal so please get out of your fantasy land you’re in, and come back to reality.
You must be a hit at parties!
The site is designed to banter and throw around ideas
Here’s an idea for you….
Suck me dry and call me Dusty!!
Fkn tired of you guys ripping people apart for using the site as it’s designed
If you dont like hearing rumors or hearing fans of teams throw around proposals , then leave!
There’s no need for such negativity
Somebody hit a nerve.
Lol dude chill out. I wasn’t attacking you. Nobody is attacking you. If you can’t stand the heat stay the hell out of the kitchen. Like seriously, you’re the one trying attack me now. No thanks, I don’t wanna blow you like your mom blew me last night. All I was stating was that trade would NEVER happen. Just like I wish we could get rid of Meyers contract for a pack of Newport’s and soda machine, that’s not going to happen. I’m all for hearing rumors and trade ideas, at least make more realistic trade proposal. There’s no negativity here except you getting butt hurt over people saying your proposal is a fantasy. Chill out dude, don’t take stuff to seriously. Maybe if you took that stick out your behind you could relax a little.
Hey stupid, why don’t you also go ask the Angels for Trout while you’re at it.
Hey, speaking of the top of the market…
…my prediction was Cole to Washington and Strasburg to Houston. Seems silly, right?!
Well, it’s still possible and makes more sense than ever. If these guys were going to re-sign with their clubs they were with this past year why wouldn’t it be done? I think the Nats strike first and spend the Rendon/Strasburg money on Cole and Houston responds by snagging Strasburg at a lower price. Seems to make sense!
I’m not sold that the Astro’s are gonna spend top dollar on a starting pitcher. Their rotation is expensive enough and although recent years of success help their revenue stream, they still aren’t a huge market team like the yanks or dodgers. If they didn’t have the payroll they already do, I wouldn’t be shocked if they got a top pitcher. But I just don’t see it happening.
What I do (sorta) see is a reunion of sorts with Dallas K. Again, not super likely I guess… but those type of moves are what I’d expect over a big signing.
All this is strictly my gut
Houston is not shelling out for Strasburg. Washington could get Cole.
“Seems to make sense” to whom?
Seems to make sense based on my fandom logic. This is a rumor site, add some input or pretend you can downvote me still!
Alas, it didn’t turn out that way.
Padres Will Also Not Be Playing After Regular Season
I’ve always said the padres can’t seem to make up their mind. They trade away prospects for stars to be a contender, then trade those stars for prospects lol. Then they make a huge FA signing or two, but don’t really fill in the gaps to make their team complete. I think they are close to being really good. Just better hope their GM doesn’t go off the wall again
Preller is the Landlord of the “Land of Confusion.”
Still have 32 years to win our 1st WS title to best the 83 years it took the Bridesmaids to win their first.
Are you suggesting we can’t call Preller a failure for another 32 years?
What a joke the Padres front office is.
Says the joke of Wisconsin who won’t finish their team and spend money when needed
How Machado/Hosmer doing?
Machado really putting up superstar numbers ehh?
What 12 homers and 27 RBI’s after break isn’t superstar #’s hater!
In case you’ve forgotten, the Brewers made the plaoffs the last two years, and our Padres have not. In fact, their GM only took 2 years to get them there. Preller is in his 6th year, and failing.
Reality.
Joke’s on the Brewers—Lauer could only beat the Doyers and no other division rival. It’ll be the same for you in the Central. Urias can’t hit a major league fastball. Let’s see how that works out for you.
Urias got better every month he was up, culminating in a .300 avg in September. But, that’s cool. You know what kind of player he is after a couple hundred ABs. People like you are why I have to apologize for being a Padres fan.
Duh they are going after the trade market
Good thing they locked up Hosmer & Myers, eh?
Guess they didnt get the memo that signing overrated players to ridiculous contracts on the FA market, like Myers and Hosmer, is not the best way to go.
It’s like they say in the financial industry: “past performance is no guarantee of future results.”
When you give someone serious guaranteed money and a multi year contract, you take away part of their incentive to perform. Hosmer and Myers will get paid regardless of what kind of season they have in 2020. I’d rather have a talented player in his walk year (like Yates).
AJ Preller is probably on the spectrum (based on stories about his personality, behavior, and what we see out of him as a baseball GM)…
He falls in love with a player and there’s no stopping him. Facts appear to not matter to him. That includes the fact that his home ballpark is not the easiest to be a slugger in.
Petco has played fairly neutral for several years now. Time to put that myth to bed.
Good thing your parents locked into you too, eh?
News to Preller. 1n 1998 the Pads had Kevin Brown, result WS.
Between 2004 and 2007 they had David Wells and Greg Maddux backing up Jake Peavy. Result, playoffs and one game playoff.
Veteran (healthy arms, Richard doesnt count) and a staff ace wins games.
In 1998, Kevin Brown was paid $4,935,000. Strasberg will make more than that in a month.
The economics of 1998 baseball is irrelevant to the economics of 2019 baseball. You just deflected away from a valid point to defend your favorite Padre – the failed GM.
Ok Buster Olney
“The future is bright in San Diego.” We’ve been listening to that tired excuse for over a decade.
The only people still swallowing that Kool-Aid are those who remain blinded by their Homer Preller Goggles. They’re now blindly optimistc that we’ll win in 2021, convenently forgetting that they’ve been pushing out that year of contention every single year for a decade. And some of them actually deny they’ve been doing it!!
I wouldn’t let Preller blow another dime of mine so no FA’s make sense
Rid the team of Hosmer and throw Myers at first. If they need to get rid of some money and prospects to make that happen, then do it. That takes Myers off the outfield platoon and gives the inexperienced outfielders an opportunity to make their own case. If Myers can perform at a similar level to his all-star year, then the Padres once again have another asset to be used for bigger needs. And trading Hosmer would free up some money for starting pitching.
Duh, right? Does the fan base even care about Hosmer? Do they? Would they be heart-broken and threaten to not show up to games or cancel season tickets?
No one is taking Hosmer
No one is taking Hosmer, and Myers was NOT a good first baseman.
Strasberg gets $245/7 … with $80 million deferred.
That;s okay guys. Don’t fall for the names on paper, even though some are legit like straus and cole, its not worth 30-35 mil. Zack Wheeler is good but not at 24 mil lol.. We’re still somewhat of a small market team, middle this year, but good moves can still be possible without breaking the bank. We still need a SP I’d say and mabye a starting catcher. Paddick is good, but he doesnt have much experience under his belt, or back to back years of a good era, Richards is questionable after Tommy John and overpaid (essentially 1 year 16 mil), also with control issues, and Davies is decent, but im guessing it help his era when he was backed by the Brewers Potent offense. I believe Cubs wanted to unload some of their salary so mabye a guy like Kendricks for example, would help. Even a guy like Robbie Ray (235 k’s with era around 4.3) could help.It’s very possible at least one of the guys Paddick, Richards, or Davies have a down year so that would help. Sure offense could use some work, but I honestly don;t think we make the playoffs with our current rotation. Good luck pads!