With this year’s trade deadline just a few days away, the long-suffering Padres are in the rare position of entering the proceedings as one of the National League’s top contenders. At 18-13, the Padres own the NL’s No. 1 wild-card spot by a game and a half, giving them a legitimate shot to break a 13-year playoff drought this season.
General manager A.J. Preller is cognizant of the opportunity the Padres have, though in regards to the deadline, he said Tuesday (via Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune): “The focus has been mostly internal. We like our group and our team.” At the same time, the team’s “open to any possibility,” according to Preller.
Padres chairman Ron Fowler also used the word “open” when discussing their deadline strategy with Dennis Lin of The Athletic (subscription link). But Fowler suggested the team’s financial concerns – which he detailed in July are still very real, as he added that “we know next year is going to be tough because we expect restricted seating (at home games) and full (player) compensation, so you have to go in with your eyes open.”
Economic challenges won’t stop the Padres from trying to better themselves at the deadline, but it seems they’re more focused on adding players who will be able to help for multiple years than bolstering their roster with rentals. The rotation, bullpen, catcher and the outfield are all spots the Padres could look to upgrade, Lin reports.
For the most part, the Padres’ starting staff has been a strength in 2020. Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies and Garrett Richards have done more than enough to justify their spots; on the other hand,, Chris Paddack has struggled after an excellent rookie season and no one else has stood out, either. But if the Padres don’t acquire outside help, they’ll have the option of calling up Joey Lucchesi or highly touted prospect MacKenzie Gore from their 60-man player pool. The 21-year-old Gore’s “viewed strictly as a starter,” Lin writes, so the Padres won’t promote him unless it’s to boost their rotation.
Meanwhile, although the Padres’ bullpen has fared better of late, the unit still possesses the majors’ fourth-worst ERA and its seventh-highest FIP. The Padres lost their best reliever, left-hander Drew Pomeranz, to a shoulder injury last Friday, though Lin notes that he should return soon. That’s great news for the Padres, as Pomeranz has been among the elite relievers in baseball this year. Even if he’s healthy, however, upgrading the bullpen should be a priority for San Diego. After all, aside from Pomeranz, nobody in their relief group has managed to combine strong bottom-line production and high-end peripherals this season. Furthermore, the Padres are missing a handful of relievers – Kirby Yates, Jose Castillo, Andres Munoz and Trey Wingenter – because of various injuries.
Unlike the Padres’ bullpen, their offense has been one of the game’s most potent so far. They currently rank fifth in the league in wRC+ (117), but that success has come in spite of awful production from their catchers. Austin Hedges, Francisco Mejia and Luis Torrens have combined to bat .129/.206/.29o in 108 plate appearances, so it makes sense that the Padres are seeking aid at the position. They’ve been much better off in the outfield, thanks to a reborn Wil Myers and a terrific showing from Trent Grisham. Those two aside, though, Padres outfielders haven’t done much to help the club’s cause. Tommy Pham fell flat before landing on the IL with a broken hamate bone Aug. 17, while Jurickson Profar, Edward Olivares, Jorge Mateo and Abraham Almonte have logged weak numbers in their own right.
While this San Diego team does have some flaws, its odds of a playoff return look great at the moment, as FanGraphs pegs its postseason chances at 94.1 percent. One poor stretch could sink just about any club during a 60-game campaign, though. With that in mind, Preller’s surely not resting on on his laurels leading up to the deadline.
Rentals, even in package deals, should be the Padres main focus.
Royals could package Holland and Rosenthal (RP)
Giants could package Watson and Cahill (RP), even Gausman (SP)
Red Sox could package Pillar and Jackie Bradley Jr to fill the 3rd and 4th OF spots.
Tigers could package Austine Romine (C upgrade) with Buck Farmer (RP)
Preferably, Pillar and Jackie Bradley Jr. Get rid of Almonte and send Mateo and Olivares down. And acquire Watson, Cahill, and Gausman (pick up a LHP and RHP for the pen, plus a starter to give Paddack a breather and work on things).
Mateo has no options
Noted. Then choice becomes easier to send Olivares down and get rid of Almonte.
Oliveras is already down and so is almonte
See how brilliant the original poster is!?!
There is an episode of South Park where everybody is having a big debate over something racial, and they show a newscaster interviewing random people, and all of the people the guy interviews are so undeceive over the issue it’s pathetic. Stuff like, “I don’t like that, but I don’t want to not like it, but it is bad, so maybe I don’t like it?”
They remind me of every single gm right now. “Well I want to use homegrown guys, but I might make trades too, it depends. I might not do anything, but maybe i’ll be something.”
JEEZ. I’d rather every single gm not say anything, rather than use the most generic, undeceive language.
I’d dig a GM to say “I’m not trading away the future for potential success in this sham of a season. Any other questions?”.
Padres need relievers, not starters. They COULD just use one or two of Gore, Patiño, Morejon and Quantrill to fill out their rotation.
Morejon looked nasty against the Rangers, if he’s y’alls third best pitching prospect, I’m scared.
He has ace stuff, just needs to stay healthy and continue to develop control of it. He is only 21.
Weathers looks just like him, except with better command and control.
no
Yes
Think the jays could get lucchesi for one of there catchers plus another peice, something better then a lotto ticket prospect but nothing crazy
The Blue Jays catchers aren’t hitting enough better to bother for SD
Not that i disagree but they have 6 years of control counting this season, the jays also have 2 other good catching prospects. I figured catcher was the biggest need for SD do you have any suggestions
I remember all the Drew Pomeranz haters months ago…..He’ll be a huge boost to get back.
Should call the orioles and get Mychal Givens. He’ll do well out there pitching the 7th inning. There’s Paul Fry and Miguel Castro as well if they’re looking for more depth in the middle innings.
Seems to be a similar situation to what the Red Sox had with Rick Porcello years back. They seemingly overpaid to get him to sign but then he made good on the contract. Obviously Pomeranz has to stay healthy and sustain his performance tho.
Drew Pomeranz was a completely different pitcher out of the bullpen. He became a two pitch pitcher who relied on a nasty curveball. People around here didn’t like the contract because they didn’t adjust his value to what he is now. What he was previously is irrevelant.
He doesn’t rely on raw velocity for success so there shouldn’t be a drop off later on. His curveball is one of the filthiest pitches in the game and that’s his out pitch.
there is a reason he was a top draft pick on “stuff” alone. His stuff adjusted to the pen fits well on any team. I liked the signing but obviously you can’t predict injuries. but injuries are rampant right now for both sides (hit and pitch) who knows who will get hit by that. just ask the rays bullpen
hindsight is 20/20, but its not like Pomz had a huge track record to go off of for that contract. seemed like the Pads were bidding against themselves
This was obvious to anyone paying attention. Pomeranz was one of the best relievers in baseball last season once he was converted to the bullpen. No hindsight needed.
But he did….both as a reliever and somewhat pitching for the Padres before in Petco. Combined he had about 200 innings of relief work and pitching for the Padres to suggest he’d be more useful as a relief pitcher and would do well pitching in Petco.
There was a fundamental change in his arsenal last season as a reliever. Yes, he was a very good SP for SD at one point in time also. But that wasn’t even all that relevant. (Though it’s never bad to have success somewhere).
Once he made the switch to being a two pitch reliever. FB/CB he was absolutely dominant. In short bursts that was extremely effective. People who fail to realize actual progression think Bumgarner’s deal for 85 million is a steal because he was a “proven winner” w/ a nice long resume (instead of the declining mid rotation pitcher he now is) but signing a guy like Pomz is a severe overpay. Pay for what a guy is NOW —not what he used to be.
@jbigz12 Pomeranz had a comically small sample size of pitching well as a reliever when Preller gave him this contract (and really still does) and his 2018 season with Boston was a disaster. People weren’t convinced he could sustain what he did in Milwaukee last year. Maybe you were convinced and maybe you feel you had a good reason to be convinced, but some people weren’t. Obviously A. J. Preller was though.
It wasn’t like he got lucky for 15 games. He was absolutely dominant. Simply reading a box score and looking at stats you might be surprised. If you took the time to delve into the cause of the performance there’s absolutely no reason to be surprised.
Joe Kelly has been the definition of mediocre and got a fat deal based on one postseason. But nothing changed with Joe Kelly. He was the same pitcher who had a nice stretch of games at the perfect time. If you looked at Pomz that way w/o looking at the cause of the success; then you’d be surprised. And throw up 10 million flags about a small sample or whatever else.
“comically small”
He was a reliever/long relief/spot starter for the A’s in 2014 and 2015 giving them 3.77 and 3.62 FIP respectively over the course the year in different roles
2014 he pitched very well as both. 10 games, 52.1 innings, 2.58 era. As a reliever 10 games, 16.1 innings, 1.58 era
2015 he pitched well as a reliever, not so much as a starter. 9 games, 44.2 innings of 4.63 era as a starter vs. 44 games 41.1 innings of 2.61 era.
41.1 + 16.1 + 26.1 innings of relief is 84 innings of relief work (or about a little over a seasons worth of work)
Pomeranz had a decent resume of relief work when he signed the contract.
MAGA
That’s true about his prior relief work. But last years relief work was something else entirely because of his new pitch selection. From that perspective the sample was small. But your larger sample should’ve given some clue that he could be useful as a reliever even if he went back to his old arsenal.
I’m not sure anyone thought madbums deal was a streal
Preller also guy who traded Max Fried and Trea Turner
Preller also the guy who traded for Fernando Tatis Jr., Chris Paddack, Trent Grisham and Jake Cronenworth. Every GM has their good deals and their bad ones.
well dont know who they were or weren’t bidding against. but as a red sox fan the ability was there that I saw…
Pomeranz pitched for the Padres as a starter a few years back before being traded to Boston in the Anderson Espinoza debacle. So they already knew what kind of stuff he had and what sort of person he was.
The one where the Red Sox traded the Padres an injured Anderson Espinoza for a non-injured Drew Pomeranz?
The one where the Red Sox traded Anderson Espinoza, who subsequently got injured eight months later.
I dont think a anyone thought Pomeranz was bad. Just that his contract was a risk after 2 good months.
It was also kind of weird because they were supposedly trying to extend Yates and it felt like they spent that money on Pomeranz instead. It also felt like they randomly paid a lot in an area where they didn’t need to.
People view it differently now too since Yates has probably thrown his last pitch as as a Padre and Pomeranz looks like he’s going to be solid for the next few years.
This.
I’m not sure he’s even worth the contract now as it is huge and seemed the Padres were bidding against themselves. Glad that he’s pitching well though (always liked him from his last stint as a Padre) and hope it continues!
Christian Vazquez would be a good fit for them if the Red Sox were serious about moving him. He could help them now, but also in the future.
It would be tough to adjust to a new pitching staff on such short notice, but Hedges and Torrens will never hit and Mejia is still way too unproven.
Think it’s a good fit at the right price.
This looks like a situation that screams out for JBJ and Barnes. SD has prospects that are completely buried, and are still better than what Boston has.
Who would touch JBJ?
JBJ has major negative value, Boston is just gonna have to eat that deal unless they send a ton of cash with him.
Pilar could possibly be serviceable, not really a huge upgrade but at least there’s a little value.
Every Boston fan trying to trade JBJ like he’s the next Babe Ruth and doesn’t have that anchor contract. He’s essentially worthless in trading terms and the Red Sox will have to pay a very large percentage of the contract to get out from under it.
JBJ is a free agent next year and playing on a reduced contract like all the other players are doing. So are we really talking a ton of money here? Pillar the same by the way, so a reduced contract that’s already been half paid you tell me?
When it comes to JBJ (and other pieces) I *think* most Boston fans, at least the intelligent ones, say to pay most of his remaining deal in a trade.
The Boston front office was quoted before the workman deal as saying they were open to adding significant cash to facilitate certain trades.
To me, you’re paying jbj, pillar, moreland, others the rest of this final season’s salary whether you trade them or not. So, pay most of the deal in every trade to boost returns.
JBJ making prorated league minimum is a good 4th OF late inning defensive upgrade on most teams. He won’t bring much, but, I’d rather have a pair of lottery tickets than nothing come November when he is a FA.
JBJ is your standard 2 WAR player. More importantly, he is a very streaky player, and right now, he has a 1.000 OPS in his last 9 games.
And SD needs an outfielder, preferably one with a glove.
Angels make interesting trade partners.
Goodwin of, Castro c, LaStella inf, Bundy sp, Pena, Buttrey, and Ramirez out of the Pen. Wouldn’t cost much except for Bundy.
no one wants Ramirez
nvm, thought you meant JC. forgot about Noe.
i like the idea of adding to the rotation to help the bullpen by association, more than just going after some relief arms and hoping for the best. adding a lynn or bundy would do just that. if preller were smart he’d also target a relief arm from anaheim or texas as well. pena from LAA and hernandez from TEX stand out. i’d send over weathers first, but after that the package bundle gets a little messy. don’t know if either team mentioned want MLB now players more than prospects a couple years out. padres don’t really have as many chips to deal with on the big league level as they do with their farm system. hard to imagine lucchesi and naylor really getting much interest and i don’t really want to give up on morejon or baez just yet either.
You do realize that Weathers is now incredibly valuable, don’t you 420?
yeah i had read some chatter this year that a lot of people have been much more impressed with his stuff at various camps. it’s more of a personal thing really. i didn’t love the selection when it happened and i saw morejon in person 2 years ago in elsinore and was blown away. i still like morejon anyways so if it’s between the 2 i’m moving weathers first. will stand by looking foolish if weathers winds up better down the road though
besides most padres’ fans will attest that morejon now has little to no value since he’s been handled poorly, in their opinions, so moving weathers might be the best choice now with his elevated value
Lance Lynn is the only guy I move Weathers for and even then, it’d probably hurt in the long run.
Ryan Weathers is a stud. Barring injury, he should turn out to be a pretty good major league starter for somebody.
Joey Lucchesi / Josh Naylor / Gabriel Arias / Tucupita Marcano / Blake Hunt to the Indians for Mike Clevinger.
They get an OF to plug in immediately who’s a previous top 100 prospect, a #4 with longer control than Clevinger, a top- 120 prospect replacement for Lindor when he leaves, a toolsy OF prospect from a good system and a decent looking lotto ticket catcher. Hunt could be swapped with a billion other prospects of similar value the Pads have.
Who says no?
Indians easily.
Josh Naylor is a DH. They already took their DH from SD. None of that helps Cleveland tomorrow. At all. They don’t need lucchesi.
padres more than likely. clev really shot himself in the foot with his knuckleheaded move, and i’m personally not a fan of a 5 for 1 trade. i could live with weathers arias and hunt if CLE isn’t looking for a MLB ready player though
Why do you keep trying to trade Weathers 420? His value has gone through the roof this year. You are treating him like he is nothing.
What’s wrong with a 5 for 1 when all you’re trading is spare parts? Exactly none of those guys has a clear future in San Diego. Arias is blocked by CJ Abrams and Tatis. And potentially Cronenworth if he’s for real. If Arias even pans out to be a big league starter.
Naylor has no place in SD. Lucchesi has fallen out of the rotation w/ better starters coming. And the other 2 are of the higher end lotto ticket variety.
Seems like a whole lot of inconsequential gives for San Diego and absolutely nothing that benefits Cleveland right now.
it just feels unnecessary to give away 5 players for one guy, regardless if the 5 don’t have an immediate path to playing time, arias is a pretty good get on his own so i don’t think he should just be tossed into a large package especially if a guy can be had for less. i’m sure there’s an exception i’d make for a larger trade like that, but not for clev at the moment.
Unfortunately that group would not come anywhere close to getting Clevinger CheeseHead.
Lmao this guy calling Josh Naylor an OF.
But more on topic, I don’t think the Indians, who are trying to win now, are going to trade Clevinger, covid protocol violations nonwithstanding.
Agree with the Indians saying no on this, but as a Padres fan Naylor seems fine in the OF to me. He lost a ton of weight and his sprint speed isn’t that bad.
lol
The Red Sox should consider trading Christian Vázquez to the Padres along with Kevin Pillar, and take back a portion of Wil Myers contract along with the Padres #1 catching prospect (Campusano). If that cost is too steep for SD, Boston can throw in Matt Barnes along with some cash to help balance any financial discrepancies. Will Myers would rake at Fenway and Boston needs a right handed OF with power anyways. They could even consider Bennintendi over Pillar but would probably need a pitcher back
That ship has sailed. Wil myers is actually worth his contract now. Vazquez isn’t landing you anything close to campusano. He will get you B level prospect at best. Shop in the 40-45 overall section.
Myers hasn’t proven anything yet.
In a normal year you wouldn’t say 4 weeks into the season that a guy has turned around or proven anything. You would say, “fast start, let’s see if this is just a hot streak or if (insert player here) can keep this up”
Maybe it is. You hope for the player it is. But 4 weeks is nothing, and, 2020 stats will be viewed as far less important than the 2019 season for looking at sustained performance and value.
I will say that vazquez was at the bottom end of the top-10 catchers in MLB before 2020, and hasn’t done anything to hurt that position.
He’s controllable at VERY affordable rates 2 more years, 5-6m each, and would be a FA in 2022 if his 6m option is picked up.
That is worth MORE than a 4th ranked prospect who has proven nothing. Not a mlb top-20 prospect, but, MUCH more than just a b-level prospect as well.
*45th ranked, sorry for the typo, darned auto correct
Worth contract it’s 30 games typical Padre fan commentary
The reason the Padres will not trade Myers has nothing to do with how he will hit in the future. It is because the Padres are trying to compete THIS YEAR. The Padres are not going to trade one of their best hitters this year, and more, for a guy who has a lower BA, a much lower OBP and just over half as many HR in the same number of AB. That would not help the Padres compete.
You’re stupid
The padres have untouchables and that is one of them.
Those guys are garbage as well. I rather have no hitting hedges and no bat Mateo over them
There’s smoke to that Red Sox fire, but Campusano isn’t going anywhere. We could have some interest in Benitendi but I think the Sox would still ask for too much. We’ll see soon!
The Padres won’t seek another catcher. Austin Hedges is a premium defensive catcher, and though he’s below average with the bat, his numbers reflect a horrible start. In July in 15 at bats, he didn’t have a hit, giving him a slash line of .000/.000/.000 with an ops of .000.
In August, in 43 PAs, 34 ABs, he’s hitting .235/.333/.529 with an ops of .863 with 5 walks, three homers, 4 RBI, 5 runs scored, and four sacrifice hits that set up runs. That’s respectable, thanks to working with hitting coach Damian Easley on being more patient and selective at the plate.
That’s also enough for him to reclaim his status as first string catcher. The Padres expect Mejia’s hitting to improve now that his thumb injury is healed.
The Mets and Padres are always in rumors together…I dont see the Mets doing anything…but Ramos has a club option at a reasonable price. I think it would make sense for the Padres to explore, don’t know what the return could be?? If anyone wants to throw out an idea, id be interested to hear some thoughts of people that know the pads system well!
Richards sucks. Cut him.
Another Preller doozy 16 mil out the window
circling back to reiterate the padres’ need for starting pitching
They don’t need starting pitching. They COULD just move one of Quantrill, Morejon or Patiño to the rotation.
Yea that’s the ticket