The Mariners have claimed infielder Kevin Padlo off waivers from the Rays, per a club announcement. Right-hander Justin Dunn was moved from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Dunn has already spent 63 days on the IL, so the shift to the 60-day IL is an entirely procedural move.
Padlo, 25, made his big league debut with the Rays in 2021 but went just 1-for-12 in 14 plate appearances before being optioned back down to Triple-A Durham, where he’s struggled to a .174/.270/.379 batting line in 282 plate appearances on the season.
While those numbers are obviously unsightly, Padlo entered the year ranked comfortably within the middle ranks of a deep Rays’ farm system, sitting 25th at FanGraphs and 20th at Baseball America. Huge raw power from the right side of the plate is Padlo’s calling card, and he had it on full display in the 2019 season when he posted a combined .265/.389/.538 batting line with 21 home runs and 31 doubles. Most of Padlo’s 2019 season was spent in a very pitcher-friendly Double-A setting, but upon being bumped to Triple-A Durham, he ripped nine home runs in just 145 plate appearances and batted .290/.400/.595.
Third base has been Padlo’s primary position in the minors, though there’s some skepticism as to whether he can remain there. He’s also spent time at first base, and FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen suggests that his eventual role could be a righty-hitting role player who bounces between all four corner spots and designated hitter.
Padlo has some strikeout issues, with a career 25.4 percent mark in the minors and a 33 percent mark in 2021, but he’s also walked in 13.6 percent of his career plate appearances. He has a minor league option remaining beyond the current season, so he can give the M’s some corner depth for the next year-plus as he looks to right the ship in the upper minors.
I assumed it would not take long. Good pickup by the M’s.
Padlo is a very intriguing 3B option, and it surprises me that none of the teams ahead of Seattle were interested in putting in a claim.
Good claim I thought Padlo was a decent prospect
Not as decent as the prospect the Rays traded to get him. German Marquez.
Eh Marquez wasn’t a highly regarded prospect at the time of the trade. He was more of just a toss in. At the end of 16 he added the velocity to give him the prospect status before Col. called him up.
Sounds a bit like Ty France’s profile. Ty definitely has a better hit tool but an intriguing pickup. Knowing Dipoto and how much he has dealt with the Rays in the past, I’m sure Padlo has been on his radar for awhile as were Ty France and Abraham Toro.
Maybe a better power tool, but from a pure hitting standpoint i don’t think he touches France
Agreed ty France is a legit baseball player hats he batting near .290 ? He was the one I want exited about most. And for good reason.
Nice get
The Triple-A on base percentage and slugging percentage are correct, but he’s actually hitting .194, not .174.
Toro and now Padlo, seems more and more likely that Seager is in his Mariners fairwell tour
If the Mariners are a legitimate playoff team next year and going forward is Padlo or any other player in the organization the 3rd baseman to help get us there?
I say that the 3rd baseman is in another organization.
Also,
The contracts that Dipoto got rid of the last couple of years saving tens of millions (25 million?) this season and something like 50 million going into next year, will we see that put into the product.
The great thing about this year is we now know the rebuild, or whatever its being called, is over and the winning is now at hand (next season).
I’ll be curious to see fans, especially dipoto defenders will demand winning moves.
The excuses are gone.
6 years of little to nothing and yet 3 contracts.
Time to win Jerry, time to win.
Padlo is just a depth piece like Marmolejos.
I don’t think Dipoto has full autonomy over FA acquisitions and trades. He works for an owner who won’t give him the money to buy the FA’s he really wants. The M’s had a great opportunity to upgrade the team (in a buyers market) in this past 2021 offseason. Sure, the contracts to Flexen, Steckenrider, Sewald, Graveman and Chargois were really astute deals but we missed the boat on an INFer and a better option at SP than Paxton. Think of all the contracts given out- they were very team friendly with performance based bonuses.
The Org claims to be desperate to get back to the postseason yet given the opportunity to ‘put their money where their mouth is’ in this 2021 trade deadline they decided to ship out their dominant closer and clubhouse leader. Personally I think ownership wants to keep getting younger so it can try to operate on a very small payroll much like TB and OAK.
You haven’t been paying attention. Seattle didn’t get involved with the big FAs because they didn’t think they would be close to a playoff team. They wanted to wait till this off season so big money wasn’t wasted for a year. I would bet if they knew they would be in the thick of it they would have gotten some expensive guys.
I have never heard a thing about not wanting to spend money. All I have heard was money wasn’t a problem. The money they saved this year will be used next year. That was out of Dipoto’s mouth. I also have no idea how you think Dipoto doesn’t have full control. Like most teams if he is going to spend big money I am sure he talks to the owner. This is not the Nintendo Ms these guys want to win more than make a profit. The profits will come just look at how full the stadium is most nights.
Just about everything you said is wrong. I have listened to the owner and Dipoto. They have said the same thing. If not for COVID this was the year but it all got delayed. Not sure who you listened too you are not an Ms fan probably a Dipoto hater from the Angels.
Unless they can get a top flight 3rd bm they should pick up Seagers option. Will be a great role model for the kids. He is defensively one of the better guys at third. His bat isn’t great but good and he does clutch up at times. It is not a lot of money for a year. Who knows next off season there might be a better player we could get than this off season.