The Padres have announced that they exercised their club options over right-handed relievers Pierce Johnson and Craig Stammen for the 2022 season. Johnson will be retained for $3MM while Stammen will return on a $4MM salary.
While the two relievers offer differing skillsets, it was an easy call to hold onto both players for similar salaries. In 2021 Johnson posted a solid 3.22 ERA and again mystified the opposition with a 31.6% strikeout percentage that ranks as firmly above average. While the right-hander gives up too many free passes (11.1 BB%) and doesn’t induce many groundballs (33.3 GB%) he has proven adept at avoiding home runs when opponents are actually able to put the ball in play against him.
Stammen, meanwhile, rebounded nicely from an uncharacteristically poor 2020 season where he sported a 5.63 ERA after 24 innings. It’s worth noting that his performance there was impacted by some bad BABIP luck, as the durable reliever’s underlying peripherals largely resemble this year’s successful campaign. Regardless, this recent season saw the BABIP pendulum swing the other way while Stammen’s strikeout rate ticked upward and his 55.1% groundball rate remained typically robust. The 38-year-old will look to replicate this year’s 3.06 ERA next season in what will be his sixth season of a very strong Padres tenure.
They’ve also declined their options over right-handed reliever Keone Kela and outfielder Jake Marisnick. San Diego could have paid Kela $800K and Marisnick $4MM to stay aboard next season, but clearly felt between their respective injury and underperformance neither was worth the entirety of that investment. Marisnick will receive a $500k buyout before heading to free agency.
The Kela decision registers as the greater surprise here, as a strikeout-happy reliever with a career 3.33 ERA on its face seems like a bargain with a sub-$1MM price tag. Still, the 28-year-old is recovering from Tommy John surgery and wasn’t thought to be available until midway through next season. After tallying just 42 1/3 innings over the past three seasons, and some declining bottom-line results, the Padres clearly didn’t feel the fiery right-hander was worth the half-season gamble.
Marisnick, meanwhile, was a no-brainer to have his option declined after an ill-fated midseason deal with the Cubs landed him on the west coast. As a glove-first, center field-capable player Marisnick provided adequate production at the plate in Chicago, delivering a .731 OPS. That number cratered following the trade however, as a subsequent .472 OPS contributed to the Padres year-end skid and negated a good deal of the value Marisnick had built for himself earlier in the year.
Additionally, the team confirmed that utility-man Jurickson Profar has exercised his $7.3MM player option for the upcoming season while right-handed closer Mark Melancon has declined his $5MM player option in favor of a $1MM buyout and trip to free agency. The result of both player options are largely formalities at this point, considering the platform years both players posted.
By measure of bWAR Profar was the definition of a replacement-level player in 2021. The one-time top prospect bounced around five positions and upped his walk-rate to a cool 11.9% across 137 games. Unfortunately, that versatility was undercut by generally poor reviews of Profar’s glovework across 4 of his 5 positions. Furthermore, an inability to hit the ball with much authority meant those 137 games worth of plate appearances led to a punchless .227/.329/.320 slash line. Profar will look to tap into some of the upside that he’s shown flashes of throughout his career before making a call on next year’s $8.3MM player option.
Lastly, the 36-year-old Melancon proved to be one of last offseason’s thriftiest pickups. In return for a $3MM guarantee the veteran gave the Padres outstanding production at the back of their bullpen, leading the league with 39 saves in his fifth All-Star campaign. Some batted ball luck worked in Melancon’s favor this season, suggesting his 2.23 ERA is due for some regression, but a very strong groundball and home run rate— plus a spike in strikeout rate from last season— indicate that Melancon remains a plenty serviceable option as a high leverage reliever.
What was Kela’s option? If he comes back healthy next season he might be good. Of course he also might punch one of his teammates in the face.
Club option was for ’22 at $800k… but he may not pitch in ’22 after TJS in May ’21.
It’s $800K for him being available for ~80 games at most, possibly even much less depending on the injury timetable.
Might as well spend that money on a different reclamation project that will be in theory available all 162.
Kela’s history is inconsistency, injuries, and suspensions.
He’s not good enough to be worth the trouble.
Kela could be a cheap pickup for a team willing to take a risk on a guy who has been one of the most effective relievers in the past when he was healthy. Could be a budget pickup for the Phillies.
the phillies don’t know a such thing as a budget pickup
probably sign with the Dodgers.
Ugh. Stammen stays next year…. as if our bullpen wasn’t as bad as it is right now.
Tell me you know nothing about baseball without telling that you know nothing about baseball
Granted I didn’t watch many Padres games last year, but I’d gladly take a 3.06 ERA over 88 innings for my team.
Stammen’s #’s look great. Even bad ERA in 2020 covid year had a good FIP. What are we missing that a padres fan sees?
Nothing. He’s clueless.
Stammen is a solid innings eater. The problem last year is he gave up some home runs at crucial times. However, that being said, it’s a plus to have him in the bullpen. A bargain at 4 million
He is just a fair weather fan who probably saw a few bad outings and ignores the dozens of good ones by Stammen lol
Stammen is and was solid. A great cog to have in any Pen. He can start in a pinch, too.
Stammen is solid though he turns 38 in March. What do you think happens with Kirby Yates? He didn’t pitch for Toronto and is now a free agent. Obviously, there’s some risk, but might be worth a shot so long as the signing team isn’t counting heavily on him.
PadresFan19 After Melancon, Stammen was the most valuable reliever we had. Then P. Johnson. Did you watch the World Series and see how Atlantas bullpen clicked? One reliever after the other? One inning at a time? Stammen has had to be the guy that goes two and three innings to keep us in the game. Pressure that you know nothing about. At 4 million he’s a bargain.
In 5 years with the Padres he has managed a 3.23 ERA and a 125 ERA+
He has also pitched like 6,000 innings during that time.
Get a clue.
Wow, 6000 innings. That’s impressive.
Marisnick might make a decent platoon with lefty Florial for the Yanks if they decide to spend their money and resources on other needs besides CF. The platoon would provide them with excellent defense, but with unpredictable offense. Marisnick has shown limited offensive skills during his ML career. Florial, on the other hand, is a bit of an unknown, once a major all round prospect in the Yankee farm system who has not as of yet lived up to his hype. Injuries have definitely hurt his development but he is still fairly young and could prove to be that all round talent that was once predicted for him.
Cubs got a steal getting Espinosa for Marisnick.
2.5 years of Prime All Star Pomeranz for half a year of Marisnick. #FirePreller
It’s a little early, especially in view of a possible work stoppage, to see where everybody sits after all the moves in the next few days.
Except of course for the Phils, who will sign Goose Gossage and Robin Roberts.
Goose can probably still bring the heat
I wouldn’t mind seeing Melancon come back to Atlanta. I was sorry to see him leave.
I agree 100% replace Martin who will leave with Melancon would give the Braves a great bullpen.
I remember when he traded for him from the giants and everyone was like what; yet he turned out great.
He was solid for the Braves as a closer when he had been a setup guy in SF. I thought Snitker was crazy at first.14 million on a setup guy? But he was great in ATL. For some reason he did not want to resign with them. Maybe he wanted to play on the west coast.
I wouldnt mind that also, We need some help in our bullpen besides the four we have, Their great but they need backup.
Did Profar save Preller’s life or something? I can’t understand why he would pay $7.3mm to a bad hitter who isn’t good at a single defensive position.
And he has another good player option for next year too. Got a better deal than Kikè.
So the next Manny Machado will want to sign with the Padres or something. Call it the Eric Hosmer strategy.
Signing Hosmer had nothing to do with Machado signing with the Padres. Everyone knows that.
He never said that Machado’s deal had anything to do with Hos’ deal. The Padres seem to make moves out of impulse and not thinking it through all the way. See acquiring Adam Frazier even though they already had 3 2B options.
Incriminating photos… Gotta be it.
Goats and Preller. Hmmm and theres pics?
Profar taking Padres to the cleaners with his $7.3 M option. That’s crazy money for a scrub utility.
Surprised they declined Kela’s club option. I get that he’s on the mend from TJ but he really wouldn’t have had to do much in 2022 to be worth $800k. Might have even been able to exercise the option then trade him next month.
More of a roster spot move.
But they’re gonna have to give that roster spot to another reliever for more $
They would have anyway since Kela isn’t back mid summer
@Brewer88 Maybe. But like I said he wouldn’t have to do much to earn that $800k.
He actually looked very good before the injury, teams will be interested.
Kela’s injury history goes way back, and it includes shoulder problems and a previous elbow surgery. How much is a one inning, inconsistent middle reliever worth? Not much.
Stop saying Hosmer will be traded!
Trade takes two to tango and he’s a top 3 untradeable contract in baseball!
STOP SAYING HOSMER WILL BE TRADED!
Same thing with Myers. Can’t trade him with that contract.
I agree. He’s not going anywhere with that albatross of a contract when’s he’s hardly a bench piece.