Dinelson Lamet’s name has been part of trade talks between the Padres and other teams, The Athletic’s Dennis Lin reports (Twitter link). Lin notes that payroll is a consideration, as moving Lamet’s $4.775MM salary would create some room for the Padres to pursue other needs, such as more hitting.
Much has been written about San Diego’s efforts to move at least one of Eric Hosmer or Wil Myers, but with nothing happening on either of those two trade fronts, the Padres have continued to explore other methods of reducing enough salary to get under the $230MM luxury tax threshold. As per Roster Resource, the Padres’ tax number is approximately $228.83MM, leaving the front office without much room to maneuver as they look to avoid a second consecutive year of tax overages.
Lamet presents an interesting trade chip, as it wasn’t long ago that the right-hander was seen as one of the Padres’ most impressive young up-and-coming arms during his time in the minors. Unfortunately, a variety of injuries (most notably a Tommy John surgery in 2018, a UCL strain in 2020, and forearm tightness last year) have limited Lamet to just 310 Major League innings since the start of the 2017 season.
While these injuries have kept Lamet from being a consistent contributor, he has shown flashes of very impressive potential. The highlight was Lamet’s 2020 season, as he finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting by posting a 2.09 ERA over 69 innings during the shortened campaign. However, the UCL strain prevented Lamet from participating in San Diego’s playoff run.
Lamet was moved to the bullpen last season, and he has pitched exclusively as a reliever so far in 2022. Over the small sample size of 6 2/3 innings this year, the results have been shaky, as Lamet has a 5.40 ERA, two home runs allowed, and a 13.8% walk rate. On the plus side, Lamet does have a 31% strikeout rate, lending to the idea that Lamet’s arsenal could eventually translate well to a relief role.
As a Super Two player, Lamet is in the third of four arbitration-eligible years, so any interested trade partners would also have him for the 2023 campaign. A new team could further explore Lamet as a reliever, or perhaps see if he could still stay healthy enough to contribute as a starting pitcher. Lamet turns 30 in July, so while he isn’t exactly young, other clubs could see him as a classic change-of-scenery candidate, as the righty has spent his entire pro career in San Diego’s organization.
Trading damaged goods is very on-brand for AJ Preller.
I thought the same thing. Not only damaged goods, but overpaid players as well.
He’s been better at acquiring damaged goods lately, no?
What else are you supposed to do with them? Let them rot? Move them before they leave for nothing I suppose.
Maybe Bauer will retire and join the ESPN broadcast. Him and A-rod can talk about how great they are.
And that relates to this article…How??
Sure trade the steak, but you’ll have to take the broccoli or the asparagus along with it. ICK, keep the steak
Lamet is a top round steak 2 days past the sell by date
I can’t see SD unloading an excellent pitching prospect without trying to dump Hosmer or Meyers. Steak with broccoli or asparagus. Unless the steak stinks and is 3 weeks old.
Can you call a 30 yr old a prospect?
Smells of a Giants reclamation project, if the Padres dare trade in their division.
Doubtful. Given Lamets recent performance, injury history, and salary, Preller probably needs to attach a prospect. As you suggest, Pads probably wouldn’t want to make a deal like that with the Giants.
Myers Lamet two low level pitching prospects and a top catching prospect for Aaron Hicks.
Uh no
I would take him in Pittsburgh with a prospect attached
I’d take him in Pittsburgh for a prospect, albeit a bad one. He’d sadly be their #1 starter.
No they will have roansy up in 2 weeks
Why would the Padres attach a prospect to get rid of a guy who is still in arb that’s a terrible argument.
How to we get Reynolds from PIT?? Lamet + 2 low level prospects?
Angels for Mayfield and a low A arm
Westbrook and Putin for David Attenborough and Amy Schumer and 40 lbs of kibble
Lol
Baker Mayfield??
Ok.. So who is lamet replacing? SP or bullpen..?
Lamet’s still got fuel in the tank.
He’s never quite pulled it together due to the injuries but he has some talent. If the North Tijuana Cockroaches trade him then someone else will figure him out and put him in a place to succeed.
He’s still got something in the tank… if that tank is on a 50cc moped.
I honestly think Lamet and Caspuano and a low end prospect to the Angel would be a perfect fit. That would really make the Angels a team to watch with them getting a catcher ready player wow
@stubby66
Why exactly would the Padres want to trade a top 50 prospect, a reliever and a low end prospect to the Angels? Are the Padres getting a top 30 prospect back?
@stubby666
For Brandon Marsh?
Not giving up marsh in that trade. Terrible. Don’t even think these guys belong on the angels.
I honestly think Lamet should be traded for Rhys Hoskins. Both could use a massive change of scenery and they can open up first base for somebody else that can stink up the entire city of Philadelphia
If you can’t hit in Philly you can’t hit In PETCO
I commented here or in the San Diego Union Tribune that the Padres should have let him walk and non-tendered him back when they could have. He’s a physically big guy but he’s got a glass skeleton.
I do think working him out of the bullpen is an incredibly stupid thing. He needs to be a starter and a fresh start somewhere else is probably going to help him.
Not to argue, but Lamet would be a starter if his forearm could hold up for more than 70 innings.
He is a pretty good reliever and he can spot start.
AJ Preller and the Padres are wonderful for this site. How many articles have been written about the Padres trying to dump overpaid players without any of them being moved. I find the comments section to this articles to be very humorous.
Padres roster construction is like watching a game of whack a mole.
Every move seems more short term and desperate than the last.
Braves are a good partner….please take Duvall
Closer potential
AJ Preller’s Padres’s trades are grown ups version of
“Pin the Tail on the Donkey”
No extra charge for the blind fold…
In terms of bullpen spots they’re not even going to have room for Lamet over the next couple months. Pierce Johnson, Pomeranz, Morejon, and Baez are all supposed to return before the end of June.
If they don’t trade Lamet, they probably will have to option him to AAA at some point based on how he’s currently pitching in comparison to who is coming back.
What kind of player can they get for 5M a year? If anything trade some of their questionable signings (Suarez and Kim who never played in MLB, Martinez who has not pitched in MLB for 4 years, Pomeranz) which will reduce the payroll more. Also, they can look at trading either Darvish, Snell, Clevinger or Martinez once Snell comes back. It would be nice if they can get a power LH OF/DH to slot between Machado and Tatis for a few years until those down on the farm are ready.
trading a bunch of guys at their lowest value. real smart man. don’t quit your day job.
None of those duds will be traded.
No thanks. He’s far too fragile, likely to be plagued by injuries.
zero reason to trade this guy right now when his value is at it’s lowest. dude has an incredible arm. great fastball and one of the best sliders in the game. selling low is not smart.
Smart GMs “buy low and sell high” on players’ values.
AJ Preller and the Padres consistently “buy high and sell low”
I give Preller credit for restocking the farm.
I give Preller blame for dismantling a great farm system in a year or two
with very little to show for it but a 230M payroll, an OF with big holes in RF, LF,
a bullpen that could be a lot better, a marginal bench and a rotation that
cannot stay healthy…
Trade Lamet for Franmil Reyes
I don’t think they would take Lamet for Reyes.
I like Reyes as a hitter, but he’s a DH, way below ave OF
The tanking Reds might take a look…
Lamet has options left.