The Padres have signed left-hander Ryan Carpenter to a minor league deal, per Evan Woodbery of MLive. The southpaw will presumably receive an invitation to Spring Training and compete for a roster spot.
Carpenter, 33, has a small amount of major league experience, having pitched for the Tigers in 2018 and 2019. He made 15 appearances, including 14 starts, logging 63 innings over those two seasons. Unfortunately, he allowed 8.57 earned runs per nine innings in that small sample and hasn’t been back to the big leagues since.
The lefty signed with the Rakuten Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan for 2020 and had a solid season for them. He tossed 157 1/3 innings over 26 appearances with an ERA of 4.00. That led to a deal with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization, which is generally considered to be a stronger league than the CPBL. He tossed 170 frames for the Eagles in 2021 with an ERA of 3.97.
Carpenter returned to the Eagles for 2022 but wasn’t able to make much impact, making just four appearances. He was released a couple of months into that season with reports of elbow soreness. Public details on what followed from there are sparse but he didn’t pitch anywhere in 2023. It’s possible that he required some sort of elbow procedure and spent the year rehabbing, though that is entirely speculative.
The Padres have plenty of rotation uncertainty at the moment and questions around their budget as well. Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish give the club a strong duo at the top of their starting staff but Seth Lugo declined his player option and is now a free agent. Michael Wacha and Nick Martinez have complicated contract options but could follow Lugo out the door. Blake Snell will surely receive and turn down a qualifying offer and head to the open market himself, alongside midseason pickup Rich Hill.
The club will surely be looking to bolster the rotation but financial issues could perhaps limit how aggressive they are in signing free agents to accomplish that task. Carpenter figures to compete with internal options like Jay Groome, Pedro Avila, Matt Waldron and Adrián Morejón for a spot on the depth chart.
Well that’s at least one replacement pitcher they can afford.
Solid pick up to the rotation things trending up I’d say
I kinda hope we’re interested in Sevey and (a healthy) German as well…
With his alcoholism and past domestic abuse suspension I don’t think any team will take a flyer on German this year. He might have to continue pitching overseas
I think there are some teams desperate enough to make the gamble
Severino is definitely worth a flyer, and he’s going to be cheap a change of scenery will probably help him. If Preller brings Gary Sanchez back that’d interesting to see those two together again, especially with Sanchez being a productive bat and good defensive catcher once he got to San Diego.
I think Sevy could make a good closer but it will be a tough sell. There’s your Hader replacement!
In short bursts Severino was effective this past season, him being a closer wouldn’t be so farfetched.
Suarez is the replacement for Hader.
Pads will need another one or two high quality set ups, aside from Barlow (if they keep him)
I think Barlow is a nice trade piece and he will be relatively expensive at $7.1 million.
There was a story in the SDUT this morning highlighting that the padres only have 128 million in guaranteed salaries for 2024. This “financial trouble” narrative needs some additional context.
TG – The SDUT is apparently not familiar with how payroll works.
For 2024 they have $152M Active Payroll, $45M estimated arbitration, $8.5M estimated pre-arbitration, and $12M they still owe Eric Hosmer.
So they are already at $218M and that doesn’t include the cost of keeping or replacing players not included in the above amounts.
If they can’t afford to at least maintain this year’s total payroll, they are screwed.
This is why the Padres are so much fun. I figure, if everyone opts out, and Soto is the only arb case they take, then their payroll is at $223M (pretty close to yours), and they would have to replace:
Snell
Hader
Lugo
Martinez
Wacha
Barlow
Grisham
Sanchez
And a couple of minor pieces.
So you missed the part about guaranteed contracts?
Its likely that Grisham, Nola, Hill, and Barlow do not return either through trades or non-tender. That is $17 million in arbitration salaries that won’t be there. So all that is left is Soto at $32-33 million and Morejon at less than $1 million. Still a large chunk of change.
There are 6 pre-arb players as of today. That might increase, but that is $4.32 million, not $8.5 million.
The Padres will have to re-sign or replace Wacha, Lugo, and Martinez, so there is that money too.
They do still have to pay Hosmer and its actually $13 million.
At this point we have heard from both the owner and the CEO saying that they are planning to run back a payroll similar to 2023 and Acee backtracking on his initial reasoning for his claim that they had to cut payroll.
I am going with they cut payroll ever so slightly and come in at around $240-245 million with CBT around $262-265 depending on how much player benefits comes in at. That last one is something we won’t know until MLB releases the figures after the end of the calendar year.
Pads – Joe didn’t miss anything. The original poster who made it seem like the Pads are on the hook for only $128M was being deceiving at best. It wasn’t an accurate representation of the 2024 payroll commitment, not even close. What do you expect, the Pads to non-tender Soto and everyone else that is arb-eligible or pre-arb?
BTW – There are 11 pre-arb players right now, not six. And Hosmer is $12,260,000 to be exact …. you’re not taking into consideration that my team is on the hook for $740K of his salary, thanks to my team’s mentally challenged former POBO.
Joe – I’ve got your back!
Wtf are you talking about with me being “deceiving at best” I literally relayed a figure from our local padres writer.
TG – Calm down, it’s only a game. LOL!
You ragged on everyone who knows the Pads are going to be constricted with regard to payroll spending the next few years, and you used the erroneous $128M in an attempt to justify your ragging.
For instance not including Hosmer or Soto (unless he’s traded, he will not be non-tendered) was deceptive, we all knew they weren’t included in the erroneous $128M figure you presented.
If you have some inside information that Tatis will be suspended for the season again without pay, please do share!
I assume you are talking about Joe Brady. After his misogynistic and incorrect comments in an ill conceived attempt to defend Bauer I no longer see his comments.
TG19 said “There was a story in the SDUT this morning highlighting that the padres only have 128 million in guaranteed salaries for 2024”
That is what I was referencing in answer to your post.
$128 million is far from an accurate representation of the Padres 2024 payroll. With extensions and new deals for players that were on the 2023 team and FA signings and trades, I would be willing to bet that its over $240 million when all is said and done,
One thing we know for sure is that unless the Padres go with 100% pre-arb players to replace the 9 FA and those that turn down player options that there is no way they can even come close to $200 million. That would not be a team that can’t win it all and both the owner and CEO have said that the goal is a WS championship and that they will continue to maintain the same level of spending.
There are 6 pre-arb players. In a few days when FA actually starts there are going to be holes in the roster for the 9 FA and the guys with options that may or may not be exercised. There could be many MORE than 6 pre-arb players and there could be less.
The 11 number you are quoting is from BR and it is if no options are picked up. Do you really think Carpenter won’t pick up his option? Do you really think that none of the others with options will be retained? That the Padres are just going to allow them to all walk without signing 1 or more to deals? That also doesn’t take into account that if he declines his player option that Martinez is not a FA, he is still subject to arbitration. It also includes players that ended the season on the 60 day IL but will undoubtedly be returned to the minors once they return.
BR and Cots has the number the Padres owe for Hosmer at $13 million and Roster Resource has it at $12.885 million. I will go with their assessments of the cost and take the higher one.
No one knows what the Padres are going to do in terms of payroll other than the ownership group and the CEO. We are all guessing.
What we do know for certain is that both the principal owner and the CEO have both said they will maintain spending levels.
It may turn out to be wrong, but I am going to believe that they know what they are talking about better than Kevin Acee.
Pads – BR doesn’t break out a year’s salary when it’s paid by multiple teams. Cots sucks, go to Spotrac if you want proof.
Or read this.
google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/boston/news/r…
Will never use Spotrac. They are always wrong. Always. I have shown that dozens of times on this site in the past.
The Red Sox owed Hosmer money only until they released him. The Padres are responsible for his salary.
Not sure who the writer from WBZ is or what their sources are, but Preller in a mid-2023 press conference said that the $13 million annually the Padres were still paying Hosmer would not interfere with taking on salaries in trade at the deadline.
Pads – Do you ever wonder why, when a player is released with big money remaining on his contract, the team that acquires said player always pays the player league minimum? Well it’s the same thing with traded players, the acquiring team must ALWAYS pay at least the league minimum.
Here’s two more sources, I’ve now brought four.
theathletic.com/4009974/2022/12/16/red-sox-designa…
As part of the deal, the Padres agreed to pay the remainder of Hosmer’s contract with any future team paying the major league minimum ($700,000 in 2022).
mlb.com/news/eric-hosmer-red-sox-trade
The Padres, according to a source, are sending $44 million to the Red Sox to cover the bulk of Hosmer’s salary that he is due from the rest of this season through 2023-25. Boston will only have to pay him the minimum.
Once they released Hosmer, only the Padres were responsible for anything else. The same can be said for the Cubs who picked him up AFTER he was cut by the Red Sox. NEITHER of them owes Hosmer a dime.
From the Athletic article.
“If placed on waivers, Hosmer could be picked up given his entire remaining salary (three years, $39 million of an original eight-year, $144 million deal signed with San Diego) is being paid by the Padres.”
“As part of the deal, the Padres agreed to pay the remainder of Hosmer’s contract with any future team paying the major league minimum.”
When he was traded to the Red Sox they paid the major league minimum for 2 months of that season. In 2023 the Cubs paid the major league minimum or $720k.
For 2024 and 2025 the Padres pay 100% of his contract unless he is on the roster of a MLB team, in which case that team pays the current major league minimum. He is NOT on the Red Sox roster or the Cubs roster.
Neither of those sources back your claim. In fact, they prove mine.
You need to think these things through.
1-The $128M is wrong. It would take one minute to eyeball Cots to know that.
2-“Guaranteed salaries” is almost a completely meaningless term. It is only meaningful if SD has no intention offering arbitration to any of their players. Soto alone adds ~ $32M.
3-And that number likely doesn’t include Hosmer or the fringe benefits, so add another $45M.
It’s not “wrong” – I said 128 in guaranteed salaries, which was accurate. You can argue it’s “meaningless”, I guess, but it’s not “wrong”
TG – Joe is right, you know you are wrong.
Even if you count JUST the players that have guaranteed contracts already signed for next season, it STILL comes to more than your erroneous figure.
Grab a calculator and add these up:
Xander $25.5M
Musgrove $20M
Manny $31.8M
Darvish $18M
Tatis $24.3M
Suarez $9.2M
Cronenworth $11.4M
Kim $7M
Hosmer $12.3M
All guaranteed contracts already signed for next year … it adds up to a LOT more than your erroneous number you provided.
Joe – I’ve got your back!
Manny makes 13 million this year in salary- accurate in the context of saying financial trouble covering payroll. I’m talking about real dollars not your make believe salary cap figures pretending you’re a GM.
Fever pitch guy – how’s that humble pie taste you overzealous self righteous moron?
TG – Taxes and draft penalties are based on AAV, it’s the only number that matters. You think they’ll want to take another loan to pay the 2024 luxury tax? No chance they will want to.
Again you complete moron – reading comprehension is not your strong suit. I was 100% accurate to talk about financial commitments next year (manny is owed 13 million not 30) and “financial struggles” needing more context.
Just admit the L and go away.
TG – Maybe you’re new, it doesn’t really matter …. I don’t engage with anyone who resorts to childish namecalling just because they’re embarrassed about being proven wrong.
Maybe you’re just a teenager, which means your brain is not fully developed … it’s still no excuse for the namecalling.
So while I’m not “going away”, you certainly are as far as I’m concerned … you’re muted, goodbye.
This guy might have been the worst Tigers pitcher I have ever seen in all my years of being a fan.
miggy – You never saw Jarrod Washburn pitch?
Washburn was a Tiger? Huh.
I just remember his time with the Angels, and I remember him a decent starter for them. Not 100% on that it’s been a while.
Taking me back to the 2002 Angels.
Had to look it up he had a good run with Anaheim including the 2002 championship. Oh, and his last season came with Detroit, pretty atrocious numbers with them…
Ryan Carpenter was indeed a Terrible Tiger. Very terrible. Nice signing.
My favorite worst witnessed Tiger performance could have been from Carpenter, but it was Anthony Misiewicz this year against Texas.
In the span of about an hour, the local lefty was activated from AAA, tasked with getting the last out in the 8th, was BRUTAL, and then sent back to Toledo. But he sure lit up the night sky in that brief time.
The Rangers’ rockets off of him glared red. Adolis Garcia showed the world what to expect 4 months later. Misiewicz’s one out was hardly earned – it was a scorcher to the wall.
Misiewicz faced 5 batters. It was exactly like lining up 5 balls on 5 tees for 5 golf pros to unmercifully hammer. Eventually I was watching this horror between my fingers. If Misiewicz had started that inning the Rangers might still be hitting him.
And, despite all of that, Anthony Misiewicz just might be better than Ryan Carpenter.
Nice signing.
It’s getting weirder how in nearly every Padre-related article it gets mentioned that they will be cutting payroll way back. In many of the new “most likely to get traded” or other FA predictions (CBS, ESPN, etc…), they list Soto as top to be traded because that’s the best way for Pads to cut payroll because….well of course they will have to cut payroll right? (link to article where Kevin Acee says so).
But in those same FA/trade predication articles, the Padres are listed as likely destinations for about 10 high priced top FAs or trade target vets which would add substantially to their payroll. Innocent confusion by writers?
It’s all media noise that NY, LA, Boston, and Chicago fans are used to. Welcome to the club SD! Each pick a narrative and run with it as long as you can. It’s good exposure for the Padres so why refute any rumors if you’re Seidler.
Yeah I hear ya. Though I think that those teams are rarely subject to rumors about cutting back payroll significantly like the Pads are now (the “experiment must fail!”). So, the juxtaposition seems greater.
Brew88
Cubs had their moment of cutting payroll too. Cubs fans can remember when Rickets came out saying how they had “biblical” losses after the 2020 season
@acoss13. True on the Cubs. I’ve always felt the Cubs are a more advanced example of the path the Padres have been on since their inception. Kindred misery.
With 2015-16 being a landscape shift for the Cubs., and the Seidler ownership a big change in the Pads.
Honestly though I’m a firm believer in the San Diego Sports Curse and I don’t think it fully left town with the Chargers and Clippers. So yeah, a 108-year WS drought is fully within the realm of possibility for Pads (sorry in advance Longtimecoming if you just read that).
Honestly with the expanded playoffs, everyone has a chance to get into the dance. Arizona showed it this year so there is hope Brew88!
Longtimecoming said that Matt Carpenter would opt out lolz.
I like both the post and YankeeBleacher’s response. Looks like we are joining the club where the press says we are signing everyone while trashing the club every chance they get.
Both simultaneously apparently.
Hoping this is the only Carpenter on the roster going forward…
indeed
Oil Can – Hoping didn’t help.