After the Scott Barlow and Juan Soto/Trent Grisham trades, Roster Resource projects the Padres payroll for the 2024 season in the $154MM range. They’re at roughly $209MM in luxury tax commitments, about $28MM shy of next year’s lowest threshold.
San Diego now has some space to add, but their series of free agent losses and trade departures have created a number of holes. With a need for at least one starting pitcher, a back-end reliever and likely multiple outfielders, the front office could continue looking for ways to create spending room. One path the front office is seemingly pursuing: moving some of the money owed to Jake Cronenworth.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand tweeted last week that Cronenworth had emerged as a trade candidate. Dennis Lin of the Athletic similarly wrote over the weekend the Padres were open to discussions on the fifth-year infielder. That’s to be expected, as Cronenworth is coming off the worst season of his career.
That’s not ideal for a player entering the first season of a seven-year contract. Last spring, San Diego signed Cronenworth to an $80MM extension covering the 2024-30 campaigns. It was an odd decision at the time, as the Padres already had arbitration control through his age-32 season. It looks worse in hindsight after his 2023 performance.
Cronenworth hit .229/.312/.378 with 10 home runs through 522 plate appearances. He had the lowest mark of his career in all three slash stats. That’d be more tolerable at his natural second base position, but the Friars also kicked him primarily to first base after signing Xander Bogaerts to keep Ha-Seong Kim at the keystone. Cronenworth’s hit-over-power approach isn’t a great fit at first base, where most teams receive far more offensive productivity. Among 25 primary first baseman to reach 500 plate appearances, Cronenworth ranked 23rd in both on-base percentage and slugging. His season finished in late August when he fractured his right wrist.
The Padres certainly expect better than that in 2024. Going into last season, the Michigan product had a much superior .256/.338/.431 career batting line. Yet he has also trended downwards offensively in each season since his rookie year. With Kim and Bogaerts likely to again occupy the middle infield, Cronenworth isn’t a great fit for the San Diego roster. Offloading a portion of his contract and bringing in a more traditional slugging first baseman could mollify some of their problems getting production from the bottom half of the lineup.
San Diego wouldn’t find a taker for the entire contract. Aside from a $2MM signing bonus, Cronenworth’s extension hasn’t yet kicked in. Were he a free agent this offseason, he would not receive seven years or $78MM.
For reference, Jeimer Candelario was on the open market this winter. He’s a few weeks older than Cronenworth, has nearly identical offensive production over the past four seasons, and is coming off a much better ’23 campaign (.251/.336/.471 with 22 homers). Candelario signed a three-year pact that guaranteed $45MM. Even with Cronenworth having a slight defensive edge based on his ability to play an above-average second base, he likely wouldn’t have beaten Candelario money.
The Padres owe Cronenworth a $7MM salary for next season, followed by $11MM in 2025. He’s due $12MM annually between 2026-30, covering his age 32-36 campaigns. If the Friars were simply prioritizing shedding next year’s money, they’d likely find a trade partner. Paying $7MM for Cronenworth in ’24 is good value, particularly if a team can move him back to second base. The Padres would have to agree to kicking in some money beyond the next season or two in order to reduce the longer-term downside for an acquiring team.
Whit Merrifield and Tim Anderson are the top open market options. Neither is demonstrably better than Cronenworth. There are other trade possibilities (e.g. Jorge Polanco, Kyle Farmer, Jonathan India) but teams looking for second base help could have to turn to the trade market.
The Royals project to turn the position back to Michael Massey, who hit .229/.274/.381 a season ago. K.C. has a decent amount of long-term payroll room and generally prefers hit-over-power, athletic players who align with their spacious home park. The Red Sox had a revolving door at second base last season, receiving a .240/.286/.376 line overall. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acknowledged last week the Sox were likely to trade for a second baseman, although he called a right-handed hitter an ideal pickup.
Seattle could look to improve upon Josh Rojas. Cronenworth would align with their goal of adding more contact if they view him as reasonable buy-low target. The Angels and Blue Jays may add an infielder, although their respective in-house options might be productive enough they don’t see Cronenworth as a clear upgrade.
Teams like the Brewers (Brice Turang), Rockies (Brendan Rodgers) and Nationals (Luis García) have young players they’ll probably try to give one more opportunity. The White Sox have targeted stopgap types like Nicky Lopez and Paul DeJong. The Pirates seem unlikely to take on notable money on a seven-year commitment. The Tigers have short-term uncertainty at second base but presumably won’t want to block prospects like Colt Keith and Jace Jung.
In the absence of many clear trade partners, the Padres front office will have to determine how motivated they are to shed a portion of the contract. While selling low on Cronenworth less than 12 months after extending him isn’t ideal, the Soto trade made clear they’re open to ways to reshape the roster as they try to remain competitive while cutting spending.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
He’s bad, his contract is worse.
An off year doesn’t mean he’s “bad.”
He’s gotten worse every year. He looked so promising when he first came up..
Worse every year? He had a combined WAR of 8.9 over 2 recent years (2021-2022)
His 2022 WAR was helped that he played more 2B in 2022 versus 2023. Plus league OPS bottom was in 2022 so his 0.722 wasn’t as bad for WAR purposes. He’s obviously a bad contract but when you play him at 1B it diminishes his overall value even more. If Padres are going to keep playing Kim at 2B and Bogaerts at SS, there is no room for Cronenworth to boost his value. Playing 1B and LF not going to help his relative value as much, although LF more favorable than 1B.
Not true his oWAR in 2022 was 4.3.
How has he gotten worse every year when his WAR per games played was higher in 2021 than 2020????
I don’t think you’re understanding what I’m saying. That or you don’t understand how WAR works. Wins above replacement but obviously it depends on the position you play, as you’re measured by position you play. Cronenworth played a lot of 2B in 2022, compared to more 1B in 2023. If you evaluated Cronenworth’s 2022 offensive stats relative to 1B his WAR would have been a lot lower. My point going forward is that it seems like his WAR is not going to improve as much if he’s not going to play 2B. Obviously he had a terrible 2023 season but his WAR came down even more because he played a lot of 1B.
Get what you’re saying about 2023 sure
He’s probably talking about his OPS, which has declined every year.
cap
If I ran the team, I’d stick Cronenworth in LF. He’s got good speed and the bat will play fine out there. 11mm a year really isn’t that bad for a x2 AS, even with his down year.
I would like the pirates to offer a low prospect or ptnl and if the padres eat eat a lot like half. To bring it down to 5-7 mil I would take that risk of it a down yr
Why would the Padres do that not even 12 months after extending him?
Because they clearly screwed up and now in some financial trouble. I’d think that they’d prefer to not eat much of that contract and package some prospects for a deeper pocket team.
@mlbdodgerfan2015 Crone still isn’t that expensive and if he can return to even his 2022 form they would be able to move that contract without eating any money/prospects.
Is that the Padres trade pitch?
Right. Moving to a new position that also requires more power expectations can make a guy press and throw things off. What’s bad about Crone is the stupid unnecessary extension Preller dished out. I think he will bounce back and if they dump him now, they are selling at the worst time.
These repeated financial gaffes by Prellar make me amazed that he hasn’t been fired.
With salaries sky rocketing I think the crime deal will look fine over the next couple years.
It’s not even a bad contract now imo. He just should be a super-util rather than a 1B.
The entire city of San Diego has thought the same thing for the past 4 years
I panned the CronenWorthless contract when it was made, and was blasted in the comments. My how the turns tables.
You were probably blasted by the same Pads fans wgo:
* Knew the Pads had plenty of spending money
* Knew that Soto wasn’t being traded
* Knew that, if Soto got traded, it would be for top-rated prospects
* Knew that $70M was the CBT number for Ohtani
*Knew that Bogaerts was a great signing
* And knew how to delete their own log-in credentials and erase all evidence of their existence.
Joe – is “knew” the correct wording to use for any fan’s comments regarding their team? I mean really, front office and ownership said what they said and fans were only repeating / relying g on those comments by the ones that do “know”.
Lose the rage.
Joe seems to be on a mission to stereotype all Padre fans, no doubt some sort of transference neurosis at play
is “knew” the correct wording
=============================
Absolutely. They were obnoxious (though some posters think they were only one person with several log-ins. I have good conversations with several SD fans. But they aren’t obnoxious, and they don’t insult anyone that disagrees with them.
And it isn’t rage; it is gloating. They deserve whatever bashing they have coming.
No, i have normal conversations with normal Padre fans. If people want to be rude and loud and insulting, they don’t get to walk away unscathed when they are wrong.
Have I ever personally insulted you? Or Gwynning?
@ Joe. Not you haven’t, which is why I found it odd that you directed ire at ALL Padre fans?
That post indicates a certain group, not a stereotype of all fans. You continue to show you don’t understand what words mean.
Joe – not that I am aware of anyway.
I still have to say that if someone is relying on statements from FO and they are adamant that these FO people said what they said, then I do t see the problem.
The Acee article which he recanted the next day caused a lot of issues but I don’t recall any padres posters doing anything but stressing that Acee recanted and that Preller was saying at his PC’s that they were trying to extend Soto, etc.
Ok, things changes or FO lied or misrepresented for negotiation tactics or whatever but don’t blame fans for relaying what was said.
Truce?
In fairness, as a padre fan I can agree that there are a lot of idiotic padre fans who are like an ostrich and stick their heads in the dirt so all the problems in the world stop existing.
And yeah it can be frustrating as fans of other teams to deal with the obliviousness.
But sir, you seem to be overly upset for no reason and have some strange fascination with “sticking it to them Padre fans”
And I apologize if I’m taking this wrong, I’m sure a lot of people are gonna take this opportunity to make SD fans sit in their own misery.
It also doesn’t help then everything that has happened over the past 10 days has made me very bitter as a padre fan
I may chop my weener off if Harder and Snell or Yoshi end up going to the dodgers also.
Cause I highly doubt the Padres have made any effort whatsoever to sign anyone.
Preller just sitting there like a crackhead with money, not doing a damned thing.
The fans in question misinterpreted statements. It was aggressive, offensive BS. Then there was the constant criticism of MLBTR.
No surprise there is silence now.
I found it odd that you directed ire at ALL Padre fans?
===========================
That’s not what I said.. I said:
“same Pads fans”
If I meant “all” fans, then that is what I would’ve written.
Shut up Joe. It’s time to find a hobby and a shrink, both.
Yes.
===============
Hey Matthew, how you doing? By any chance, are you among those that I addressed as “same Pads fans”, but with a new log-in?
I am the Padres team captain, and starting DH for the club.
I generally don’t care. Everyone has their own opinions, and those opinions are generally self or team-centered. That’s how it should be.
But you have to admit those fans were completely obnoxious. I mean, there cannot be any doubt that, right?
I think all fans of all teams can be obnoxious after one two many bud lights at the ballpark.
Calm down Matthew. If you weren’t one of the idiotic Padre fans I was referring to, then you have nothing to be concerned about.
And if you are one of them with a changed name, welcome back!
I’m just a regular guy with an “adult entertainment mustache”…..I may make 6 million bones this year, but I’m just like the rest of ya outside of work.
Truce?
===============
There is nothing to truce about. I wasn’t even aware you were a Padres fan. More like maybe you live in SD???
In any case, I have no issue with you, or Gwynning or a whole host of SD fans.
But if people are obnoxious, and wrong, how will they ever learn good manners? That’s my contribution to their training.
No doubt.
And I apologize if I’m taking this wrong, I’m sure a lot of people are gonna take this opportunity to make SD fans sit in their own misery.
=========================
Absolutely, positively not intended that way. My apologies if you took it that way.
But for the loudmouths, I have a Hammurabi code thing going. Same as growing up. The ones on the FB field or the local pub, with the biggest mouths, are going to get it back the same way they delivered it.
That’s part of what annoys me. I’d like to think I am pretty good at taking my medicine. If I were wrong about the $70M v $46M, I’d have no problem admitting it, and I would thank the person for correcting me.
But a couple of them were basically saying that the rest of the world was wrong, and they were nasty about it.
@Brew…
I’m a Padres fan, and I thought it was pretty clear who he was addressing. It definitely wasn’t ALL Padre fans.
Okay okay okay! Okay.
I’m a fan of several teams, the one from the town I grew up in, the team my dad played for, and they team my wife and kids tell me I have to root for, but I like the game more than specific teams.
but I like the game more than specific teams.
=========================
I can appreciate that. I like to say I am 59% RS fanatic and 50% BB fanatic. And even with RS matters, I will often delineate between what my heart says and what my brain says.
You sure are whinny
I’ll never stop having a laugh at the “Pads Fans” account making post after post aggressively running down anyone who suggested that Ohtani’s cap hit might not be $70m a year. I lost count of how many citations of the CBA they made – except none of them cited the clause that mattered.
It was a nice distraction from the mess that the Padres have become, though.
Not all Padre fans agree with “Padre Fan” and his many other personas (some new ones have emerged in the past few days you might have noticed). But even he (them) was greatly misled by Padre brass in the past few months.
Brew, your last part is where I’m at – for whatever the reasons FO said what they said, fans were relying on what was put out there by FO.
Well said Brew’88. As much as I enjoy taking shots at the Padres front office, I feel bad for the fans who are being led astray. We’re all fans of this great sport, and no fanbase deserves to see their team get de-railed by incompetent management and ownership.
Hahaha Pads Fans. He has a couple different usernames, but the MO is always the same. He’s gonna have to hold the proverbial “L” on this one.
@longtime. Im as confounded as you. Trying to stay positive
Appreciate that Cam.
for whatever the reasons FO said what they said,
===================
That might have to do with Seidler’s death. But here’s the thing. IMO, Boston will spend. And if you say they are cheap, I will say “let’s wait until the end of the off-season”.
But I am not going to insult you. Unless you start. Anyone with that big a mouth should expect to hear it regurgitated to them.
@Cap
re: “Ohtani’s cap hit might not be $70m a year.”
Ya gotta admit, though, I don’t think anyone believed that the Dodgers would be bold enough to defer 98% of his money for 200 years, or whatever %/length it was. THAT kind of changed the math. When the Dodgers can pick up Ohtani with almost zero hit to their MLB lux tax level, it kind of makes the luxury tax meaningless. Yes, Preller deferred money in his recent big dollar contracts, but nothing nearly like the Dodgers did with Ohtani. I believe it was unprecedented in baseball, if not professional ports.
It also means the Dodgers will be eating Ohtani’s money for literally decades after his commitment to them is over.
The money’s gotten so nutty, maybe owners should try paying with stock options, petro-dollars, or other more stable (and less taxed) currencies. Gee, how about $200M (or Euro’s, whatever) a year for a ball player? As long as it’s deferred for 90 years, it’ll be an affordable contract after inflation.
They’ll be eating his money for 1 decade after.
They weighed the risk of that harm for a decade v. The gain they’ll receive for the this upcoming decade.
Simply put, what is Cronenworth?
+1, Spud.
I see what you did there Spud Master. – Carp.
Another, yes another, unforced error by the destroyer of franchises: AJ Preller.
The padres were in the NLCS and pushed all in for a dying owner and had a really talented roster to go for it. I’d say he did pretty well for his boss while he was here.
Wrong. He would have been better off signing high AAV for 1-2 years. Preller has ruined this franchise for last 10 years and wasted Seidler’s last year. X and crone worth and extending Yu and Machado ALL failed in Seidler’s last year. Now the Padres are stuck with these bad contracts and made them have to trade Soto and unable to go get anyone to fill holes.
Good luck getting top FAs to sign 2 year deals. Seidlers vision was to build longterm and pass it off to his family. We’ll see how that works out, but it’s pretty clear AJ was executing that vision.
@TG19, last year he could have and especially due to the core four. Probably had no choice with Manny, but the others were unforced errors. X was significant overpay. Many stars do short contracts with high AAV (verlander and Scherzer both did). I agree AJ was executing a vision, but he’s failed for 10 years among 4 or more ‘visions’. He should be gone already, but I expect a 4th place finish from the Padres and if that happens it better be it for Preller.
Sounds like you don’t know much about the padres rebuild efforts. Carry on.
He had every choice with Manny! He *chose* to extend him.
It’s well documented that Seidler did that deal. He wanted manny to retire a padre.
So the Padres were ‘rebuilding’ last year? Or are you talking about the rebuilds Preller has had to take on ever since he began after screwing up and giving up Trea Turner for a lopsided terribly created roster? Or one of his other ‘rebuilds’ after his subsequent failures? Or are you saying they are now in another rebuild? AJ has been involved in all of this and gotten the fans only 1 meaningful playoff season. Now we’re back to same old Padres that will be looking up at several teams in the west and missing the playoffs. A mediocre team last year that has gotten worse while competition has gotten better. Time for new leadership.
Again, you’re showing you’re not aware of the rebuild within prellers tenure. Carry on, dude, you don’t know what you’re talking about.
What does he care if Manny retires a Padre?
Not a whole lot
If the Angels were smart e ought to do a rebuild, taking on this contract plus a bevy of prospects wouldn’t be bad.
I thought this was about the padres?
I’m sure Brandon Drury could man an infield spot for them. Or Luis Rengifo. Maybe they want Taylor Ward for the outfield.
The Angels could send them a win now piece or two, take on Cronenworth’s salary and pick up some prospects.
Why on Earth would the Padres do that when they just extended Cronenworth less than a year ago????
As Team Captain of the Padres I can assert that Croney deserves another shot this season. Pipe down ya Silly Sally’s! Signed- Carp (Padres Team Captain).
Crone Zone and $25-$30 million for Josh Rojas?
Pass
Hang up
Block Number
You forgot
LAUGH
Then Pass
Hang Up
Block Number
Hard to imagine a trade partner unless the Pads pay part of the contract long-term, and that defeats the purpose of shedding payroll. A quick review of potential 1B options for the Pads if they trade Cronenworth would have been a nice addition to the article. I’m not seeing a lot of 1B FAs that dazzle (or would be a marked improvement on Cronenworth), and I doubt they will find that need in a direct trade with Cronz.
The part that scares me is all this payroll shedding, and I don’t have confidence that the new ownership won’t just sit on the extra money and save it for a rainy day.
Just bring up a bunch of prospects, sign a bunch of cheap has beens, and hope Manny Tatis and bogey fix their baseball credibility for a fire sale of sorts
“Fix their baseball credibility” hahahahaha manny had a down year, X was solid, tatis was stellar.
Manny was injured, X was too throughout mid-season, Tatis is working his way back and did well played every game, his numbers will back to normal in 2024 (i.e., MVP candidate).
Not many ways out of this. Either swapping bad contracts, or lumping a prospect in a salary dump. Kind of seems like they are stuck with him.
Cronenworth should be a super utility LH platoon option.
Offers no value at 1B but moving around the INF and corner OF he should offer more value.
Think moving him to LF and signing a defensive RH platoon bat would help.
They need an actual 1B and offensive production from the position. That and DH
But in the interim moving Kim to 3B while Manny recovers and putting Cronenworth at 2B seems to be how the Padres will start 2024.
After Manny is healthy to play 3B shifting Cronenworth into super utility role seems likely.
If Kim leaves via free agency doubt Padres are moving cronenworth who can take back 2B
Jobu gets it. Put him in LF and sign two big boppers for RF and 1B. Let Tatis roam CF.
I mean why not throw Cronenworth out there in CF during spring training and lets see what hes got. If it doesnt work out it doesnt work out.
If he can play a decent 2B decent ss lets see what hes got in cf and sign bader or michael taylor to be the rh platoon option in cf.. Whats the worst that could happen? We use to throw Wil Myers out here back in the day. Think Cronenworth can play better than that.
They have to add to the position roster (OF and/or 1B), and depending upon who they get (via trade or FA) determines options with Cronz. But he’s a dynamic fielder and could adapt well to OF just like Tatis did. Maybe they use him as a SP, lol
I agree my fellow teammate. Marsee will be the every day LF when he’s ready. Crone or a resigned Profar will be the LF Stopgap until Marsee is promoted.
I’m pretty sure that the Croenenworth contract will be just as hard to move as the Stanton fiasco. It’s just another Preller deal that makes you shake your head and go WTF? With as much as it’s going to cost you to move him you’re better off just playing him and hope he proves worth some of it. See Cubs- # Jason Heyward.loser.
Nowhere near as bad as Stanton. If Cronenworth can return to even his 2022 levels of production someone will take him without the Padres attaching money/prospects.
Was there really a huge need to extend Croenenworth for 7 years? I don’t think so. Nobody is going to take on a trade for that many years for a borderline player. Sorry to rain on your parade. The Cubs have been trying to peddle David Bote’s 5 year 5 million dollar a year deal for 3 years now. Bote could be a useful player for somebody but nobody even wants him for that price. So Good Luck.
Above average offense above average defense. I can see why that extended him.
Move to 1b was a head scratcher but was that preller or Melvin.
I think full time LF platoon or full time super utility is a better use or his skill set now. And would offer better value out of the contract.
The knee jerk reaction is “omg he’s overpaid and sucked at 1b move him”
Padres should wait a year try him elsewhere and see if he rebounds.
Not a borderline player. Extension was pointless because he was already 29 and was still 3 years out from FA.
HS Kim What big boppers do you have in mind for RF and 1B? I’m not seeing FAs I’d want to overpay.
I’d bring back Renfroe for OF and resign Cooper
But I’d also be ok with a Bader cf lf platoon and a lh cf like Jankowski
Thanks Jobu, not dazzling but of those I favor reunion with Renfoe most because they will need some slug. Return of the Jank would be a hoot too.
I like Renfroe a lot but he doesn’t really fill a need on the Padres unless an outfielder with extra-super pinchable cheeks is a need.
well, those pinchables are going to KC, so moot point I guess. Hopefully they can fill needs via trades as well, just hope they don’t trade top 100 prospects (especially Snelling, Salas, Lesko).
The issue here is not Cronenworth. He’s an OK bet… at 2nd base. The issue here was signing Bogaerts to that ludicrous contract. He’s the real roadblock. Now you have to deal Cronenworth on pennies on the dollar OR move Kim, a great player in his own regard. #FirePreller
Which was another, yes another, unforced error by the destroyer of franchises: AJ Preller
Admittedly it seems these confusing deals were in part driven by Seidler as his desire to win now at all costs for reasons we know now. I loved Seidler’s desire to win but most of last season’s signings seem terrible already
Or they could move Boegarts? Put Boegarts at 1B, Crone at 2B, Kim at SS, Manny at 3B. Of course, that wouldn’t actually change the lineup, just the defensive alignment.
You were one of Preller’s biggest defenders, didn’t comment at all for like 6 years and are now on the Fire Preller bandwagon?
Of my many Pads-fan friends, Cronenworth’s deal was always the one they hated. (I’d have argued Bogaerts’ was worse, but such was life.)
But moving him seems paramount, if they want to meaningfully add at the places they have real needs….
Padres fans won’t like this but of the contracts/extensions they’ve handed out in the last 18 months the worst one is Manny Machado.
Machado is not the worst contract lol he was gonna leave if they didn’t extend him and he’s still an elite player. Much better player than Bogaerts….
You think he’d have opted out after 2023, his second-worst full season?
He was under contract for 2023. They didn’t need to extend him to keep him for The Big Push, they definitely didn’t need to extend him for 11 years and 350M.
Even if he’d had a good 2023, and opted out, what other team was going to pay him that much? Nobody, that’s who.
@rols1026 He wasn’t necessarily going to leave if they didn’t extend him. With the season he just had it’s not clear that he would have opted out and even if he did the Padres could have still brought him back as a FA and even if they didn’t they could get better production for $350m.
Bogaerts was more than a full win better in 2023 btdubs.
He probably still does opt out and probably still beats the contract he opted out of but his new contract would be a lot closer to the one he opted out of than to the extension the Padres gave him.
He wasn’t necessarily going to leave if they didn’t extend him.
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That’s where I am at. He had the option to opt out after 2023. He’d be 31 when he started his new contract. Was Preller afraid that someone was going to offer him MORE $350M?
They will keep him and put him at 2B when Kim leaves next year. This team may suck worse than the Rockies going forward and be much more expensive. Preller needs to go, but he’s ruined this franchise for the next decade
Bog at 2b and Merrill at SS in 25. Cro in LF or 1b for now.
X don’t allow a move to 2B…..you know this. Merrill
will play 2B, not X. Although I do agree with Crone moving to LF due to the infield surplus. (Unless we resign Profar). Either would be a stop gap until the #12 prospect Jakob Marsee is promoted to MLB and becomes our every day LF, as that is the plan for when he is ready. -Carp.
X said in interview that he would move but wanted to stay in middle – 2b or CF was his answer.
Contract was absurd the moment he signed it. What were they thinking in the first place?
Preller is an absolute joke of a GM, should have been fired long ago
After all of these questionable FA signings, I think we are going to have to start saying, “The Padres gotta Padre.”
The more elegant and practical solution is to move X to LF, Kim to SS, and Cro to 2nd,
X would never agree to that.
He was only guaranteed SS in ‘23. After that, play where the team needs you. Tatis, Soto, Kim and Croney all moved to accommodate X last year. Time to return the favor.
Terrible idea Tom Brady. What you said will never happen. Take your meds ok?
Congrats “Carp” you are one of the weirdest weirdos I have come across on this site in a looong time. I feel like you are somehow gaining access to the internet while enjoying your stay at whatever sanitarium you are currently residing in.
I’m not saying it will happen, only that it is a superior solution. Moving X off of SS has already been discussed.
I hear ya Joe. I was a bit harsh on ya earlier. Just crude banter is all.
Joe, I agree and put Merrill at 1B. Establish some value for Croneworth at 2B and maybe trade him by the deadline.
Two of Merrill, Bogaerts, Cronenworth and Kim will have to be traded within the next year or so.
Tatis still wants to play shortstop, so maybe 3 of the 4
They’d have to eat like half of Xander and Crone’s contracts to move either at this point.
@brew …
It shouldn’t matter what Tatis “wants.” He’s not a very good SS.
@legendary …
Fact. But it’s a Catch-22 because the longer they wait, the more they’ll have to eat as the value diminishes. Preller has backed this team into a corner.
@SDHotDawg Bogaerts and Cronenworth both played pretty well below their career averages in 2023. Cronenworth especially should be able to be moved without eating salary/prospects if (when) he rebounds in 2024.
@Dawg. He’s shown that he’ll play where the team needs him to play, The Padres have a history of moving guys off their best positions so don’t rule it out.
Does Merrill have any experience at 1B? He’s tall enough for 1B but I dont know if he’s had any reps there in the minors.
I read in The Athletic that he was playing LF, 2B, and 1B. Here is the link…https://theathletic.com/4786574/2023/08/18/padres-considering-jackson-merrill-call-up/?amp=1
Interesting. At 6’3 in height I don’t see why he can’t be tasked to scoop up some long tosses in the dirt to 1st eh?
Crone is actually undersized for a 1B. He holds his own and plays bigger than he is but a bit short for a 1B which is also why he’s more naturally suited for 2B. Unlike myself- Carp who is a natural 1B and size for one ;). Hehe.
Garvey was 4 ft 9”
rigomatthewmortis
Padres controlled Crone through his age 31 season before the extension. Not age 32. They didn’t manipulate his service time when he first came up.
Not a very smart move by SD on many counts.
His deal is worse than Trisham’s. Should have wedged that into the Yankee trade instead of trying to recoup what you initially dealt for Soto.
All three in the trade would have netted you less prospects but far more financial flexability. It will be 5 years before you see SD in the playoffs. Best bet would be packaging JC with MM or FTjr if you want to clear the tax line. You could have done this in one trade but instead had to overthink your problems. GM should be fired.
“Trisham” has no deal. And neither does Grisham for that matter. He is still in arb.
I agree Dave, GMs should be held more accountable. Basically the Cubs need to see who was responsible for giving Ian Happ a NTC. Whoever is the person who decided that was a good idea, should be called out!! And I really don’t mind Happ, nor the extension – BUT to include a NTC is absolutely ridiculous.
Happ wouldn’t have signed that extension without an NTC. He would have gotten a bigger contract in FA, but he loves being a Cub. I’m not just saying this. I listen to his podcast all the time, and the dude just loves Chicago and playing for the Cubs.
Just blow the whole thing up and rebuild. Get rid of Preller while you’re at it.
Hey, here’s an idea. Let’s sign a guy to an unnecessary extension and then try to trade him at his absolute low point not even 12 months later!
Padres are a laughing stock. Shoulda let Machado opt out, Myers Darvish and Cronenworth extensions were just absurd. Hosmer deal they are still paying for, Shoving Bogarts into this team. Preller will never win a world series with a team he’s building.
Face it Padres have some bad contracts, why would they give Cronenworth an 80 million extension. I would have not signed Bogaerts, they did not need him., if they did not sign him the Cronenworth contract may have not looked that bad. But this is what a team gets signing players with a RSN that gave them a 20 mil a year hope for 20years. When that RSN goes belly up and your forced to go back to the pre RSN days of get little to nothing from the local sports media contracts because they are considered small market, and you have two LA teams, an Arizona team and in 2025 a team in Vegas all that will take media dollars from San Diego. I see Machado, Tatis, Bogaerts contracts becoming bad contracts in the coming years for the Padres. Revenue is going to be tight from here on out.
I think Jake could be a positive pick up for the pirates. Lots of control could be pretty cheap depending if the padre’s eat any of the salary. Could be a pretty cheap pick up in terms of talent as well given that every year Jake’s bat has taken a step down.
I’d rather see the pirates use their trade resources on quality arms instead but if that is not possible.
That extension was such a bad idea…..
No one is taking the Crony contract. He might bounce back, but unless Friars attach a prospect and send cash, no one will take the risk.
Bogey was such a dumb signing. They had Kim to play shortstop. Crony used to hit ok for a 2B but not like a 1B. They could have obtained a cheap rental for 1B instead of pying through the nose for another shortstop. Trading Trea for Wil Myers did not help.
Yep, tack on enough cash and/or enough prospects and someone might take a hard look, short than that theyre not just taking him on.
could have just said, not that good and makes a lot of money
Moving a decent fielding 2B to a new position with much less positional value seemed like a bad idea to start. I think they should sell high on Kim honestly for pitching maybe and sign a 1B
Trade Xander
Who’s taking him?
Mets? I dunno where he’d play tho. They need another real bat in that lineup.
Why are the tax commitments $55 million more than payroll? I’ve never understood that.
Tatis and machado moneys is backloaded
Because the tax uses the average annual value of the contract not the amount the player is actually getting paid that year.
Thank you both!
The late owner had to sign off on Cronenworth’s extension. I’m sure at the time he thought it was a good idea.
This contract isn’t great but it’s also not going to crush the Padres; Croney should provide some value.
These extensions for late blooming players do no favors for the team though. They’re just head scratchers. If there’s no extension then Croney plays next year at age 30 and the following, his last year of arbitration, at age 31. He would have been a free agent at 32 years old. That’s when players start to decline.
Oh well, not my favorite team so nothing to worry about.
Signing Bogaerts really ruined this team Preller was acting like it’s an MLB the show franchise
The Bogaerts deal was like the recent real estate frenzy when rates were so low and prices were so high.
The problem was that Preller was doing a bunch of interest only loans and now the principal is needing to be paid…
Alex Anthopoulos would probably take him, and then turn around and trade him along with a minor leaguer and 95% of his paycheck for another bad contract.
If I’m the brewers I get in on this new wave of paying players to not play on your team and let the pads pay most of cronenworth to play 2nd.
The padres aren’t going to trade him and pay most of his contract
See Arctos Sports Partners who are running the team and whose main objective is ‘profitability’ for share holders for how much the Padres will spend.
Private Equity as in Hedge Fund Managers who profit off of shorting businesses are the ones running not just the Padres but MLB as a whole.
As trends indicate, this group will greatly reduce payroll and pocket the difference while benefitting from losses.
It’s all by design.
The savings on Cronenworths contract will not be re-invested into payroll.
The business of baseball.
Funny how a long term contract comes back and may bite you in the ass. Seems as baseball teams have always found a sucker to take the contract. I am sure there is one fool who will bite on Jake in the future. Time will tell
Croneworth for Patrick Corbin, who says no? Maybe the Nats have to add $4-5 million to make it work
Sign me up. Padres need pitching. That could work for both clubs
Corbin is a free agent after this year. Makes $35 million and then gets $10 million deferred for 2025. Dob’t see the Nats taking on Croneworth for 7 years $80 million for a player that comes off their books after next year for only $45 million total
Pads should hang up the phone. Crone is a below avg 1B but still an above avg 2B, meanwhile Corbin might be the worst starter in MLB
Croneworth for Patrick Corbin,
===========================
That seems fair. The Padres need two SPs, but Corbin pitched better than his stats looked. Cro costs a lot, but he was good as recently as 2022.
The extension was ill timed, but in July he started to turn things around until his season was ended in August. I think he can be a .750 OPS bat with slightly above average defense and a 2 to 3 WAR player. The problem is, he needs to play 2B for that value.
Are the Mets a viable trade partner? McNeil can competently play the OF corners. Mauricio is out with ACL surgery and adding Cronenworth improves infield defense & versatility. It’s a bad contract but Mets have the capability to add a bad contract and the leverage to force SD to send prospects and/or money back in the trade
Also, most of Cronenworth’s struggles with the bat have been vs LHPs. So it’s not like he’s a sunk contract. He’s a very defensively competent & versatile platoon hitter that would improve the Met’s roster
Such a terrible contract! Should have just played out the arb years…can’t he play left and platoon in the infield? Go sign a 1B with some sort of slug
Preller will trade Jake and immediately pivot and offer Cody B 20 year and 400 million. First base / Centerfield at the same time.
A lot of bashing of Cronenworth in this thread. Not deserving for a guy who just had a single bad year. Cronenworth had WAR of 8.9 in 2021-2022, but last year, when moved to 1B, altered his swing (upper cut) to get more lift on the ball. The result was a lot of uncharacteristic swings and misses, and ironically a big decline in HRs. This offseason he’s working to level out his swing again and the Pads should continue to roll with him. This is the worst time to trade him, unless they’re planning a fire sale, which I thought wasn’t happening. At $11M AAV his contract mighit not be so bad if he gets back to the 2021-22 output, in fact it could be a steal if his production returns and with inflation on contracts being what it is.
Agreed, why sell when his value has never been lower. At least hope for a bounce back, he’s still young and cheap. Plus I thought the news was Machado will need to DH for at least the first few months, so Crone can slid to his natural position.
@TDR, Machado will be DHing a lot at the beginning of the year and they’ll need Kim at 3B. Unless the team is thinking of rushing Merrill and put him out of position at 2B (or move Bogaerts to 2B), it makes no sense to trade the very good 2nd baseman (Cronenworth) that they already have. But Preller is unpredictable.
The problem was always that the extension made no sense based on the control they already had.
Cronenworth is not going to be traded…
Dumbest and most pointless extension ever
Kim is the trade. He has value teams like Seattle are looking for. Couple him with a prospect like Zavala or Head and dump Carpenter’s contract in a deal for Bryce Miller
If you’re willing to trade a player for pennies on the dollar after one bad year, then you should never sign that player to a long term expensive contract. At this point keep Crone, hope he bounces back because you’re not getting anything for him with that contract.
It’s such a bad look for an organization to trade a guy who you just signed to a seven year deal, serves as a warning for potential incoming free agents
Jake will be an all-star when he comes back to Michigan and plays for the Tigers.
At this point, I don’t see how the Padres ownership can actually believe that AJ Preller is the right man for the job. So many strategic failures and bad signings – this one in particular made no sense at the time, and looks worse now. He was coming off his worst year, he was still controlled through arbitration so there was no time or cost pressure, yet Preller felt compelled to guarantee him another 7 years anyway.
The Pads, as multiple points over the last few years, have at least looked like a team capable of competing for a while, if they just avoided dumb front office decisions. Yet here they are, stripping payroll back while creating hole after hole on the roster – one which had holes already.
I can’t imagine the current ownership axing Preller so soon after the passing of Peter Seidler. But I’m really not sure who is making these decisions right now, or what their priorities are besides paring down payroll.
Not sure how the passing of Seidler has any bearing on Preller being axed or not axed.
Just seems like there would be a lot of turbulence within the organization at the moment, imo. Some new interim-CEO guy isn’t just gonna step in and start replacing high-level front-facing employees so soon after the death of the big boss. Not saying they shouldn’t maybe consider it lol.
You’d be selling too low on Croney. Move him to 2B where his bat plays. Bogaerts to 1B and Kim back to SS. Best alignment defensively.
go ahead convince Bogaerts he is a 1B…..that will be their problem with that – If he is not happy Bogaerts will be a cancer on team if he is not playing as he likes
Bogaerts is a bonafide pro. The Pobres brought him on because he’s the type to do whatever is best for the team.
The ‘cancers’, Manny & Nando, have been on the club since ‘19.
Maybe to Seattle with a low to mid level prospect for Robbie Ray. M’s get an everyday player and keep their young starters instead of trading one of them. Padres get a starter that will return by mid-season…
Can Cronenworth still play adequate shortstop?
I know intra-division trades are tricky, but the Giants should be all over this. Take Cronenworth of their hands if they throw in Kim. Throw in whatever money and or mid-level prospects it takes to get it done – heck, pay $15m of the $18m owed to Conforto and fill the Padres OF need. Eat some money and flip Cronenworth to another team. Kim at SS for the Giants would be perfect.
The Yankess and Red Sox just pulled off a big trade so lets get this done!
It would be so cool if Kim was in that lineup with Lee. If it doesn’t happen this year, it will almost certainly happen next year.
Giants are definitely a team that makes sense to over pay for kim. Not sure the padres would trade cronenworth in that trade because they could just move him back to second. I guess they could move them both and play Jackson Merrill at second.
Trading Kim seems like a good idea on paper but he is a fan favorite and a lot of fans would be upset. Like way more upset than trading Soto.
As a padres fan though I would move him. I don’t see them paying to keep him. They have the ability to replace him with either cronenworth or Merrill.
It would be smart of them to do so. Even to the giants if that is who offers the most.
I don’t think there’s any way on Earth they’re trading Kim. I know how beloved he is there, and I know he doesn’t help with cost-cutting, they really couldn’t trade him right now. Maybe at the deadline if things have gone really wrong.
Why not? He’s a pending FA and the Padres won’t compete in 2024.
While padres fans don’t want to hear it they should trade HS Kim instead. He is a free agent next year and will get paid a pretty good amount.
Kim has great trade value specially with his 7m he earns next year.
Padres trade Kim and get more pieces to fill holes. Free up another 7m in payroll space and move cronenworth back to second base where he has been a 4 war 2x all-star.
Plus the padres only have one lefty bat if they trade cronenworth and that’s Matt carpenter who they should just release if he sucks in spring.
Trade Kim…now let’s hear what he is worth? Nearly Soto value with his 5 war at 7m and is prob much easier to extend.
Keep cronenworth, why pay half his contract for him to play somewhere else.
Dude you argued for Soto and ignored WAR and claimed he was a star and thats what teams pay for.
Now you talk about Kim and want to argue WAR.
Kim isn’t worth anything like Soto was worth.
When you add in his defense and that fact that he is paid 26m less next year then Soto is going to be paid. He is absolutely worth nearly what Soto is worth.
Soto’s bat is much better
Kim’s defense is much better
Kim’s base running is much better
Kim’s contract is much better
Kim’s ability to be extended is much better.
They aren’t the same type of player and Kim isn’t considered a star like soto but his trade value all things included is close.
Kim’s trade value is nowhere close to Sotos. Nowhere remotely close.
Teams don’t pay for defense in free agency like they do offense. If they did Kiermaier would be looking at a giant contract instead of whatever he eventually signs for.
Trading Kim makes sense. But it won’t be for anywhere near the package that the Yankees gave up for Soto.
It’s closer than you think. He isn’t Soto but they would get a top 100 guy for him plus a flyer or two.
Any team that needs a SS or 2b would love Kim. Marlins, mariners, giants, Red Sox, Toronto.
Kim would have a very broad market which adds to his value. Specially for teams looking to save a few bucks. This years free agent class is very expensive. Also what short stops are available? Adames who is worse and paid more, Anderson?
Kim also doesn’t cost $33M next year. He’d bring back a decent return.
He is paid 7m next year.
What about Kim for Max Meyer 1 for 1? That’s a deal that could make sense. Or Kim for Rogers. Either deal could make sense for both teams.
I generally agree he’s the most tradable rostered Padre. He’s also the master of ceremonies when the season opens up in Seoul next season, and trading him now, as smart as that might be, would be a little awkward.
Yeah I don’t think they will trade him but they should.
A lot of his value at the plate came from sheer quantity. He used to hit at the top of the lineup and managed 1300+ PAs combined in ‘21-‘22. Hitting at the bottom of the order this year… he couldn’t generate those kind of counting stats anymore.
Doesn’t help his OPS has dropped every year since his debut. I’d find it hard to imagine any team wants to take that contract on this off-season. It’s not THAT bad money-wise… yet, but with the crazy amount of years they gave him, it’s really gonna age poorly if he can’t stem the downward trajectory.
Where are all the padres fans that were sure they wouldn’t cut payroll?
I’m not sure who you are referring to, I see them posting on this thread. Padre fans were going with what ownership was saying, many are surprised by the payroll reduction but most ( myself included) were aware the rumors were plausible.
The Reds are always open to adding a veteran infielder to take away bats from their rookies.
Owner still has not figured it out yet that the results do not match expectations and a lot of mismanaged events have occurred with contracts, signings, trades, etc…
They have a completely have mismanaged operations team
That contract isn’t as bad as people are acting like it is.
Who needs a 2b and has a 1b to trade? I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head.
Prob the Red Sox, they seem to have an extra 1b.
Boston has Casas who almost certainly isn’t available. Who else do they have at 1b?
Guy like dalbec. He hasn’t been very good but it’s not like cronenworth is worth anything
Yeah I suppose that could make sense from the Padres perspective. Do the Red Sox need a long term 2b?
According to the article they would be a team that could have some interest. Of someone does get a long term replacement cronenworth has enough versatility he can move around as well. He has played 1b, 2b and SS for the padres.
.I don’t think so. One year certainly, and I’d put some money on the table for two years. But never 7 years. Not someone almost 30.
That’s what’s in!
Seattle clearly hasn’t solved 2B for years and also avoids signing FA position players. DiPoto has cleared payroll to make a big move, but if a FA it’ll likely be going to hometown guy Ian Snell. They trade for position players, with SD and Cincy frequent partners.
My guess is that SEA eventually lands India. However, I could see DiPoto buying low on Cronenworth, getting the Pads to eat some portion of that contract and sacrificing a lesser pitching prospect blocked by their deep staff + Snell(?).
My guess would be Pads jump at a Cronenworth + $5-7M/yr for an arm like Ty Adcock or Jimmy Joyce, or both. SEA has a very deep system with serviceable starters who could start in SD (or Cincy).
Cronenworth contract is basically 11m aav. Padres aren’t paying 5-7m of that. For 4-6m a year they are better off keeping him. I could see 2-3m. Making him cost 8-9m a year. On this market that’s absolutely nothing.
Rather than a $35M outlay upfront, some pct per year was what I meant. Eating a single year (2024 @ $7M) wouldn’t return much, if anything, certainly not a current major league starter or ranked prospect. I guess I didn’t realize it was a seven year deal for $78M. I would expect SD to pay at least 40% this off-season to move him.
The only way the padres actually get something back by trading cronenworth is by eating all or nearly all of that deal.
The Padres flagship radio station stated that Jake’s batting average while playing second base was over .300. This was before the season ended, he only played something like 20% of his games at second base last season.
I really like HSK. He works hard. I hope they trade him to a team that can not only recognize that, but allow him to flourish and reward him well.
Don’t trade him. You can’t trade cronenworth and come out ahead. You’re likely eating money you’ll never get back, and if he returns to form, you look awful.
At worst he’s an overpaid super utility guy.
LF sounds like a great thing for him to try in spring, and even before. If he sticks it’s one less expense padres need.
With a manager that will actually encourage practice, and for players to celebrate and drink less, crone should be better than last year and possibly rather good.
Kinda agree with those that are saying that there is no market for any of those huge contracts, except maybe Tatis but with his contract and that of the others they are going to really have to entice a big money team with I don’t know how many millions just to get a high-end prospect or two.
The only player I can see that a team would take straight up would be Kim.
Padres may be stuck with those contracts for a couple more seasons and by that time Machado will be 36-37 yrs. old. Won’t be much of a market for him then.
If they wanted to they could trade tatis. His trade value is one of the highest in the league.
Tatis also has a no trade clause and they aren’t looking to trade him.
Padres are looking to move cronenworth because he isn’t a 1b and the have Merrill about ready. It’s a logjam.
Send JC and musgrove to Boston for houck, dalbec and Valdez. Boom you’re welcome, mlb 23 the show comes in handy…. /s
They are not trading their ace in order to rid themselves of Cronenworth’s contract.
Sure they would. The reason the trade wouldn’t happen is because 1. Musgrove has a full NTC and 2. Neither of Crone or Musgrove has positive trade value at this present time.
Normally, would think he is a good fit for the Tigers. Michigan born and raised, went to U of M. he would be a fan favorite. Problem is that contract which is just going to be very difficult to trade, even to the Tigers. SD would have to eat too much of that to make a deal, which kind of defeats the purpose. Might be better off moving Kim and sliding Cronenworth back to second, then finding a real 1B. But Padres are in a tough spot with him.
I worry less about a block to Jung or Keith than some other fans but yea, I ultimately think that the Tigers DO worry about such things and would have some issues fitting him on the roster.
Joe Brady is the perfect example of someone who really….realllllllly…needs to find a hobby (and a Psychiatrist). -Carp.
Offer Kim a very team friendly extension right now and if he says no, trade him.
@ Goose. The first part of that proposal may have already happened.
If the Padres eat half the contract, they’ll find takers. At that price, he’s eminently worth it. Maybe not for 7 more years though.
As the piece points out however, there’s loads of options to do what he does — at a far lower price and years commitment.
They may just be stuck with that contract.
Horrid contract couldn’t understand what Padres were even thinking to extend him…he has has over 2 years of below average play good luck finding a team to take him….
But he’s a recent two time all-star. Nobody knows yet what 2024 has in store for him. Hope he proves you wrong and makes ya look silly.
The bill is coming due for the Padres drunken spending binge the last few seasons. As any rational person knew would be the case.
Keep Manny at 3rd, Bogaerts at SS, Kim at 2nd, Cronenworth at 1st, Campusano at catcher, and Tatis in RF for the next several years.
Sign two outfielders, a DH, a starter, and a reliever, and wait for the minor leaguers to come onboard midseason.
The end.
Preller is one of those GMs that makes moves just for the sake of making a move, then finds out 75% of them are completely ridiculous, plus the team can never gel because he’s always bringing somebody new in or shipping somebody out.
Most overrated GM in all of sports. He’s actually pretty terrible at his job.
Constructing a roster of several shortstops, no real pitching, and handing out massive extensions to guys who never have proven themselves is just bizarre.
I mean their starting pitching had the best era in baseball last year. Hard to call it no real pitching. Also the best closer in baseball.
Really should have given Kim the extension that Cronenworth got. Even if Kim would have required a bit larger sum, in hindsight that would have been a much, much better investment.
Assuming Kim wasn’t offered already
A fair deal would have been a 5/50. Am I incorrect with that deal?
Preller gets it handed to him 3/4 of the time.
Crone is decent, but that contract got to his head in 2023. He will settle back in next season for a bounce back year