The Padres announced this morning that they have designated right-hander Lake Bachar for assignment. Bachar’s removal from the 40-man roster makes room for the selection of catcher Elias Diaz to the roster, a move that was first reported yesterday. Additionally, San Diego announced that they’ve selected the contract of outfielder Brandon Lockridge and optioned him to Triple-A. Making room for Lockridge on the 40-man roster is right-hander Stephen Kolek, who has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Bachar, 29, was the club’s fifth-round pick back in 2016 and has spent his entire career in the Padres organization. The righty was selected to the club’s 40-man roster a month ago after he triggered an August 1 opt-out clause in his contract with the club and briefly made it to the major league roster last week, but was optioned back to the minors without making his big league debut. The right-hander has a solid 3.89 ERA in 71 2/3 innings of work this year at the Triple-A level and, in the event that he clears waivers, could be a non-roster depth option for the Padres down the stretch if necessary.
Meanwhile, another player who has yet to make his big league debut is joining the club’s 40-man roster in the form of Lockridge. The 27-year-old was a fifth-round pick by the Yankees in the 2018 draft and was acquired by the Padres in the Enyel De Los Santos trade ahead of the deadline back in July. Lockridge’s numbers have been solid but unspectacular at the Triple-A level, as he’s slashed .294/.405/.384 with a wRC+ around 15% better than league average between his time with the Yankees’ and Padres’ affiliates this year.
While Lockridge doesn’t hit for much power with just two home runs so far this year, he flashed impressive discipline at the plate as evidenced by a massive 14.9% walk rate that compares quite favorably to his 23.2% strikeout rate. The outfielder is also an impressive baserunner, as he’s gone 44 for 50 on the basepaths this year after posting 40 steals in 45 attempts last season. That combination of strong plate discipline and blazing speed could make Lockridge an interesting contender for a bench role with the Padres at some point, though for now he’s been optioned back down to Triple-A.
As for Kolek, the right-hander was placed on the IL a month ago due to forearm tendonitis, and his transfer to the 60-day IL will end his regular season. The right-handed rookie posted a lackluster 5.21 ERA in 46 2/3 innings of work with San Diego this year, though his 3.58 FIP and 3.43 SIERA both offer some optimism about the 27-year-old’s ability to post better numbers in the future as he looks ahead to the 2025 campaign.
At least you got a call-up, Lake… hopefully he can stay in the Org and get a chance at another call!
Weird that did that when they could have added diaz when moving Kolek to the 40 man roster.
They needed to move someone else off the 40 man when they brought on Lockridge. That move along with Tatis eventual recall from the 60 day is the probable end to the Bryce Johnson era.
Unless it was in lockridge’s contract he had to be added by today they didn’t need to add him to right now.
Tatis probably in the next day or two. What surprised me was keeping Gillaspie over Bachar.
They probably added Lockridge today to make him playoff eligible
He was in the system, so they didn’t need to. You don’t have to be in the 40 man but be in the system.
rest days for Merrill?
You have to be on the 40 in order to be added to a playoff roster without a petition. Catcher is the only position that would likely be permitted to fill with a non 40 player due to injury. Lockridge gives them options for their playoff bench. He’s a higher end PR than Johnson, Azocar or Rosario would be.
Simm – I thought a player did have to he on 40 by 9/1 to be playoff eligible? Did they change that rule?
Unless there is an injury, players need to be on the 40 roster or 60 day IL on September 1st to be included on the playoff roster.
mlb.com/glossary/transactions/postseason-roster-ru…
Insurance to have him post season eligible in case of injury to Merrill most likely. I’d like to see him get 10-15 ABs just to get a preview but if keeping 3 catchers don’t see they happening. Tatis come back Johnson goes but Peralta is hitting too well and will improve the bench / PH a lot.
LTC, you got that right. They do have to be on the 40-man or 60-day IL. They can also petition MLB if there is an injury to someone on the 40-man.
For being in the hitting friendly PCL, the numbers are decent
On roster expansion day? Fun!
Lake’s profile pic looks like it was taken right after he received the news.
Padres also signed Nick Ahmed on a minor league deal. Kimmys backup insurance if has issues getting back with his shoulder injury.
Makes you wonder if he is going to miss more time than expected.
Kim DH’ed in a game yesterday in the ACL so he’s close enough to coming back that he’s playing in rehab games. Schildt also recently said something in an interview about how they have proposed dates set for him and Tatis to return, they just weren’t publicly sharing them in case they change them. Feels like he’s pretty close
Issue with Kim is he still isn’t throwing across the diamond
Where did you see that? Not doubting just couldn’t find it on the MLB transactions list
My bad. Happened yesterday. No club announcement yet though
Real estate values near Lake Bachar are going to drop.
Padres doing Bachar wrong. Call him up knowing it means they have to DFA him in a few days and never even getting him into a game.
Not the first and won’t be the last.
I think he will stay in the organization. It may happen, but don’t think its probable that a team picks him up and keeps him on the active roster for rest of season.
Still hella confused. Did they add Lockridge or not? Did they add him and then send him down?
They added him to the 40 man roster and then optioned him to AAA. So he’s still in AAA and not on the Padres 28 man (because of September expansion) roster right now, but they could recall him at some point in the future and bring him up to the MLB team
Thanks.
“In the event that he clears waivers, could be a non-roster depth option for the Padres down the stretch if necessary.”
The only reason they added him to the 40 was because he triggered an opt-out. So presumably, if he clears waivers, he could just refuse the outright assignment and elect FA, right?