The Padres announced this evening that they’ve designated catcher Brett Sullivan for assignment. Sullivan’s departure from the 40-man roster makes room for the club to select the contract of shortstop Mason McCoy.
Sullivan, 31, had a fairly unusual path to the big leagues. Selected by the Rays in the 17th round of the 2015 draft, Sullivan languished in Tampa’s minor league system for years before reaching minor league free agency prior to the 2022 season. At that point, he was signed to a major league deal by the Brewers to serve as catching depth for the club. His tenure in Milwaukee was short-lived, however, as he was included not long after in the trade that shipped Victor Caratini from the Padres to the Brewers. Now with the Padres, Sullivan remained on the club’s 40-man roster but was optioned to the minors for the entire 2022 season before he eventually made his big league debut in early 2023 as a fill-in option for Luis Campusano.
Since then, Sullivan has appeared in 40 games at the big league level across two seasons. In 103 career trips to the plate, Sullivan hasn’t exactly impressed with a slash line of just .206/.243/.299 (49 wRC+). That’s a far cry from his work at Triple-A, where he’s a career .272/.344/.453 hitter, but he makes up for it somewhat with a reputation for solid skills behind the plate despite the metrics suggesting he’s below average at both pitch framing and controlling the running game. Going forward, the Padres will have one week to trade Sullivan or attempt to pass him through waivers. If he clears waivers successfully, the Padres will have the opportunity to outright him to the minor leagues as non-roster depth.
Replacing Sullivan on the 40-man roster is McCoy, who the Padres non-tendered over the winter before re-signing him to a minor league deal not long after. Just over a week from his 30th birthday, McCoy has just 25 games at the big league level under his belt between the Blue Jays and Padres over the past two seasons. The Majority of that work came in San Diego last year, where he hit a paltry .204/.278/.245 in 57 trips to the plate across 19 games. While that’s a sample of just 19 games, McCoy’s modest .239/.318/.400 career numbers at Triple-A do little to suggest much offensive potential at the big league level, although he did manage to swipe 25 bases in the minor leagues last year. McCoy’s base stealing abilities and strong work with the glove at shortstop could make him a viable reserve infielder for the Padres this year, though he has fierce competition for that role in the form of non-roster veteran Jose Iglesias.
Can some ask Pads Fan when the judge is going to block Seidler from being the control person since he muted me.
I would, but I blocked him for being a jack*ss. Dude’s one of the most annoying, “know it all” people on here..
(And I haven’t seen him be right yet.)
Pads Fan can never admit when he’s wrong.
Would like to keep Sully around… unless the C depth is now Valenzuela and/or Salas!
Maldonado, Valenzuela, Duran. All in AAA to start the season.
So no room for Iglesias?
I think he makes the 26, let alone 40.
They have a full 40 now. Who goes? And if you are going to keep Wade, Iglesias and maybe Rosario, why keep McCoy on the 40?
I think Wade gets Outrighted, because he’ll pass Waivers… and McCoy stays in MiLB as an emergency guy. We’ll see.
I hope you’re right. Mccoy should be milb depth. Can’t be a better option than Iglesias overall even if he’s Omar vizquel good defensively
I don’t think they’re keeping all 3 of Wade, Iglesias, and Rosario. Despite Preller’s love for SS, it’s pretty thin talent-wise at the upper levels, especially with Kim gone. McCoy will be a 3rd option behind Bogaerts and Iglesias.
@straightup They can’t keep all 3 of them because Wade and Iglesias have no options left and Iglesias can opt out if he’s not on the roster.
It’s either try to get Wade through waivers or trade Rosario. They could put him on waivers but I’m confident he would get claimed so I don’t think they’ll do it. Whoever they choose to take off the roster, their 40 man spot goes to Iglesias.
Wade is guaranteed $900k this year, with a ’26 TO. He’ll pass Waivers. Option McCoy. 26 Man Iglesias and Eguy.
Yeah, I agree; they can’t keep all 3 of them. Going to be incredibly bummed if they lose Rosario because of this. Wade, I’m not very high on.
Iglesias is borderline for the 26-man but makes the 40-man. As good as he was for the Mets last season, he has shown nothing in spring training this year. He has only gotten the ball out of the infield once in 20 something PA.
I don’t think Iglesias is going to stick around to play at El Paso.
Good move. Sullivan doesn’t hit and isn’t great behind the plate, especially when they’ve already got Luis Campusano, who’s solid McCoy, though, is not great with the bat but has speed and good with the glove.
I feel for Brett. He had a chance to win a job coming into camp, but he has been outperformed by both Maldonado and Duran. Having that extra great defensive middle infielder on the roster was more important.
This guy McCoy is the real deal at SS great move by Preller definitely making all the right moves
Yet again, you couldn’t be more wrong. Your next good post will still be your first! Hang up the digital spikes, Crikes.
RIP Bryce Miller