The Padres announced that Tyler Wade was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso after going unclaimed on waivers. As a player with five years of major league service, Wade could have declined the minor league assignment while retaining his $900K salary. It seems he’s comfortable enough with the organization to report to Triple-A instead of pursuing other opportunities.
San Diego designated Wade and Eguy Rosario, both of whom are out of minor league options, for assignment on Opening Day. Teams have seven days to resolve DFA limbo. Waivers take 48 hours, so teams have five days after a DFA to line up a trade. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller said the team was trying to find a trade partner on Rosario, but he’d presumably end up on waivers tomorrow if they don’t make a trade this evening. Wade hit waivers more quickly, as he was less likely to get an MLB roster spot from another team.
The lefty-hitting Wade held a spot on San Diego’s big league roster for all of 2024. He appeared in 90 games, hitting .217/.285/.239 without a home run through 156 plate appearances. It’s an incredibly light bat, but Wade is a plus runner who can play anywhere aside from catcher. The Padres guaranteed him $900K on a deal with a $1MM club option to buy out his final arbitration season. That gave him a decent chance to win another bench job entering Spring Training, but he was jumped on the depth chart in camp.
Wade had a poor spring, hitting .209 with one homer in 19 games. San Diego brought in Jose Iglesias on a minor league contract with a $3MM base salary that made him a strong candidate to win the backup shortstop job. Iglesias, Yuli Gurriel and Gavin Sheets all made the roster as minor league signees. Brandon Lockridge had a great Spring Training to take the fourth outfield role. Lockridge runs very well himself, so he can replace Wade as Mike Shildt’s top pinch-running option.
The lack of flexibility on the bench obstructs Wade’s path back to the big leagues. He’s versatile enough to serve as injury insurance or an alternative if Iglesias isn’t performing well.
Still hoping the Yankees swing a trade for Eguy. He’d be an improvement over Pablo Reyes, who can’t seem to field. He’d has more potential upside and is younger to boot.
Cool! The question becomes who would you envision being sent? Rumors say Preller is weighing options, so how bad do you want him?
Gwynning, what do the Padres need most at the moment?
Rotation depth? Future outfielder??
Ooof….. Rotation depth is right in the Yankees wheelhouse, but with the number of guys that have gone down already I don’t know if they would be willing to part with anyone of value. As far as outfielders, there’s some potential with Everson Periera (big power but lots of swing-and-miss), but I don’t know if he would be enough of a centerpiece to get a deal done, honestly. Eguy, even buying low, seems more valuable imho.
Whilst I agree, maybe there’s something of a glimmer there. Ideally we’d be grabbing a quality somebody off the Extended roster otherwise we’re right back to square one!
Rosario maybe grabs a pair of backend of the top 30 prospects. Conversely, Padres may be willing to take cash straight up in a deal so who knows…
Catching depth?
Pads have a couple skilled receivers coming ‘soon’ and I think ’25 will be ok… I think I’d still rather have an arm but C could be a possibility!
The return would have to have options and not necessarily a 40 man player. Not sure there are a lot of teams willing to add Rosario to their active roster at this point. Which would also require putting him on their 40 man. I bet he clears waivers.
I’d love it if he clears waivers and they could bring him back. I think there is upside there and with an injury or Iglesias etc. underperforming he could
fill a need. I’d trust Shildt to put him in positions to succeed.
Shouldn’t take much, out of options and could refuse an assignment if he clears waivers. Lottery ticket from single A ball probably gets it done.
Eguy can’t refuse, but Wade could have. (Didn’t)
I trust the Pad’s scouts, I feel assured I’ll like the (potential) deal.
Putting the GatorWade on ice…
Likeable guy, but his numbers are pretty atrocious. Not shocked. I was surprised that he’s hung on this long and I think someone will give hime slightly above league minium on a split deal next year and he can claw his way back to a 40 man roster making $850k or so- great income if you can get it!
“Brought in Jose Iglesias on a minor league contract”…This guy had the season of his life last year and almost became a folk hero in the process.
And all his agents could get him was a $3M non guaranteed deal? This guy set himself up for , at minimum, a 2 year $10M-$12M deal.
This may be the worst case of agency I’ve ever seen. It makes you wonder how many $5M-$8M deals Iglesias and his agents turned down, as they seemingly overplayed their hand.
If I were Jose Iglesias I’d definitely fire my agency, because their late signing strategy clearly didn’t work and Mr. Iglesias lost money that he seemingly earned.
“Preller said the team was trying to find a trade partner on Ruiz”. Who is Ruiz?
Esteury? Kinda already traded him…
Lol
I think he meant to say Rosario. It’s a typo.
Wade called his shadow off to make the catch!
I thought either of Wade or Rosario would be a good fit on the Angels and really cheap.
He is local to San Diego – That is why he didn’t opt out of assignment.
The Padres, by cutting bait now, inadvertently reveal a blueprint: lean on cheap, high-variance NRIs to pressure overpaid bench players out of guaranteed roles, saving millions while maintaining or improving roster output.