Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller made an appearance on MLB Network Radio this weekend and discussed his thoughts about the roster with the deadline looming at the end of the month.
“Getting Darvish, King back would be huge,” Preller said, referring to injured starters Yu Darvish and Michael King. “The bullpen’s been strong. We’ve got a lot of different weapons in the ’pen. You could add to a strength. And on the offense side, it’s probably rounding out the depth of the lineup. I think, like you mentioned, the top of the lineup should be strong… You’ve got to be deep one through nine and I think probably adding a bat or two is something that we’re going to look at here in the next few weeks to try to help our team get to October.”
Wanting to add to the offense is an understandable focus, as San Diego has some clear holes. It’s been reported earlier in the year that the club is looking for upgrades at catcher and left field. Behind the plate, the club isn’t getting any offensive contributions from Elias Díaz nor Martín Maldonado. The team has a collective .206/.269/.325 line from the catching position. That translates to a wRC+ of 70, which is ahead of just the Guardians, Nationals and Giants.
The left field situation is a bit more complex. Jason Heyward had the position for a while but struggled and was released. Gavin Sheets has taken over and is having a great year offensively, currently sporting a .264/.325/.451 batting line and a 119 wRC+. However, he’s not an especially strong outfield defender, so the Friars could consider adding a left fielder to push Sheets back to the first base/designated hitter mix. That would take plate appearances away from Trenton Brooks, who is hitting .200/.231/.400 on the year.
How the Friars go about adding to those spots will be an interesting situation to watch. The club’s payroll has been an obvious concern in recent years, which led to the Juan Soto trade. In the most recent offseason, they primarily limited themselves to modest one-year deals. The one exception was Nick Pivetta’s four-year pact, which was backloaded to reduce the financial impact in 2025.
On top of that, the club has traded away a lot of prospects in recent years as they have attempted to keep the major league roster stacked with talent. Their farm system is highlighted by two really strong youngsters in Leo De Vries and Ethan Salas but all reporting has suggested the Padres are reluctant to part with either of those two.
Put it all together and it will be a tricky balance for Preller but he should have plenty of options, at least for the left field spot. The Friars are known to be interested in Jarren Duran, though that might be more of a long-shot possibility with the Sox hanging in the American League race and Duran controlled for three more seasons after this one. Guys like Ryan O’Hearn, Cedric Mullins, Jesús Sánchez, Andrew Benintendi, Mike Tauchman, Ramón Laureano and Adolis García are some of the other possibilities. Behind the plate, old friends Kyle Higashioka and Gary Sánchez could be available.
As for the bullpen, as Preller mentioned, it has been a strength. San Diego relievers have a collective 3.25 earned run average, which is third in the majors, trailing only the Giants and Astros. But even a club with a strong relief groups can add another arm or two, and injuries can always pop up and change the calculus, so Preller’s openness to adding there is understandable.
The rotation is perhaps a bit more in flux. Starting depth hasn’t been the club’s strong suit for a while and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them target upgrades there, though as Preller alluded to, their aggressiveness in this department might depend on how things unfold in the coming weeks.
Darvish has been out all year due to elbow inflammation but will come off the injured list today. He will jump into a rotation mix that also includes Pivetta, Dylan Cease and Randy Vásquez. King is out with a pinched nerve in his shoulder and his status is up in the air.
Having a playoff rotation of Cease, Pivetta, Darvish and King would be nice but it’s still unclear how realistic it is for the Padres to expect that. Vásquez has a 3.79 ERA on the year but fairly uninspiring peripherals. He still has an option remaining, so perhaps the Padres would consider grabbing one more starter and bumping him to the minors, though they would have to weigh that against other needs while also considering their payroll and the prospect cost of making such a move.
Photo courtesy of Denis Poroy, Imagn Images
buy! buy!! buy!! spend! spend!! spend!!!
I’d like for them add to left field. I’m sure AJ has been working the phones 24/7. Now does he have what it takes, in terms of prospects, we shall see. But I’ve never doubted his ability to pull off a trade or two…
Left field… isn’t that where James Wood plays?
@LaFleur
Sure. On a losing team with a fired GM.
Yeah, white sox are missing Fernado Tatis jr right now too. Wonder what the Padres would have to give up to bring wood back
We’ll probably find out in 2 years when wood is in the same position as Soto was. On a bad team with a few years of control left. Refusing to sign an extension bc boras is his agent.
Yup. The Padres are the onky team in MLB history to trade away prospects that made it to the majors and have had an impact…
Randy Arozarena although Matthew Liberatore finally is doing better, Adolis Garcia was traded for cash considerations to Texas then started raking, the Vernon wells trade, Jeff Bagwell. The list goes on and on. It just sucks more when you trade for a guy you had little over a year that you then trade away because of payroll concerns. Props to Preller for trading him to new york and at least bringing in King. He made good on what he could there. Which was better than paying him then losing him to the Mets for draft pick compensation. Another brilliant observation right? Oi… people used to be so kind
As far as all – time bad trades ….Ruth, and Pedro Martinez are at top of list (off top of my head). Dealing Pedro away was like a mini-Ruth curse for LAD.
Yes indeed. Another great observation, LaLa…
Worst trade ever by the Padres.
They could have James Wood in LF, CJ Abrams @SS, McKenzie Gore in the rotation and Hassle III (OF) and RP/Closer Susanna in the minors and on the way or used the last 2 as trade bait for rotation or catcher.
So they should ask to have those guys back? You gotta give to get. That’s the nature of the business. We get a new batch of prospects coming in a few days, no sweat.
Apparently, “sportsman”0000 does not know how Joe Carter hit the walk-off HR for Toronto to go back-to-back and how Alomar was about the best 2nd baseman in the last several decades.
*fan* with an extra asterisk to denote not only a typo but sarcasm.
Smith for Templeton comes to mind.
Yes, and Jurickson Profar.
Rather have Vasquez King Cease in the rotation than Wood in LF.
Don’t need to bring Wood back. Kids a butcher in LF himself. -3.4 rating from Fangraphs
Padres can just keep Sheets 120 wrc and bad defense. No need to overpay for a guy you’re gonna have to shift to 1B/DH in Wood before his rookie contract is up.
“Rather have Vasquez King Cease in the rotation than Wood in LF.”
LOL! ROFLOL! ROTLMFAO!
“I can’t dispute what they said so I’ll post childish acronyms LOL! ROFLOL! ROTLMFAO!”
DWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IJBOL!!!!!!!!!!!
ROFLcopter!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LSIMHBIWFEFMTALOL!!!!!!!!!!!
Your previous comment didn’t warrant an argument, only condescension.
“I still can’t dispute anything they said”
LOLZ
LULZ
LOLOLOLOL
TROLLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Obvious NBK is obvious.
They also lack cash to pay a new guy meaning they will need the other team to pay which will increase the value of any prospect they must give up.
Send us all a copy of the bank statement that you are looking at sig.
Wrong, they have the cash.
Seidler’s cash crunch widely reported by media. Why do you think Pods backloaded Pivetta’s deal so much? Also,remember Miami agreed to pay all Atraez’s salary last year. No way Pods assume more than a couple Million $ in cash obligation this year
Wonder why they didn’t buy a left fielder with it. Wonder why
they felt it necessary to back load Pivettas contract.
Interesting moves for a team with cash. The behaviour last free agency period sort of indicates the opposite.
When Dodgers do it, it’s called deferrals and it’s investment genius.
If another team: (1) makes a trade where they don’t have to take on salary; or (2) they backload a smallish contract, it’s because they don’t have any money.
Oh boy. What a world some fans live in.
Ha ha. It was just a defer Yes indeed. A world inside their head. A place where all evidence to the contrary is dismissed
Cmon folks. It’s so obvious that the Padres are at the limit of their budget. There is no shame in it. It’s a big budget. But they all have limits.
“Reported by the media”…don’t believe everything you read. Petco Park is sold out more times than not, now would ask tv deal make things easier…hell yeah! That said, thier biggest enemy is the luxury tax thresholds not that there is no money in the register.
The playbook for when the info doesn’t match your opinion.
Step 1.
Manipulate or misinterpret the data
Step 2.
Discredit the source.
Are they not, like other teams, trying to stay under certain tax restrictions?
Hasn’t John Siedler been appointed and approved as the principal of the Padres by MLB?
Has their payroll dropped dramatically since Peter’s passing?
Have they not maintained a strong attendance rate that easily placing them into he leagues top ten?
State your case, t3…
Petco Park is sold out just about every night even on weeknights.
Padres have great cashflow coming in and after the season 2-4 higher priced players are leaving so payroll will be going down and more money to fill out the roster.
Political parties have done it for years.
Yes. I guess so.
Yes.
No.
Probably. If you say so.
Here’s my one question.
Did they not behave like a team at the limit of their spending capacity last off season ?
Are you seriously asking me to believe you over the behavioural evidence and the reporting of just about every baseball writer that has commented on their financial situation ?
That is why the Padres are one of 5 teams to INCREASE payroll this offseason. They are hurting for cash so bad that they increased spending by $40 million this season. They are hurting so bad that they are nearly at the third tier of the CBT.
Do you really believe what some idiots wrote over what the Padres ownership and FO said and actually DID this year?
Greupner said that the Padres took a small hit in TV money in the first year, but that there was no decrease in TV revenue going into this season. He is the man that would know.
Your behavior is of a negative nelly…the facts are all there!
Longtimecoming
When Dodgers do it, it’s called deferrals
=========================
There is a clear difference between backloaded and deferred. Bogaerts is deferred and Pivetta is backloaded.
Xanders isn’t deferred, nor backloaded.
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
Bogaerts was paid a $5 million signing bonus and is being paid $25 million per season for the length of his contract. None of his contract is deferred.
It’s absurd. Such an ingrained part of your culture.
Stick to the Big Bash League…much calmer and predictable.
Ha ha. A little bit of Xenophobia as a last resort. Too funny.
What facts ?
Hiredgun… legal battles are expensive AF
It’s an ongoing issue, while MLB approved John, the two sides are still battling in court and it may go into the offseason and 2026? Who knows, but its expensive AF
mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/john-seidler-approved-p…
Yet in the middle of that the Padres INCREASED payroll to the exact extent they said they would. You are not very bright, are you LeSewer?
It will be settled sooner than later. They are working on a number for her to drop the suit. She cannot prevent anything from occurring as to the day-to-day operations…
No matter how you slice it, they have financial issues for 2025. Be it real or self-imposed. The Red Sox the last few years are another prime example. As a fan, it’s aggrevating to see the money WE generate for them to be spent elsewhere.
Why back load Pivetta contract?!
Tax implications. Doesn’t mean they’re poor. Means they don’t want to pay 2nd tax penalties.
I remember people claiming padres had to get under the first tax line this off season. I know this cause I thought they were going to do so as well by trading King Cease Suarez to get under.
You don’t spend 209 million the 9th highest in the league, already will pay taxes at the 1st tax line cause they’re at 263 mill for luxury tax purposes 6th highest in the league, and then say “oh they’re poor cause they don’t want to pay more taxes” that’s just stupid.
Signing Pivetta to a 4 year 55 mill deal defeats your padres are poor fantasy. Poor teams don’t dish out contracts like that when you already claimed they were poor prior to signing him lmao.
Athletics literally had to be threatened by the MLB to spend money inevitably signing Severino. That’s a poor franchise.
Eh there’s a difference
Are the padres poor? Not in the least
They’re running the 9th highest payroll at 209 mill. When you consider luxury tax they’re 6th highest at 263 million.
Are the padres interested in paying the 2nd tax line penalties? No.
Pivetta a contract was back loaded to avoid being a 2nd tier tax payer.
Many “experts” including myself thought padres would get under the 1st tax line by trading cease king Suarez cause that’s how they operated last year. Lo and behold us couch GMs were wrong and padres have operated at the 1st tax line all year.
Nobody actually knows what the padres finances are. Only Preller and ownership know that.
Was it feasible to pay close to 300 million a season and pay 3rd tier tax penalties year after year? God no. That’s not sustainable unless you have Dodger money and can afford to offset the penalties by throwing cash at players.
But to say padres are poor cause they probably don’t want to pay 2nd tier tax penalties is stupid.
Step 3. Foppsy makes up stuff
Easy as 1 2 3
Why back load Pivetta contract?!
Tax implications. Doesn’t mean they’re poor. Means they don’t want to pay 2nd tax penalties.
======================
Backloading (Pivetta) is done for cash plow purposes.
Deferring (Bogaerts) is done for (CBT) tax purposes.
You are correct. I’ve always considered that contract to be a $35M * 8 contract, spread over 11 years for tax purposes. But technically, it’s neither deferred nor backloaded.
I don’t really disagree with that. Definitely spread out to lower the aav.
At this rate he won’t be still in the league and 41.
Conny, they have money…
Preller in a world of trouble one he created himself
He has been for multiple seasons now but someone he makes it work…
Sheets is the LF and he is doing a good job. He is not a Gold Glover defensively, but with Merrill in CF he doesn’t need to be. In the 28 games since he was moved to LF pretty much full time, Sheets is hitting .303 with an .857 OPS in 113 PA. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.
Do you know what is broken? DH. Outside of Sheets and Arraez, Padres DH have hit .093 with a .329 OPS.
So much anti-Padres bias, I don’t get it. There are so many other teams to legitimately hate on for the way they do business, Padres ain’t one of them.
“We look out and see a deadline. Thank you.”
Sports…not according to Foppert. He uses a formula to calculate the Padres assests. MLBTR + a Magic 8 Ball…
Ha ha. I just read, take in the info and join the dots. You know, really simple 2 + 2 = 4 type stuff.
The level of butt hurt around being at the limit of a budget is truly fascinating.
You’re stating an opinion that isn’t even your own.
Imagine trading for Juan Soto with C.J. Abrams, Gore, and Wood then dealing him a year later for substanally less then needing to add at the deadline again for what you traded for Soto?
Imagine having the best record in baseball with the games biggest future stars and the strike ends the season and your team moves out of town.
Just enjoy the trade haul and stop trolling. Hopefully you guys get a good gm and manager to take advantage of that haul
Imagine getting those guys but still being so bad you fire your GM.
What Chipper said and make sure Stephen S’s direct deposit gets made!
The vast majority of prospects don’t live up to the hype. They traded prospects (Abrams and Gore had some MLB time) for two and a half years of arbitration in one of the best players in the league. He helped get them to the NLCS and played well in that series. 2023 was a crap show with Sleepy Bob at the helm, despite that Soto had good numbers. They then flipped him for pitching to help in 2024-25 while reducing payroll.
Would it be nice to have Wood, Gore, Abrams, and the rest here now, sure. But both teams got what they wanted out of the trade. Padres got the impact bat that put them higher than they had been in almost 30 years and because of that now sell out nearly every game. Nats got a good young core that will be cheap for the next few years. They have been the exception as far as the number of traded prospects having big league success.
It also says a lot about Preller’s drafting and international work vs Rizzo’s.
Keep up the good fight Midway. I gave up trying to explain how non rotisserie baseball works to fans that just want to troll.
Non rotisserie baseball…
Is that like non rotisserie chicken?
I’ve never had a fantasy (or any or similar term) chicken before so, I can’t say.
My next band, “Fantasy Chicken”
now I know what KFC really stands for
Sleepy Bob doesn’t automatically make a team with Tatis, Soto, Machado and still decent Xander miss the playoffs. That team is the biggest disappointment of clubs who missed October in MLB history
Soto and Bell were big busts as hitters after the trade deadline in 2023.
Padres could have made the World Series in 2023 if Soso and Bell had produced after they were shipped to San Diego in the 2nd half of ‘2023.
Soso produced in 2024 but too little too late since the Padres had other players injured and not having their best years etc..
AJ Preller would have been better off long term by passing on the Soto deal since everyone with a pulse knew he would never sign in smaller market SD.Padres were never going to pay Soto 500M+ Anyone could realize those numbers would never work in SD. NYC or LA but not SD.
AMK, the Padres team had a POM at the end of August 2023, sent a delegation that included Machado to talk to Preller and the FO and basically took control of the team from Sleepy Bob. They nearly made the playoffs after that.
Sleepy Bob had a self described hands-off managerial style to the point that he didn’t even require the players to practice if they didn’t want to and by his own admission he left in game decisions to Christenson, Flaherty, and Niebla. You could tell because they almost never deviate from a lineup or a pitching plan during the 1st 2/3 of the season. He was rarely involved in the actual games after setting the lineup.
Soto had a 127 OPS+ for the Padres after the trade that year and hit .282 with a .844 OPS in the playoffs. It is understandable that you don’t remember the RF with a .222 BA, .621 OPS, and 78 OPS+ that he replaced. I would argue that the Padres don’t make the playoffs without him.
Bell was a complete waste of roster space. He was also a top 5 hitter in MLB before the trade as measured by OPS+ or wRC+. He was not just a throw in. It was not all those prospects for just Soto.
Without the trade for Soto, Preller would not have had what the Yankees wanted to get the Padres what he turned into Cease, King, Vasquez, and Higgy. The Padres would not have had the pitching to make the playoffs in 2024 without that trade. They are also not in a position to contend for a playoff spot this season with Cease, King, and Vasquez.
The only reason that Soto didn’t sign with the Padres long term is that Peter Seidler no longer had a pulse. Boras said that if Peter Seidler was still alive, they would have had an extension signed. That they were in the last stretch of negotiations when he very unexpectedly passed. Boras was there. You weren’t. Boras has a pulse.
@Longtimecoming I seem to recall you saying 2 years ago that Matt Carpenter would 100% decline his player option because he wanted out of SD.
Receipts please. I don’t believe ya.
LaFleur
Imagine trading for Juan Soto with C.J. Abrams, Gore, and Wood
==========================
Or, conversely, imagine pulling off one of the great heists in the history of the game, obtaining three players at minimum wage, with a bWAR of 11.0, and having the other 23 players contribute a total of 0.3?
23 players with a total of 0.3 bWAR.
Imagine not understanding that the Padres trade for both Soto and Bell who were both in top 5 hitters in MLB at the time of the trade? Imagine not understanding that the Padres got Cease, King, Vasquez, Brito, and Higgy because they traded Soto to the Yankees 1.3 seasons later.
So far the Padres have received 18.7 bWAR from that trade, made to the NLCS with Soto, 3 of their 5 starting pitchers this year came as a result of trades involving Soto, and it looks like will be playing in their 3rd playoffs since the trade this season. Those playoff appearances have added millions to already huge coffers.
The Nationals have received 15.6 WAR, are still in last place, and its not looking like that will change within the next 2 or 3 seasons.
As a Padres fan I am now very grateful that Preller made those trades. At the time I hated him giving up all those prospects, but it has worked out well.
Taylor Ward is under contract this year and next, hits for power, plays an OK left field, and typically carries a solid OBP. His OBP is lower than usual this year but he’s been picking up some more walks lately.
I’m curious what the price would be, I’d like to see the reds get him
He’s a great guy, as well. I’ve talked to him. He’s signed a ball for my son at Spring Training.
I’ll root for him in a Reds uniform. His bat would play really nicely in that ballpark.
LAA is delusional in their front office moves, I doubt Ward gets traded
Arte Moreno made big mistake not trading Ohtani at ’23 trade deadline.
Angels would be much stronger with the 4-5 top young players/prospects offered by a few teams.
They’re working on an extension right now. Heard Arte is going full Dick Monfort. 5 years for Ward, full NTC. I kid. I kid.
That would be a wash with the Padres current LF, Gavin Sheets. Padres either need a LF that would be a large upgrade from Sheets (hint: not many of those out there, let alone one that is available) or they need a DH that can hit above the Mendoza line.
The article sort of misses the point. The Pads immediate need is a RH bat (with some slug), nearly every OF/DH listed as possibilities are L bats.
also a Corner OF is not taking ab from Sheets, it is moving Sheets to 1b/DH. Sheets is a huge dude, and has had some nice moments in the field, but should not be in the OF (but his bat should be in the lineup)
the padres are in a wierd position in their minors. They have De Vries whom most will agree is a top 10 (if not top 3) prospect. The Padres love Salas- but a lot have soured on him. So i think the Padres think they have a top 10 blue chip prospect there (they do not, he is top 75 to me, that tier with a lot of other likely future MLB regulars, but Salas looks more like a glove first catcher getting hyped and pushed too hard).
After that, I am not sure there is a single guy i would put in the top 150 prospects. There are intersting low minors pitchers like Mayfield, cruz and bateman…. but they are not getting an affordable player with another year of control for one of those guys. I do not think they are crazy enough to sell the farm again to do so.
I think they offer 1 of those guys for a Ramon Leurano (i know i butchered spelling) type. Maybe they stick with the Os and get Gary Sanchez and RL for a bunch of low minors pitching prospects.
They should look to move arraez plant sheets at first and get a left fielder dh and catcher. IMO arraez is a liability at first base isn’t hitting enough to have him there he is no Wally Joyner or mark grace also seems to have a low baseball iq always making a bonehead out on the bases. Might be easier said than done but this team needs more slug. Have 2 spots in order giving zero. And arraez underwhelming.
No
Arraez is not a liability at first. You clearly have not watched him play and are only parroting what other’s have wrote. I definitely trust Arraez more than Sheets at first.
Next year when Arreaz is batting champ again and the team batting average is hurting them, will you want to trade for him again?
And realistically, who wants a subpar defender who only hits singles? And is having a down year? What return do you think you’ll get? If you’re thinking more than a mid range prospect you’re lying to yourself.
Do you watch padres games dodger fan? Other than the games against the dodgers?
I have watched this team since the mid 70s. I know a great player when I see one. Arreaz is a clubhouse favorite but kills momentum so many times with a runner or two on by swinging at the first pitch and softly lining out.
He has the fastest hands the game and is one of the most undisciplined hitters with that kid of hitting talent I’ve ever watched. The padres know what it’s like to win batting championships as a consolation prize!
I said it my post it might be easier said than done but if they can drop his salary for a good prospect and flip that prospect and a young starting pitcher for someone with some slug it would help this lineup. They aren’t resigning him anyway
I don’t watch a lot of Padres games, but I do keep up with them as they are a threat in the West.
I’m a lifelong Dodgers fan. But my favorite player was Tony Gwynn. A magician with the bat, and an even better person.
They should’ve traded Arreaz this off-season when he still had value. Just a terribly inefficient use of that payroll space.
Why trade for Arraez in the first place if you are going to do that?
Sean Murphy and Profar.
Two bad contracts.
No to Profar.
Murphy I have posted about the Padres making a bid for him.
Cost could be prohibitive.
Why because PED’s? They don’t have a problem with things like that Tatis approves
No, because they don’t want to overpay
How about Jonah Heim? Better than what we have. Switch hitter. Probably a mid to lower top 20 prospect.
have you seen the depth of that system. Fangraphs has basically Salas and De Vries as FV 55/50 types, and the system has 3 FV 45, and 5 FV 40+ guys and 12 FV 40 guys. normally a team (not quite as strong up top) has closer to 30 FV 40 guys and 10 plus FV 45 guys. Generally the 40s are 4th OF or releivers, 45s are set up guys or weaker regulars.
Corey Lee with WSox.
A player
Would come cheap
See if the Indians will send them Steven Kwan to play LF. Good offensive output and a decent defender.
That’s going to cost prospects. I’m not sure San Diego has enough to satisfy what Cleveland would want.
@Acoss1331
Yankees always seem to have some trade deadline activities and they generally don’t have a great farm system.
Padres farm system is under rated by casual observers,.
Even with all the deals the Padres have made, they always find new, promising young players that other teams want.
Many are not even rated yet by the baseball services and jump onto and up the boards in a year or two.
@SportsFanooo. So true. There is too much focus on the top 100 guys, which doesn’t reflect the quality of the pulse of younger talent in systems. For the Padres, a big pulse is coming; guys like Mayfield, Bateman, Fountain, Hightower, Tears, Humberto Cruz, Coronil, Alvarez, etc…are all highly regarded 18-20 year olds. Every team has younger talent like this, but these are top draft picks that the Pads have been retooling the farm with. The Pads also have several RPs in their system that are ML ready, such as Tyson Neighbors and Bradgley Rodriguez. So they can trade from that strength as well.
Yup. Wood was rated as a borderline top 100 prospect by the major rankings, but was valued as more like a top 25 people in that deal. People on here look at months old lists from mlb.com and take it as gospel.
This team has been sub 500 since starting 14-3. I just don’t think this years group is worth the same investment last year’s was. But who knows, maybe they can go on a tigers like heater after the break and prove me wrong.
that’s what they did last year. They were around .500 at the all star break and then played really really well afterwards to make it to the playoffs
They call him “Second-Half Shildt” for a reason
Jarren Duran might thrive in San Diego since apparently the rigors of playing in Boston seems to be too much for him mentally.
Benintendi makes sense for the Padres as well, but only if they can the White Sox to eat the majority of his salary
Jerry isn’t going to eat that salary whole. San Diego would have to kick in some salary relief.
Why the doooshy post? Duran has gone quite far in life. You, not so much.
My post is basically his own words. It’s not like I’m making it up. Lots of players can’t handle playing in the big eastern markets, there’s no shame in it
He is on pace for a 3+ WAR. If the Red Sox want to give him up, we will gladly take him. We have two minor league relievers and a lottery ticket to send you.
They can’t put Brooks out there every day and expect winning. Unfortunately they lack clutch. They leave too many people on base up and down the lineup. I don’t know if you can trade for clutch but that would be what I want.
My Porsche has a Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. Basically, it’s a double clutch. That’s what this lineup needs! Two clutch adds. Stay tuned JM!
I appreciate you guys enough to where I don’t want to pile into the Padres.
They are still a good team with definite playoff potential. But I do hope they miss this year. I don’t need another 5 game series like last year, epic as it was.
But if we don’t miss, we promise to take out the Astros for you in the WS. Deal?
If you make it past us you’d better win it all. That’s always my mentality in the playoffs in any sport.
I don’t want to lose in the playoffs to someone who stinks it up in the next round. Then it’s just embarrassing lol.
Padres need to jettison two players with .536 and .537 OPS respectively and add one that is leading all of AAA in wRC+ to be a DH/backup catcher who plays most games and then trade for a decent power bat to hit in the short side of the platoon with him.
The best way to be “clutch” is to hit consistently.
I found the upgrade the Padres need.
Billy McKinney Elects Free Agency
Sorry I know I said I wouldn’t pile on. But I still like you guys lol.
He is still playing baseball? Wasn’t he a top prospect in 2001 or something like that?
Aloha Gwynning Bradduh! Long time no talk story, lol!
I wish my Cubs could give your Padres Tucker and Kelly. You ask why, because I can’t see them paying Tucker $400-500mil+ over 10yrs. So mine as well help out a team to beat LA, lol! Kelly because Amaya is coming back soon behind the plate.
I hope Darvish-san and King return and pitch lights out! Good luck to your Padres! Mahalo Nui!
Tucker would look good in Dodger blue.
Aloha ADF, I think Tucker goes into free agency and that your Dodgers, Boston and the Yankees will be fighting for his services. He profiles as a future dh. Wrigley is one of the hardest parks to play in for both defense and offense because of the elements there. So far this season, he’s hit almost twice as many homers on the road compared to Wrigley. I’m sure he’s considering this as well as his defense is -3 OAA. We’ll see what happens. Mahalo
Just looked it up on luxury tax for 2025
Teams have until Dec 2nd of the current payroll year 2025 to submit the final team payroll number for luxury tax purposes
If over the luxury tax, then then have until Jan 21, 2026 to pay it.
Using creative accounting, the Padres could add a new LF and not have it count against their luxury tax if they make moves before Dec 2nd to clear up some payroll
They have at least 3 free agents @ the end of the season including: Cease, Arraez and King.
And, the Padres closer Robert Suarez has an “opt out” contract clause at the end of the year.
Padres 2026 payroll is expected to drop just from guys leaving.
Padres may try to re sign King if he is healthy.
“Creative accounting” means selling at the TDL. You can’t subtract payroll any other way after the TDL (barring an extremely rare Commishioner’s Suspension a lá Wander, Urias, etc.)
Sadly, the only way I can see that the Padres have a shot at resigning King is if he spends most of the rest of the season on the IL. If he comes back in early August as expected and continues to pitch like he did earlier in the season he is in line for a 9 digit contract.
Kings price has already come in lieu of the shoulder injury. He doesn’t have a long track record as a starter. Only 1 healthy season. And the padres would be the only team who can sign him without having to give up a comp pick.
With all the money coming off the books, they can afford to retain him.
According to this website his price in FA will be $25 million AAV or more and 5-6 years. MAYBE the team can afford to keep him, but I doubt it.
“Because King started his big league career in the bullpen, his camp can argue that he has lesser mileage on his arm than most of the other pitchers on this list — while rivaling virtually any of them in quality. If he keeps this pace up, he’s a slam dunk to reject a qualifying offer, and a five-year deal seems like the floor. Six years and an annual value in the $25MM vicinity would very likely be on the table.” — mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/2025-26-mlb-free-agent-…
This article was over a month ago, and it downplayed his injury.
It references his “pace” and he’s currently pacing to nothing as he’s not close to back yet.
It’s probably a bit less than they’re mentioning here, but the padres can afford a 9 figure deal for king.
King will get 5-6 years and $25 million or close to it regardless of the non-structural injury or your opinion. They talked about it on MLB Network several times over the last week, this site had two articles about it. Other sources have mentioned it. IF he had needed surgery for a STRUCTURAL problem with the shoulder that would be a different story, but he didn’t and his lack of mileage on his arm is a PLUS, not a detriment to a large contract as pretty much everyone that has talked about the subject has pointed out.
It’s highly doubtful based on past contracts for pitching that the Padres are paying that or even close to that. Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised and he will be resigned, but not holding my breath. don’t get me wrong, I really like King, I just don’t think there is any chance he is back unless this issue eats up the rest of the season for him. Even then it would be a 1 and done deal with the built in player opt out after the 1st year
Getting a mention on mlb network doesn’t really prove anything. There are some idiotic takes on mlb network everyday.
I think he’ll probably get around the lower end of your projection, and it’s well within the padres budget.
Ok. Whatever you say. I am going with the experts. You do you boo.
It is looking like a minor injury, with his progress this week I’d be surprised if he’s not pitching before August 1
I hope he’s back the first week of august, but even if that’s true it won’t change the fact that he’s pitched over 104innings only once in his career
That whooshing sound you are hearing is the point going over your head.
King’s injury is non-structural in nature and will not impact his value in free agency in any way unless it is shown to be actual structural damage to his shoulder at some later date.
That he has thrown over 104 innings only once in his career is a plus, not a detriment as Steve Adams and Tim Dierkes on this website and former GM’s and other experts on various media outlets including MLB Network have mentioned.
It’s most certainly not a plus he has no track record of being dependable for an entire season outside of one year.
I don’t think there’s a way to get out from under the Hosmer money by CBT pay time
Nope Brewski, *no* chance.
Padres also have two other “breakout starters”
in Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert who have looked very good in filing in for Darvish and King. even though each had a few rough starts and many strong starts.
And, Padres minor league starter Henry Baez had a no hitter going into the 9th inning in his most recent start and looks like the real deal for a major league call up.
Baez was the Padres 2024 Minor league pitcher of the year in 2024.
So, the Padres have many options on the 40 man roster and in the minors to keep the starting staff on track.
And, some of that Padres talent could be trade bait for a LF and/or catcher.
Don’t forget Brandon nett, who’s gotten some top 100 rankings, has great stuff, and seems close to ready
The Padres have a collective .198 BA and .549 OPs from the DH position and that includes the 209 AB from Sheets who is now the full time LF and Arraez who is the full time 1B. Outside of those two it has been a black hole with a .093 BA and .329 OPS. THAT is the area they need to add to.
The Padres catchers are not hitting well, but they are not the biggest problem.
You may have noticed that Preller did not name a position that they need to add, he said bat. It really doesn’t matter whether they are an OF, an infielder, a catcher, or a DH, the Padres need a bat.
Verdugo is available…
He said bat.
I’m sure he has some he isn’t using he can bring with him…
They are pristine too. Never made contact with a ball.
Well, certainly never hit a homer. How does this guy have zero homers?
very much need bats, starting LF/DH/C RH bat to balance the deep end of the lineup, and a quality bench bat.
Padres should trade Salas for Harry Ford straight up. Harry Ford is ready now but is blocked by Raleigh. This will give the Mariners a MLB ready option in 3 years time if Raleigh decides to leave in free agency. I would like to add though that I think Salas is awful and I don’t understand how he is so highly ranked, he hasn’t had a minor league season with his hitting that was even average, even while adjusting for his age. Mets could sign a 15 year old Domenican prospect and start him in Triple A, doesn’t mean that hes any good. Padres basically did that with Salas
Interesting suggestion. Does Ford’s defense play in the pros?
No.
Padres should try to trade for Jordon Walker (STL-OF). A much-ballyhooed prospect had a very good rookie season and has pretty much been in the crapper ever since. Your classic change-of-scenery gamble.
Reading these comments it’s obvious how the Dodgers live rent free in padre fans minds. Even when an article has nothing to do with your divisional rival. These clowns here want to bring up the Dodgers every opportunity they get. Pathetic.
Tauchman would be a great fit. He’s having a great year on a cheap deal and his OBP would be great in that lineup. Kinda of surprised this hasn’t happened yet.
34 year old career journeyman having a 2 month burst of good hitting. No thanks.
Baseball is about catching lightning in a bottle. Unless SD springs for a legitimate LF, Taco is better than the Jayson Heywards and the like who’ve been used this year.
Yeah, no. 34 year old players decline and his started in June.
Sheets is the Padres current LF and he has hit .292/.358/.462/.821 since they placed him there FT. No need for Tauchman. He is simply not enough of an upgrade.
Dream about Jarren Duran all you want, he’s not going anywhere. The guy is electric, lightning fast and the heart of the club. Unless you’re offering quality/quantity back, forgetaboutit!!
If anyone is leaking these reports about padres interest in Duran, it’s not coming from San Diego.
Boston is very obviously trying to drum up a bidding war.
As Preller clearly said in the interview, the Padres are looking for a bat, maybe two. Duran’s strength is not his bat. Also, he is LHB with little power and Padres are looking for RHB with pop. Pretty much the polar opposite of the Padres needs.
Personally. I think a mega prospect swap would do the padres wonders
For instance
Mariners get Leo DeVries #3
Padres get
2B/SS Cole Young #34
Harry Ford C #56
RHP Logan Evans
2B Brock Rodden
Padres should try Young out in CF shift Merrill to LF
Ford steps in immediately at C
Evans steps into the rotation
Mariners pick up a premium prospect
Have to pass. I doubt Evans would step into the Padres rotation. And watching Wood become an AS so quickly on another team isn’t a feeling I want to repeat with De Vries
Darvish isn’t lasting the season. Too much risk to rely on him giving you meaningful innings
Who’s to say Young Ford Evans Rodden don’t become all star
Yeah. You watched Wood become an all star
You also watched King finish 7th in cy young and cease finish 4th. Neither would be possible without dealing Wood.
Pitching gets you further than hitting does. Very rarely do teams with bad rotations make noise.
I agree pitching has higher value, but that’s not too relevant in an evaluation of DeVries for a group of position players and a marginal SP. if Pads traded DeVries for Skubal I’d be all for it.
So pads need a LF and catcher? Yankees have 3 catchers on there roster and can use roster space and they have two young outfielders in AAA performing pretty well in Spencer Jones and Everson Pereira.
Here’s a trade idea that might help both teams
Yanks send Grisham and lefty hitting catcher JC Escarra plus Marcus Stroman who will not reach innings pitch to activate another year on his contract this Grisham (8m) and Stroman (16m) contracts are in last year at a reasonable price.
In addition the Yanks send DJL who has one more year left (15m) on his contract and a top 20 organizational prospect such as Clayton Beeter.
So in exchange Padres send Dylan Cease who has been almost as bad as Stroman and Jake Cronenworth whose contract looks worse then DJL and he has 4 more years left after this year. I believe the money evens itself out for this year and next but then the Yanks will have an additional two years left of Cronenworth?
Grisham is having a really strong walk year and is a high caliber defensive cf plus left handed bat. Here’s can move to LF or remain in CF.
Would Padre fans make this trade adding a left handed batting catcher, gold glove outfielder, and a prospect with two expiring contracts for an expiring contract in Cease and a player whose contract is now a burden???
Billy I don’t think the Padres make this trade. Assuming they want to win this year, Cease is a far better option than Stroman. And, the Pads really need a RH bat with slug, Grish and Escarra are L. Plus Escarra has less than 100 MLB plate appearances, so he’s not necessarily and proven upgrade over Diaz/Maldonado. Finally, 2-time AS Cronenworth’s contract is a good one at just $11M AAV. He’s a 2.5-3 WAR 2b and the Pads would certainly expect to get more in return for him.
So Grisham, Escarra, Stroman, DJL, Beeter.
For Cronenworth and Cease
Cronenworth is currently batting .242/.360/.411 with 1.2 WAR so he could finish 2.5-3 war. Thats hardly a bad contract at 11 mill a year. Problem with cronenworths contract wasn’t Cronenworth it was playing him at 1B minimizing his defense. Now that he’s back at 2B his contract is fine. So no swapping Cronenworth for DJL doesn’t make sense.
Grisham would be an interesting pick up. Escarra would also be interesting.
Im out on Stroman and Beeter
So say
Padres get Grisham and Escarra
Yankees get Omar Cruz LHRP, Lamar King Jr C, ss jhoan de la Cruz
two young outfielders in AAA performing pretty well in Spencer Jones and Everson Pereira.
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Both are on pace for well over 200 Ks. That rarely plays in the pros.
AJ Preller is a fraud he’s buried this team with bad contracts has won nothing. Fans love him because “attendance is good” like they do parades for that. Media likes him because he makes moves wow. Padres have won a game in LCS that’s it for 12 years
Low Risk with potential upside. Trade a couple tier 4 prospects for Luis Robert and Korey Lee if the CWS are agreeable to pick up some salary. See if Shildt can salvage Robert potential if he can you can decline the option and have first crack at a lower salary in 2026. If he can you walk away completely. Lee great defensively with some pop.
That is a good call. Robert is a RHB with pop. Plays good defense. Allows Sheets to move back to DH which is a black hole for the Padres. Lee is from north San Diego county, so a homecoming for him. He is not a great defensive catcher, but he can’t be a worse hitting catcher than Maldonado. He won’t play much if at all in Chicago with Teel and Quero there.