February 17th: According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Buehler will make $1.5MM if added to the roster and could also access performance bonuses worth $2.5MM on the deal.
February 16th: The Padres are adding Walker Buehler on a minor league contract, reports Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The Excel Sports Management client will aim to win a rotation job during Spring Training.
San Diego continues to stockpile potential back-end starters. The Padres agreed to big league deals with Griffin Canning and Germán Márquez over the weekend. Buehler settles for a non-roster invitation, which seemingly puts him behind the other two veteran righties as camp gets underway. Canning is coming back from a June Achilles tear. He might begin the season on the injured list but should be in the rotation once he’s healthy.
The Friars have three locks for the Opening Day rotation: Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove. First-year skipper Craig Stammen implied last week that righty Randy Vásquez has a leg up on the fourth starter role after a solid finish last year. Márquez, Canning (if healthy) and JP Sears are the top options on the 40-man roster for the fifth starter job. Matt Waldron also remains on the 40-man but is out of options and coming off a rough season in Triple-A. Buehler joins Triston McKenzie and Marco Gonzales among the non-roster invitees.
A two-time All-Star, Buehler was a borderline ace for most of his time with the Dodgers. He hasn’t been the same since undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career in 2022. The surgery cost him the entire ’23 season, and he returned with a 5.38 ERA across 16 regular season starts the following year. Buehler pitched well in the postseason and wound up closing out the 2024 World Series. The Red Sox bet that was the beginning of a return to form, but his $21.05MM free agent deal with Boston was a disappointment.
Buehler was rocked for a 5.45 ERA across 23 appearances with the Red Sox. They flirted with a move to the bullpen before pulling the plug altogether, releasing him at the end of August. Buehler latched on with the Phillies and made three appearances to close the regular season. While he tossed 13 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Philadelphia, he only struck out eight of 57 batters faced (14%).
Opponents destroyed his four-seam fastball, hitting .277 with a .553 slugging percentage against the pitch. Buehler’s 94 mph average velocity was down a tick from the previous season and almost three miles per hour below where it had been between 2019-20. The spin rates on his four-seam fastball and knuckle-curve have dropped precipitously since his peak. He has had a much more difficult time missing bats, both within and outside the strike zone. Hitters have done a better job laying off stuff outside the zone, leading to a career-high 10.8% walk rate last season.
Although the trend lines aren’t encouraging, Buehler is only 31 and still has league average velocity. The Padres aren’t committed to a roster spot or a guaranteed salary, so there’s no harm in gauging his form during Spring Training. It should be mostly an open competition for at least one rotation spot.
Buehler might not begin the season in Triple-A if he doesn’t win the job. He was an Article XX(b) free agent — a player with six years of service time who finished last season on an MLB roster. Those players who sign minor league deals at least 10 days before Opening Day have a trio of opt-out dates under the collective bargaining agreement: five days before Opening Day, May 1, and June 1. Buehler can trigger an out clause and explore other opportunities during the final week of Spring Training if the Padres don’t commit to carrying him on the active roster.
Didn’t see that one coming.
I’ve actually been listing him as a reclamation project all off-season but after the other signings I wouldn’t have thought it was still in the table.
I would have thought he was a better sign then Marquez who was dreadful last year even when away from Coors.
Joe – I still can’t believe Breslow gave this guy $21M last year, comical.
I think his success in the WS the previous season had people thinking he had returned to form. I’m not saying he deserved a major league contract, but more surprised they gave one to Marquez. Buehler actually pitched well for the Phillies last year.
Instead of obsessing about a $21M/1yr flyer that went bad, I wish FPG would talk one-tenth of the time posting about the Chapman, Crochet or Narvaez type of deals, Breslow has made.
The Red Sox are getting better each year, yet you’d never know it by his comments. He is not a Red Sox fan.
Joe – Even the worst MLB pitchers manage to pitch well for a few innings here and there. He pitched only 13 innings for the Phillies, his underlying stats must not have been good for them to have zero interest in bringing him back.
He had a 1.96 ERA stretch last April with the Red Sox too, didn’t mean much obviously.
You do have to like the fantasy league mentality of how they describe his time with Philly. They emphasize how few strike outs he had, yet only gave up one run. There is nothing more important than how few runs a pitcher gives up. I’m so old that I can remember a time when results was what mattered.
styme – I’m with you my friend! It’s the same stupid reason why they are looking to trade Bello, because his strikeouts were down last year. Pitching to contact is no longer a part of baseball I guess.
It’s not that results don’t matter, just that not all results are created equally. Sometimes results are skill-based, sometimes they are luck-based. We have enough predictive data to know the difference. If I’m paying millions for a player, I’m not taking a chance on the guy with luck driven results, either.
daryl – Which is precisely why we can’t rely on small sample sizes. A guy can be lucky for a short period of time, but not for an entire season.
“Buehler actually pitched well for the Phillies last year.”
He made 2 whole starts.
@dary Im with you on the results. Im sure BOS did their due diligence as well. In Buehler’s case Im curious what they saw that led them to believe he was anywhere near peak form. In limited bit of 2024 his velocity had not come back and ultimately it went on to further new lows. Had his velocity been back Id understand, but thats why I wonder what led them to believe his stuff was back. We ll probably never know tho.
Hard to believe he’s just 31yrs old. Right in the middle of his prime. He’s got a gamer mentality but the arm health hasn’t been able to hold up.
Trevor Bauer staring at his phone rn
he should’ve controlled his emotions better.
Or his 4.5 era in Japan last year..
Riz- I don’t see Spider Tack being unbanned anytime soon, nor will MLB teams look to the lowest ERA starter in Japan anytime soon.
Yeah and that’s all he’ll be doing for the rest of his rapidly declining career. No one needs or wants him back in MLB.
We still doing this Bauer thing?
@riz Bauer is gonna have to continue enjoying the company of Kaepernick. Time is not on his side so the debate on whether he deserves another shot is becoming more and more of a moot point with each passing day.
This guy is a terrible pitcher now. Seriously. Pretty entertaining on the mound tho.
I thought the Cardinals would try. It sure would help that team.
How the mighty have fallen.
Best quad A rotation in baseball imo
It’d be an awful shame of one of those veteran “lottery tickets” worked out, though, right?
Lol I watched bhuler pitch last year alot and best isn’t a term id be associating with him on any level
If he’s healthy, this could be a great get for the Friars.
Minor league deal already a great get
He was healthy with the Red Sox last season lol.
It’s over.
His arm might be healthy, but he had no confidence throwing strikes last year. Velocity was fine, but he nibbled his way through every game and when he was forced to throw strikes, he got lit up.
If he can get some confidence and maybe a new approach he could be perfectly serviceable. If not, yeah it’s over.
Just a quick comment here since I saw Darren Dreifort pitch once. I have heard that there have been Dodger fans who feel betrayed by Walker signing with San Diego. I wish him the best except against the Dodgers. I haven’t seen any on this site yet, by the way. Every player has to calculate what is best for him and his career. Walker is at a crossroads. He is close to being out of baseball. Maybe he will have an opportunity to resurrect his career. He was a dominating pitcher for us for a three- or four-year stretch.
@phenom His velocity has only went down for 5+ years now. While for his sake I hope he can stay healthy and get back to his peak. It just seems rather unlikely at this point.
Phillies legend
I utterly missed that he even pitched for them at all. Must’ve been off that week.
Off the week he was on. Convenient 🙂
Wow! Preller is locking up a ton of depth type starters to minor league deals. That must be 4 on minor league deals already. Plus Canning and Marquez.
They aren’t depth deals also much as more lottery tickets in hopes of increasing the chances that one hits. All of these guys will leave the organization if they don’t make the major league team.
Former MLB starters signed to minor league deals and invited to camp to compete for the #5 spot in the rotation means they are depth signings. Since we don’t know what the specifics of the deals are, there is no way to say that they will leave with any certainty.
@out
It’s pretty safe to say Buehler is likely to not stick around if he doesn’t win a roster spot, given his three opt-out opportunities on his minor league deal.
All players with a certain amount of service time are guaranteed an opt out if they sign a minor league contract, per the CBA. All these guys qualify. They can’t be optioned anyway without their permission.
Sorry, should be can’t be optioned either, not anyway. That’s if they make the 26 man.
@seamaholic
I think that applies to guys who are on the 40-man but get DFA’d at the end of Spring Training. In the case of Buehler, since he is on a minor league deal, I presume the three opt-out opportunities apply. Not much point in talking about them otherwise.
He signed a minor league deal. He can be sent to AAA if he doesnt make the team out of spring training. They are not guaranteed an opt out when spring training is over, they sign a clause with specific date. Many of those opt out dates if they are not in a major league roster are in June or later.
Buehler might not begin the season in Triple-A if he doesn’t win the job. He was an Article XX(b) free agent — a player with six years of service time who finished last season on an MLB roster. Those players who sign minor league deals at least 10 days before Opening Day have a trio of opt-out dates under the collective bargaining agreement: five days before Opening Day, May 1, and June 1. Buehler can trigger an out clause and explore other opportunities during the final week of Spring Training if the Padres don’t commit to carrying him on the active roster.
Roll, thanks for the rundown. He didn’t get even a minor league offer until after spring training opened. He is already behind the other pitchers in camp. He won’t opt out.
Players with 5 more years of service time can’t be optioned without their consent.
@Informed The main one is his service time allowing him an out after Spring Training. If hes not on the big team it seems a near certainty he ll b seeking a spot somewhere.
Unless he has an absolutely awful Spring Im sure someone will have a back of rotation or long relief role ope. Injuries are sure to arise and it seems teams never can have enough pitching these days.
@Baseball Unless he bombs this Spring hes going to opt out. The injuries are starting to pile up as they always do and MLB caliber pitching is a very finite commodity. Buehler in recent yrs has seemed to b on cusp of what is MLB caliber and every injury gets him closer to that threshold.
Tiger, I tend to agree that he will opt out but only if he does well in camp. That is a big IF, The reason no one offered him a big league deal is that in 40 starts since coming off his 2nd TJ he has a 5.10 ERA and worse peripherals. His FIP has been a 5.62 and that points to a rise in his ERA coming. His K rate has been cut in half and his BB rate doubled from where he was before the injury.
LF, I saw his bullpen and he looked pretty good. He is quite a bit behind the rest of the guys in building up pitch counts, but his mechanics looked like pre-TJ Buehler not like what we saw in 2024 and 2025. If he can maintain his mechanics as he builds up his pitch count, he could make the squad.
Tigers, sadly he has not been on the cusp of MLB caliber. He was terrible in 2024 and 2025. No way to dispute that. That is why he is here on a minor league deal after making $20 million last season. Few believe he can do it anymore after his 2nd TJ and 2 seasons of really bad performance. That said, see my comment about his BP today.
Tigers, you have it backwards. Unless Buehler has a lights out spring training, there will not be a market for him, and he will stick around until his next opt out date. No other teams thought enough of his potential to sign him to a major league deal, and he didn’t sign a minor league deal until after the Padres pitchers were already a week into camp.
Best, he has enough service time that he does automatically have 3 opt outs if he is not on the 40-man roster. The only way he will do that on the first opt out date is if he has a great spring and the Padres still don’t add him. If he has a poor spring, he won’t have any market and won’t opt out.
@Web If he as a lights out Sprng it wont come down to a market, he ll be playing under the deal this article was based on.
With his passed success and only being 30 unless he implodes completely I see someone having a need once injuries start to deplete rosters.
As of him signing now, we dont know what he was offered and what he possibly turned down. He could have been holding out for right situation or a deal with an opt.out and while waiting other doors shut. Its speculation assuming what happened.
Tigers, the deal he was signed under was a minor league deal.
Past, not passed. The last of that past success was in 2021. It’s now 2026. It carries no weight today after two exceedingly had years.
He already imploded. That is why he had to sign a minor league deal a week after spring training started for pitchers and catchers.
We know exactly what he was offered, because he signed a minor league deal. If he had been offered a major league deal, he would have signed that.
Like many that have already seen him pitch a BP this spring, I now think that he might actually make the squad if he can keep throwing like that in larger pitch counts. His mechanics looked very good, and his velocity was decent considering how little he has thrown the ball this spring.
He still needs to pitch extremely well in the relatively pressure free spring training environment against hitters that are at a distinct disadvantage in order to win a job. He is not guaranteed one. If he pitches poorly, a definite possibility, his chances of catching on with another team on anything other than a minor league deal that would include time in the minor leagues is somewhere between nil and non-existent. He has been too bad for too long to get a valuable roster spot once the season has begun.
Im aware he signed a minor league deal.
If he os cut I believe someone will sign him. Im aware of hos injury and the option BOS declined. Like i ve said already I believe someone will sign him if hes released. He has MLB experience and teams would not have to worry about caliing someone up and starting service time. I believe the difference in finding a suitor will be injury replacement.
@baseball
It wasnt a rundown from me, it was the last paragraph of the article copied and pasted.
Also being this late to sign doesnt mean much as it is basically an audition. Hector Neris signed with atlanta later than this at the beginning of march and asked for his release at the end of spring training just last year. It all depends on market and what happens.
Like Atlanta down now 2 starting pitchers. Players can get injured in WBC or spring training.
Seam, #5 starters are depth starters by definition. Buehler, Marquez, Canning, and the rest of the signings would be #5 starters.
Unless they pitch extremely well in spring training, it is unlikely any of them that are on minor league deals leave the organization. There is just no market for guys that were bad enough to only get minor league offers and then pitch poorly in spring training.
Why are you arguing those points? Seems like a stupid hill to die on.
Good upside for a Minor league deal.
Padres signing every lottery ticket on the market. Gotta play if you want to win right?!
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take – Wayne Gretzky
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take – Wayne Gretzky”
– Michael Scott
Nice alleyoop
Struck out Alex Verdugo to win it all.
Now they’ll both be signing ML deals this off-season. Or in the case of Verdugo, maybe foreign deals.
Maybe Verdugo will sign with the Padres!
Preller is out there looking for all the deals. I hope he works out and pitches well for the Padres. Solid minor league signing
Has to take care of his addiction even if he doesn’t have the payroll space.
Is Trevor Bauer next??
you are one… oh wait, you already know
Never hear anything about Urias.
hilarious, pohle!
I’d be okay never reading that guy’s name again.
Great signing.
lol what
Great? His ERA over the last 4 seasons is 4.83
It wasn’t that long ago where Buehler was dominant in the playoffs and world series for the Dodgers.
Getting the save in Game 5 of the WS in 2024.
Pitching in a pitcher friendly park with the #4 and #5 spots in the rotation available.
I wouldn’t bet against him. 😉
It was even more recent where he was literally the worst starting pitcher in baseball.
Pads gonna have to add some Spring Training games to see all these guys play.
Padres should opt for a 6 man rotation to help King and Musgrove on innings personally or piggy back them with a lefty to limit workload
Pivetta
King
Musgrove
Canning
Márquez
Buehler
Or
Pivetta
King / Sears
Musgrove / Hart Canning
Márquez
Canning
I’d try Buehler out of the pen given his stuff. Might be time plus with Adam out would be a good replacement option to try out in the 6th
Buehler Estrada Morejon Miller 6-9
What about Vásquez? What about Gonzalez, Waldron and Mendez?
McKenzie?
Same issue as Gonzalez. McKenzies health might not hold up.
McKenzie is not looking good so far. He throws hard with good movement but is having extreme control issues. I hope Niebla can work some of his magic.
Mckenzie’s velocity is below the major league average for a right hander. He is not a hard thrower:
He was sitting 93-94 in his BP against live hitters. We are a week into camp, so that is hard. Other than Buehler who is also trying to win a job, it was the hardest of the potential Padres starters that I have seen this spring.
If Walker is a 4 or 5- Vásquez goes bulk starter and/or long pen. Marquez probably squeezed off roster, unless he accepts an assignment. Same for Waldron; big Spring showing needed for clarity. Mendez on 40, but Optionable. He won’t make the Active Roster barring some major movement up (for him) and down (for others)
IK. What about Canning? After he comes off the IL
Stammen reiterated today that he sees Vasquez as the #4 starter. The rest are fighting for one position. Vasquez would have to lose his job by pitching poorly in spring training games for someone to move ahead of him at this point.
Vasquez becomes long relief out the pen multi inning guy
Marco is odd man out I don’t think his shoulder holds up long term anymore and there’s Yuki Hart Sears Morejon Peralta in the pen. Unless we keep Marco over Hart and he’s on innings limit too with Musgrove. But I think Harts more durable
Sadly Waldron gets outrighted Mendez sent down to continue to work on stuff same with Rodriguez
Because you know more about what the Padres will do than Stammen?
Rotation locks
Pivetta
King
Musgrove
I think Canning Márquez wind up winning 4 and 5.
Vásquez becomes long relief out of the pen Buehler shifts to pen as an experiment while Adam is out
Locks for the pen
Peralta
Morejon
Estrada
Miller
Morgan
I’d send Rodriguez down. I’d keep Hart over Yuki if it came down to it. Sears could be an option in pen.
Some fun choices coming up of who makes the team
Trade Wandy
Many teams want/need a LHR
I like Wandy, nice to have a semi-reliable 2nd L in pen.
I’d be fine packaging some guys
Wandy and Jakob to say Athletics
Hoeing Waldron and Marianccio to White Sox or Angels
Clear some space and get back some lotto tickets Preller hopefully can find a gem with or something
While I like Wandy, that 2nd southpaw might be Sears but will probably be Yuki then Hart. Wandy is expendable, per se… and will draw more of a lottery ticket-type reach that AJ is eyeballing than a Matsui or Hart will.
I like Sears in rotation, nice to have a lefty. I like his upside more than Vasquez. I’d probably be okay cutting bait on Yuki, but I’d like to see just a little more considering he’s signed for 3(!) more seasons.
Bro we keep posting like the same stuff at the same time tonight. Get outta my head haha
If nothing else, and Wandy or some other similar profiled player is traded, he might bring back some prospects to restock the farm. I don’t see that kind of thing happening until at least midway through spring training, or even the end. Too many plates spinning in the air, to start offloading proven arms. Then again, if another team comes calling with gifts …
I asked the gang where u been said “where’s Gwynning!?..” turns out u been straightup
Hart and Sears have options. Wandy and Matsui likely make the team unless traded (Matsui has a full no trade).
Barring a trade the locks in the pen are
Miller, morejon, Estrada, Wandy and Matsui…Adam maybe or may not be ready…pretend he isn’t. Morgan can be optioned.
That’s 5 spots. Padres could go to a 6 man rotation or move a starter to the pen.
It’s gonna be one heck of a battle for the last two or three spots (6 man).
Plus one heck of a battle for the last 2(Adam healthy) or 3 spots in the pen.
Same as the 1b/dh battle. Preller is casting a wide net.
While I like the idea of a lefty in SP rotation, Sears was the worse looking SP that got starts for SD in 2025. He made Hart look serviceable If Marquez & Canning look healthy they should both be in rotation before Sears who has options and can be the emergency call up SP after the eventual SP injury.
I’ll take Yuki Matsui if you cover 10.25 million of his contract.
Sears was much better than Hart. I think Hart is the only SP where I prefer Vasquez. But you’re right about the options, he likely gets stashed until an inevitable injury.
Brew, now tell me is it gunna be you and me forever… oh oh oh!
Chloe dat u?
“Locks for the pen
Peralta
Morejon
Estrada
Miller
Morgan”
Unless traded Matsui is also a lock for th Pen
I’m not sure morgan is a lock. Just because there is a roster crunch in the pen and he has options.
Matsui has a no trade clause which makes him being in the pen pretty likely.
6 man rotations only work when you have 6 good pitchers.
Someone forgot to tell the dodgers that when they were running out knack may roki gonsolin at different points to limit innings.
Unless their high 4s era was supposed to be on purpose.
Jason Adam will be back around May 1st.
I think he will be back before unless they baby him. He is already a full go in thrown but has to do some agility drills before he is ready.
NICE!!!
Okay, now we have 116 guys vying for #5 SP
Nothing wrong with choices! 🍻🤙🏽
Right? Thats why we also have 94 guys competing for 1b/DH!
Including our old pal Ty France now!
Trade everything not bolted down for Mountcastle!!! Haha
Bring me Hoskins who we’ll trade for Yandy
Let Rockies sign Hoskins for three million. Every team’s fans deserve a couple of shiny new toys.
4-5 spot, Vasquez isn’t guaranteed anything
Would have been a good risk signing for the Angels!
Whoever loses a rotation spot can battle trout for cf
Agreed. Seemed like a perfect fit signing I expected, but the Padres are just trying all these guys.
Thats a nice deal for the Padres! Is their roster at 92 guys?
Like I’ve been saying stack up the SP. use the IL as a rest stop and have your best pitchers ready for the end of the season.
Some team should do that
If it works copy it
We’re not a copy-cat league!
“We’re not a copy-cat league!”
MLB wants salary cap like other leagues
Yeah but you have to be good enough to actually feel comfortable making the playoffs without your best guys. Very few teams can do this.
This the kind of comment that would’ve sent Samuel into a fit. “This isn’t a rotisserie league..” blah blah blah. Whatever happened to him? His tantrums were hilarious.
guild – He finished his goal of muting every person here, then he got bored seeing only his posts so he left.
hiflew, chandler bing, and Braves 2032 following in Samuel’s footsteps.
@Fever
Lol! Wouldn’t shock me. He was delusionally convinced he was a baseball genius and fully capable of heading an MLB front office. Anyone who disagreed with him was muted immediately.
@Nashville
Attempting to, at least. Samuel was so delusional it was hilarious and entertaining. They’re just unoriginal trolls looking for attention. Nothing funny about that, unfortunately.
Pitchers that don’t play won’t be as ramped up.
Minors deal, Solid.
He’s looking toast. Man baseball is a cruel sport sometimes.
I’m thinking Waldron may have to exit the 40 to make room at some point. WB probably has an opt out in May. Brito will start on 60 day but will need to come off in May. These guys recently signed all have more to bet on than what Matt showed in 2025.
Not saying it has to happen before a few starts in ST with a few of these guys on NRI or milb deal La but who you gonna keep – one of these guys with recent success or Matt when the time comes.
I like McKenzie working with Rueben again; Canning based on 25 when Achilles is fully healed.
Only real men throw knuckleballs.
Guys have stayed all year on the 60 and the 15 for that matter. You can pencil Buehler into the rotation if healthy can’t see him not beating out Marquiz. He makes the 26 or a certain opt out
Darvish will be the next to leave the 40 man.
Agree but, thinking about the next and the next. canning and Márquez are on major league deals. Then after some ST when one of the NRI or milb with no options show that they may have turned it around?
Canning is a 60 day IL candidate as well.
They have several weeks to need to add anyone else to the 40 man.
They may still add another roster player this spring. In which they would need to make a decision.
It will be interesting to see who ultimately makes the team. At this point I think there will be a trade or two. Padres have guys like Marinaccio who are out of options. An injury will likely happen as well.
Tirso filled the need instead. I wasn’t considering an existing OF option as the dfa candidate for an incoming pitcher. Clearly, someone had to take the bite.
Canning isn’t likely to be 60 day based on reports. Could be at the end of ST if he isn’t pitching but, why burn 60 days if he is close.
I forgot to add, Canning has to take a 40 spot before he can go on 60 day. He cannot go straight to 60 from contract signing.
If it looks like it could be close to 60 days then he could very well go on it.
Prob will be a while before they decide. Barring any roster additions it could come down to any of these minor league deals dudes making the team.
I would bet that at least 1 of those NRI / milb contract guys makes the roster.
There are a good plethora of guys with recent success with likley bounce back ability for a team like SD to let slip thru their fingers.
Maybe 1 position guy and 1 or 2 pitchers.
Friars loading up on roadkill the last few days.
Ooof. When Canning gets a major league contract and Buehler doesn’t, that’s rough.
I thinks it’s more to do with timing. Spring training is under way, anyone that’s not signed is likely taking lesser deals. I agree it’s a weird thought but canning had a decent year with the meta last year while buelher hadn’t been the same pitcher since his tj a few years back
Wow, Buehler fell down that far to accept a minor league deal ? I thought that the Mets should’ve gotten him, but I guess they want to use the young guys, I guess I don’t blame them 😆
Out of nowhere.
Would love to see this long shot pay off and him crush the dodgers in a key game.
Boy, that makes two of us for shizzle mah nizzle
The Dodgers hope he catches on with someone, but sure would not want to embarrass him at Dodger Stadium during the regular season. Best for the Dodgers and Padres is that he pitches well, goes 5+ and holds the Dodgers to 0-1-2 runs, exits and see if the Dodgers get to the Padres bullpen.
Good for him, Dodgers, and Padres.
If you’re talking about a playoff game, there’s no holding back for the Dodgers, former teammate, playoff legend or not, it would be the postseason and Everyone plays to win.
Neither will happen.
OK. Minor league talent is fine for ST. But let’s get Littell or Giolito.
Waiting for Giolito price to drop down to $1M
So your big signing would be a guy who has been about as good as Vasquez?
I hope he is good again man I thought he was going to be one of the best pitchers of the decade but sadly that hasn’t happened.
Injuries are a bummer.
Notice that these MLB pitching vets are not running away from the Padres, either. Even though the competition is growing with every signing, they’re running TO the Padres.
The Padres have a track record as a place where capable pitchers “get well” and/or “get ahead”, and prosper. I wonder why (.. ahem, Niebla…).
It would be particularly sweet if Buehler can restart an effective career in SD, and face the Dodgers, over and over and over again.
Borderline ace? From 2018 to 2021, Buehler put up a 2.82 ERA over 95 starts, and was in the running the NL Cy Young winner in 2021. And that’s not counting any postseason stats from the pitcher we quickly started calling Big Game Buehler.
If that’s borderline then what is an actual ace? Obviously it didn’t last, injuries happened. But he was an ace when he was right.
And I’ll obviously be forever grateful for Walker turning the clock back for the 2024 postseason. Looks like his career trajectory is forever changed, but we’ll always have Game 5.
ACE
Why the hell not?!
This is a great signing. I was hoping at the beginning of the offseason when we lost Cease and King that we could maybe replace them with Gallen and Buehler on more affordable deals but hey, can’t hate that they ended up back with King and Buehler on a minor league deal instead. Marquez and Canning were solid pickups for sure too.
Hell of a lot cheaper then the cost for Gallen.
@Mech986TRtt Yes definitely. Even if he makes the team his Major league salary should only be a few million.
Ohh, Walker…NOOOOOOOO!
Who was “different bears” before he started using this screen name—–or does he mute everyone?
Buehler?………. Buehler?……… He’s been missing for a WHILE! What happened to this guy?
I heard he had a day off.
Padres are ruining Spring Training stacking away all these minor league signing vets!
cry more
The Padres keep on signing the last remaining free agents. I feel like that’s kind of fitting for them.
Yes!
Angels didn’t want to take a chance in spring?
@ron tingley. The angels will probably go to the younger pitchers if manoah fails, but i think he sticks cheaper than Hendricks probably has the same numbers, and has a option.
@BLEACHCREATURE – weak
Can’t wait for this battle of starters this spring.
Preller isn’t done yet either.
How’s Joey Gallo’s conversion process to a pitcher?
Right. He said yesterday he’d probably add more guys including roster and minor league deals. Since then two minor league deals. So a bigger move still pending?
Hey Brew, Simm,
Ya know how all those fans of other teams were complaining about Preller spending too much for a small market team, that we were gonna crash and burn ….
So, Preller ran out of money, as they all predicted.
Now Preller’s strip mining the market of any serviceable arms and on field punch and …
…. now some of those fans are crying again.
They ought to be careful. The only thing worse than a Preller with a blank check, is an AJP on a tight budget. He scraps the bottom of the cookie jar clean before the other GM’s can dip in their hands. 🙂
Padres do this every year. He usually succeeds in finding a value guy or two. Not just pitchers the whole roster.
Old- I don’t think he is done yet. Feel a bigger deal is coming.
Yup, Kruz Schoolcraft keeping his suitcase packed cuz Preller will be adding another solid major leaguer.
Yeah I think he is gonna add at least one more major league deal.
Who I have no idea but if I had to guess it will be another starter.
While there are 7 guys (not counting canning) vying for two spots none of them are close to a sure thing. It’s still more likely they are all not very good vs 2 of them being good. That includes Vasquez.
I’d still feel better with a solid number 4.
I think preller still has something else up his sleeve.
Position player wise I could see another minor league signing. Preller works in bunches. Once the dominoes start to fall so do others.
I’d feel better with a solid #4, #5, #6, #7, and a half dozen other “maybe they’ll be greats” waitin’ in the wings. But then, I’ve always been greedy.
Just remember, Niebla is a bit part of that formula, that helped Preller bring and turn around pitchers in the past. He’s still here.
Niebla … BIG part of that formula
I keep seeing Padres fans say 2 spots open, but your manager and GM said 4 spots are locked up with Vasquez as the #4.
No he didn’t. The manager said Vasquez has the edge in the 4th spot.
Stammen reiterated today that Vasquez is the most likely #4. He would have to pitch poorly in spring training games for someone else to pass him up. Interestingly he did not say that Marquez had the last spot. He said he was one of 4 or 5 guys competing for the last rotation spot.
Nobody has claimed the 4-5 or 6th spot. He said he was open to even a 6 man rotation.
I like these recent signings especially Canning and Buerhler, Canning was pretty good last year and believe Buerhler will be much better this year
What makes you believe that?
What makes you question his belief?
I think Preller could be loading up to possibly trade some these guys if injuries happen to other teams in ST. The more ammo you have for a packaged deal.
@james. Walker probably has a opt out if he doesn’t make the team. I’m sure Marquez does as well.
Marquez is on a guaranteed contract. Because of his service time he can’t be optioned without the option to become a free agent. Buehler is on a minor league deal so he can be sent down if he doesnt make the team.
@baseballisthebest. Sorry I glossed over Marquez. Probably just figured it was a minor league deal since it was so late. Wouldn’t surprise me if buehler has opt out clauses in his deal they dont normally disclose it in the deals, but JD Davis did. Buehler is a big enough name to get it.
Buehler may not make the Padres roster but at least getting into camp he’ll be able to audition for other teams
@Rsox. If I had to guess Marquez makes the team his numbers could come down in petco. Canning is a insurance policy, and buehler is a audition.
Unless Buehler comes in and is lights out in spring training games in March, Marquez is the #5 starter on opening day. Canning won’t be available until sometime in May, so the Padres kick that can down the road. He would also slot in at #5.
that clubhouse vibe is gonna be wild.
Padres are one of the closest-knit teams in baseball. The only one that has a player that puts together an offseason get together for major and minor league players. Musgrove has 25-40 players come in for the multi-day even that is held around the time of Fanfest.
May not have got his bag, but he did get a ring.
Yuki isnt going anywhere…his contract isn’t digestible.
I don’t get the lack of love for Vasquez. He had better stats last year than most of these other gas cans and improved down the stretch. Unless Ruben can teach Sears, Hart, Marquez etc a new wrinkle, they are mediocrity personified. Put a Larry Sherry pitch-back in front of the mound for protection and hold your breath. As much as I tense up and cringe when Peralta comes in, he’s a world beater compared to JP. As for Yucky…. He’s number one. Hart seemed to do much better in long relief in meaningless situations. But it’s a brand new season and hope springs eternal. Let the games begin! Go Pads!
Vasquez had some unbelievable luck last year: he gets hit hard as hell, and his BB:K is awful. Admittedly he looked slightly better his last start of the season, but I would not bank on that level of success again without some underlying improvements to his game.
Vasquez gave up less than a hit per inning, exit velocity against him was 54th percentile and his HH rate was 60th percentile so all were better than average. He wasn’t hit hard. His FB run value was in the 88th percentile, so near the best in baseball. His problem was location on breaking balls. Other than the 2 appearances in August when he was being yo-yo’d to El Paso, Vasquez had a 3.49 ERA.
Stammen and Preller have both said they have him as the 4th starter. They have said they expect him to be at least as good or better in 2026. They praised his improvement. I think they know more than you or me about how they plan to use him.
Once again, Dave Dombrowski proving he’s not elite anymore. Although I wish Bryce Harper would’ve said it. Phillies need depth at pitching and this was beyond obvious. I thought it wasn’t happening because Bueller wanted a major league contract. Dombrowski should’ve retired two years ago.
Buehler is cooked and not worth a AAA roster spot
Sometimes guys take a couple of years coming off of Tommy John. He pitched well here last year considering he didn’t have his fastball back. Put that aside look at the starting pitching depth. You’re happy with Seth Johnson?
A…whole….13….innings, lol. You are probably heartbroken that they didn’t bring Joe Ross and Jordan Romano back too
Lol. Dombrowski should have retired 2 years ago because he didn’t bring a washed up pitcher back because of a whole 13 innings? So who else are you heartbroken over? Joe Ross? Jordan Romano? David Robertson?
To be honest, I’m pissed off that they resigned Nola instead of Snell. Deb Broski has the worst character defect as a GM and that’s loyalty. You can’t keep bringing it back. This team needed to change after they lost the diamondbacks. You gotta keep adding and removing puzzle pieces instead of sticking with guys who have proven they can’t do it. So pretty much any move he makes now I’m not gonna agree with until it’s proven otherwise.
I’m glad the coaches and FO support him, but his under-the-hood metrics are a ticking time bomb. I’m fine letting a healthy, cheap, and young pitcher eat regular season innings but I do wonder how long he sticks around without options.
Wrong thread.
Stammen said today that basically it’s Vasquez’s job to lose. Unless he pitches his way out of it with poor performance in the spring, he has proven he can get results in the regular season and will open the season in the rotation. What was interesting is that even though he signed a major league contract, Stammen said only that Marquez would be one of 4 or 5 guys competing for that last spot in the rotation. Going to be a fun spring with that many guys with MLB experience competing for a job.
Dombrowski is a First Ballot Hall of Fame Executive
who is still “Elite”.
If he left Phillie, then he would have 20 messages of serious interest from other MLB teams before
he even made it to his car in the Phillies parking lot.!!!
He told the truth about Bryce Harper not producing at elite levels anymore
in the pennant race, playoffs and WS?!
Someboy had to say it.
Phillies sports press is too scared to say it out loud.
Some of those big Phillies stars with the big contracts have become too comfortable(not Shwarber) and need to start switching it into high gear when
the World Series is in sight and WS Championship is doable if they produce.
Dombrowski cannot hit and play Defense along with all his other responsibilities.
At some point, you build/assemble a strong contender
and then you find out if they have the hearts and souls of Champions or not.
And, Dombrowski has, quietly, rebuilt their starting rotation.
He is wisely adding young players to the mix on the pitching staff ‘
and position players with trades, minor league promotions and letting some players not in their plans walk.
Honestly, all these keyboard GMs and critics crack me up!
I think you need to look at the moves that Dombrowski has made over his five years here. Don’t get me wrong. I was ecstatic when they hired him. But he has been underwhelming both in the off-season and that the trade deadline for most of his time. Michael Lorenzon? Ronaldo Castro? Carlos Estevez for two top four pics? His philosophy of no out clauses as cost the Phillies at least three players, including Bo Bichette. Failing to trade Alec Bohm two years in a row. Losing Harrison Bader for the same money. Signing Tio, Juan Walker. I could go on and on and on. Yes you are right. Did the Phillies fired him? He would get another job quickly. Probably by a team very close to World Series capable who just wants him to put the cherry on top. Similar to the Phillies bringing in Pat Gillick in 2007. Personally, I think he should do that with the Phillies. Phillies have been so close, but then Broski has been unable to make that one move to put them over the top.
FYI
Remember Phillies fans and Sports Media were
demanding that Ownership “Tear it All Down”
and start a major rebuild like the White Sox 10 year rebuild
before Dombrowski was hired.
Fans and critics forget quickly.
Don’t have time to dissect every move that Dombrowski has made since coming to Phillie.
But, I do see results like the Phillies making the playoffs 4X making the World Series 1X , Winning 87, 90, 95 and 96 games in the years Dombrowski has been POB in Philly.
As everyone knows, Prior to Dombrowski, 2012-2021 (10 years) the Phillies did not make the playoffs.
The Phillies under Dombrowski have made the playoffs 4 straight years and won more games each year under Dombrowski.
Middleton and Dombrowski have worked together to bring a consistent winner, playoffs contender, World Series competitive team to Phillie.
They have tinkered with the roster every year Dombrowski has been in Philly trying to get them “over the top” for that elusive World Series Championship.
It is not easy to Win a World Series Championship.
It is very competitive and the competition in MLB
is very fierce and involves many, many teams every year.
The Braves had a dynastic team that won something like 12 Division Titles in a row and only won 1 World Series despite a team loaded with future Hall of Famers and a Hall of Fame Manager.
The Philies will eventually break through.
But, there are so many very good, very competitive teams every year competing for a World Series title, that it gets more difficult every year.
The Phillies are in good hands with Dombrowski.
Their chances of winning a World Series title are much higher with Dombrowski than with many other alternatives.
Also,
Dombrowski has assembled this year maybe the best bullpen the Philies have fielded since he joined the Phillies
See Also: “Phillies’ new-look bullpen shines against big bats”
nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/mlb/philadelphia-phillie…
See the problem is you are one of those fans that cares about the regular season. That was 2022. Once you make the World Series, if you are a real fan, you can’t accept going backwards every year since. Last two years, losing embarrassingly in the first round. I don’t care about the regular season with this team anymore. The only thing that should matter is what they do in the postseason. I want them to get back to the World Series and consider anything less than the World Series a bad season. Kind of the way the Eagles look at it. And I’m not saying that Broski is not a good GM anymore. But he’s far from what he was. And as long as he’s gonna have these kind of off-season’s, he’s not close to what he was. And as far as I see it, Bryce has as much right to get on Dombrowski as Dombrowski does for Bryce. Can’t have it both ways. They are both coming up short. I loved it when Bryce talked about how the Dodgers are doing at the right way. Either go for it or rebuild. No in between and Dombrowski just wants to stay in between.
He’ll opt out before the season begins and sign with the Braves to be our #2 starter behind Elder, the way things are going…
So few players have returned from having two Tommy John surgeries to ever be an effective starting pitcher, I wonder if the Padres could move him into the pen and open up the possibility of trading from their already deep pen.
Maybe if his velo ticks back up in the pen.
The issue is the padres pen is better than their starting 5 overall.
They have good pen arms that aren’t gonna make the team as is. Perhaps they carry him in the pen for a bit to just see if that works. He would also need to want that. They aren’t gonna shove an unhappy player in the pen.
Eovaldi has pitched well after a couple….yet hurt/not durable for sufficient stretch to be confident in signing guys like that for anything beyond a 2 year cross your fingers gamble.
Eovaldi is one of 4 out of 61 starting pitchers that have returned to starting after 2 TJ surgeries and put up an ERA under 4.00 for a full season.
Buehler said that he wants to start but would do whatever helps the team win. Maybe if he is not ready to start on opening day, he goes to the pen to do long relief. If his velocity goes up even more pitching in short bursts I could see him in a setup role. That would be a scary good bullpen. Miller, Morejon, Adam, Estrada, Buehler, Peralta, Matsui. and Morgan or Rodriguez.
I like all of these low risk, high reward signings that SD has made.
Do the Padres want another Walker?
Depends, does he cost 1m dollars.
First step for them to become more like the Dodgers.
Padres: Last Title (None)
simonkiller: Last Relevant Comment (none)
Padres are ruining Triple A baseball!
lol.
Does anyone like Giolito? Why wasn’t he included on the Red Sox playoff roster? Was he injured?
Yes he was. Worries that the injury is still there may be keeping teams hesitant. He claims he’s now healthy.
Dang signing Buehler makes it harder to hate on the Madres. But we still can. Go Dodgers.
you only hate us because you love us so
Dodgers2026: Does calling the Padres the Madres make them your Momma and your Poppa? Asking for a friend.
Phils should have resigned him. They need more depth than they want to admit.
Oddball
Arte and Perry,
When you don’t have any pitching you need to take EVERY lottery ticket even the ones you don’t have a hard on for.
Buehler’s pitches moved last year and I mean really moved as he hit 11 batters .Previously he had averaged about 3.86 hit batters a season.He needs someone to convince him to move more towards 3rd base on the mound as his pitches are moving dramatically away from righties and directly into lefties.If he can harness this then this is a great move by the Padres.Hey Rich Hill was out of Baseball one time and his American Legion coach convinced the lefty to move to the right side of the mound.Hill flourished and went from a lefty specialist to a top starter for a close to a decade!
Buehler, Canning and Marquez will hold down the rotation! 😬🫳🫗
As the 5th and 6th starters?. OK.
I was so psyched when the Sox signed him last year, I thought he would rebound and be a solid SP. Never happened. He seemed to “nibble” way too much. Was it a lack of confidence? I dont know. Seems way too young for it to be over. Good luck to him!
I have to admit that I didn’t like this signing when it was first announced. Today I got a chance to see Beuhler throw a bullpen and his mechanics are much closer to what they were in 2021 than they were in 2024-2025. His velocity was good, although at this point in spring training you really don’t want to see them at top velocity. He is a bit behind other guys. His bullpen was about half the pitches of the other starters in camp. I still think that if he can continue to progress that he could make the team on opening day. A 2021 version of Buehler would give the Padres 4 TOR starters. Buehler said that he prefers to start but would do whatever is needed to help the team, so moving him to the pen is an option.
A couple other things I saw this morning. Niebla spent a big chunk of his morning with McKenzie and Marquez. If he can work his magic with those two, watch out. From 2017-2022 as a full-time starter Marquez had a 112 ERA+. That is park adjusted. His ERA was only 4.38 but he pitched home games at Coors, so ERA is not a great indication of how well he pitched. If the Padres can get that level of performance from him, he is a great signing. I don’t think McKenzie will make the opening day roster, he was all over the place in the bullpen I saw, but a 2022 version of McKenzie would give the Padres another middle of the rotation starter. Control issues continue to plague him, but more time with Niebla might help. If not, it’s a minor league deal.
All these starters they signed have had success in their careers. They have also had some bad recent years.
What Preller is doing is seeing who’s got what left. Who can possibly rebound. It’s just as likely none of them do as one of them do.
Vasquez increased some velo at the end of last year.
Walker said he worked on increasing his velo this offseason.
Marquez I haven’t heard anything from but his velo was down last year as well. These dudes all fit in the same bucket right now.
Vasquez has the edge based on what they saw to finish last year but he will still need to perform to keep his spot.
None of them have options left so they will pitch their way on the team or be gone. Also none of them are getting paid much. So money isn’t a big deal. Though Vazquez has a lot more control. So that will also give him some sort of edge.
Sleeper agent ensuring more Dodger wins
Will always be a huge Buehler fan, what he did for us in the 2024 postseason and especially in the WS will never be forgotten. Wish him all the best and will always be thankful for that he did in LA.