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Manager Notes: Angels, Maddon, Beltran

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Former Cubs manager Joe Maddon is set to interview for the Angels’ job in the coming days, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Maddon has long been rumored as a leading candidate to succeed Brad Ausmus, and Rosenthal now reports that the feeling is mutual, naming the Halos as Maddon’s top choice. Of course, that two-way interest is at least partially motivated by the extensive history between organization and manager: Maddon spent time as an interim manager with the Angels in 1996 and 1999, and while he didn’t keep that position long-term, Maddon would spend more than thirty years with the Halos organization before departing for Tampa Bay. Maddon should have plenty of interest from other clubs with managerial vacancies, so if the Angels are indeed his ideal destination, he could have his pick of the available jobs. Surely, the Angels would be remiss if they didn’t interview other candidates, so it’s by no means a foregone conclusion, but Maddon to Los Angeles feels like a match made in heaven. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale cites the Padres as another club that has caught Maddon’s attention, and expects the two sides to arrange a meeting in the near future.

  • Former All-Star Carlos Beltran has not been shy about his desire to manage for a big-league club, but he’s waiting on the right situation to present itself, writes Nathalie Alonso of MLB.com. Beltran, who was a candidate to manage the Yankees before Aaron Boone came out ahead, joined the Bombers’ front office as a special adviser prior to the 2018 season. Beltran was recently reported to have declined an interview for the open Padres’ manager position, though there hasn’t been any explanation given. The Mets, who recently fired Mickey Callaway, have also been rumored as a potential fit for Beltran. While there’s been chatter that an allegedly frosty relationship between the ex-Met and team COO Jeff Wilpon would impede such a hire, Beltran said that he would “have to listen” if the Mets came calling. While that doesn’t indicate that he’s clamoring for the job, Beltran seems reluctant to rule out a potential reunion with his former team. As Beltran says, his focus is of course on the contending Yankees for the time being, which means that more clarity might not come to his situation until the end of October. That said, he’s certainly a name to watch as teams seek out their next skipper.

Padres Could Pursue Joe Maddon

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The Angels look like the front-runners to land coveted free-agent manager Joe Maddon, but the Padres are also considering a pursuit of the 65-year-old. They’re “doing background work on” Maddon, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.

The well-respected Maddon, who has enjoyed outstanding runs atop the Rays and Cubs, looks like a logical target for the Padres on paper. The club did just wrap up a dismal 70-92 season, its 13th straight year without a playoff berth. However, the Padres plan on finally pushing to contend in 2020, and they’d reportedly prefer an experienced manager to replace the fired Andy Green. Furthermore, executive chairman Ron Fowler spoke out in disgust this week over the Padres’ results this year, which seems to indicate they’ll be active this offseason as they seek a return to relevance.

Whether the Padres end up hiring Maddon, fellow potential candidate Brad Ausmus or someone else, that individual will be joining a franchise with at least a few enviable building blocks on hand. The left side of the Padres’ infield is in great shape with shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and third baseman Manny Machado, while right-hander Chris Paddack is coming off a tremendous rookie season. The Padres also continue to boast one of the majors’ most loaded farm systems. At the same time, though, there are quite a few roster needs to address for a team that has resided at the bottom of the MLB standings for far too long.

Three Needs: San Diego Padres

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We’re continuing with our “Three Needs” series, in which we take a look at the chief issues to be addressed for clubs that have fallen out of contention. Let’s check in on the Padres, who desperately need to make some tangible gains in the standings after finishing in the cellar for the third time in four years. This offseason will require a delicate balancing act, and a thoughtful reallocation of resources, but there are paths to contention.

[San Diego Padres Depth Chart]

1. Trade Kirby Yates … For A Big League Asset

The Padres aren’t fully in win-now position. Yet they possess a high-end closer who’s entering his final season of arbitration eligibility. They shouldn’t give away Yates unless there’s fair value coming back. And they ought not go searching for far-away, high-ceiling prospects at this stage of their rebuild.

But that doesn’t mean Yates shouldn’t be marketed. It’s worthy considering extension talks as well, a la Brad Hand, but Yates is already 32 years of age and just one season away from the open market. He’s already sure to pick up a big arbitration raise. That could make it hard to get a true bargain.

Instead, the best option may be to dangle Yates — who will be of keen interest to any number of clear contenders — in a search for a quality, MLB-ready position player or starting pitcher. The bottom line is that the the organization has a really nice asset that can be turned into another really nice asset that better suits its needs. That may be tough to pull off. But think a bit more creatively and you’ll start to see avenues. The Friars’ last big swap was a three-team affair, so that’s always a possibility. Perhaps the Pads can take on salary as part of the arrangement, possibly helping big-market teams trying to stay under the luxury tax line. And attaching some other prospect pieces would help boost the value … while also helping with another notable need …

2. End The Prospect Trials

It’s great to have lots of prospects, even when many of them are pressing for the bigs at about the same time. And perhaps it was sensible to rotate many of them through the majors in recent years, when the club wasn’t likely to contend and it was useful both to give them a taste and get a look. But the Padres can’t just keep trying things on; it’s time they pick an outfit and wear it with confidence.

The constant up-and-down, mix-and-match approach has begun moving towards a conclusion. The big summer swap resulted in the departures of Franmil Reyes and Logan Allen, two youthful players that were part of the churn. For better or worse, the Padres have made sizable commitments to some players (Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer, Wil Myers). And emergent superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is now ensconced at shortstop. The rotation seems to be coming into focus, with Chris Paddack joining Tatis as a potential centerpiece (and extension candidate).

In some ways, the difference here is subtle. It’s not just about how many plate appearances everyone gets — though, notably, a dozen players got more than 200 in 2019 while only two topped 500. That isn’t inherently concerning. It’s just a question of role and purpose. If the Friars want to set up a platoon, then do it. But shuffling through guys for a look and to see who sticks? It’s hard to do that and win. The focus must be on installing pieces that can, when deployed as intended, allow this team to top .500 for the first time since 2010. If they’re lacking, then they must be found, unless another losing campaign is deemed acceptable.

3. Work The Middle Market In Free Agency

Since taking over the San Diego front office in the fall of 2014, GM A.J. Preller has given out three whopping contracts that promised over $500MM in total. Otherwise, he has only twice gone over $4.5MM in a free agent deal: $8MM to Ian Kinsler and $18MM for Garrett Richards.

To an extent, you appreciate the concept of pursuing elite talent and filling in the gaps for cheap. But the broader market does offer some relatively low-risk, sometimes reasonably high-upside opportunities as well. For a team that needs to make rather significant strides just to get into the Wild Card picture — it’s tough to imagine the Dodgers being reeled in — there’s good cause to explore that segment.

Petco Park played very small this year. Perhaps that’ll make it easier to draw solid relief pitchers without having to promise them a worrisome number of years. There’s a good number of interesting, relatively youthful outfielders available, along with some veteran catching. It’d be much easier to take on a few reasonably hefty salaries now had it not been for the questionable decision to sign Hosmer, but the Friars can still plug in a few pieces without hamstringing future payroll too badly — at least, that is, if ownership is willing to approve a move past the $100MM mark in Opening Day payroll for the first time since the club snuck across that line in 2015.

Managerial Rumors: Kapler, Maddon, Ausmus, Beltran

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Rumors have swirled that Gabe Kapler could be finished as the Phillies’ manager, though club ownership is taking its time in determining Kapler’s fate, as NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury tweets that a decision “likely” won’t be made until next week.  The Phils have a 161-163 record in two seasons under Kapler’s leadership, with both the 2018 and 2019 squads fading out of contention down the stretch.  This past season’s 81-81 record is particularly disappointing given the many high-profile roster additions made by the club last winter, though in Kapler’s defense, the Phillies also suffered through significant injuries to Andrew McCutchen and virtually every member of their bullpen.

The latest rumblings on dugout vacancies from around the sport….

  • Joe Maddon has widely been linked to the Angels’ job and “is set to interview with” the club, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports (subscription required).  As of Tuesday, there reportedly hadn’t yet been any contact between the Halos and the former Cubs skipper, though many expected it was only a matter of time before Maddon emerged as a candidate in Anaheim, given his longstanding history with the organization.  Maddon spent 31 seasons with the Angels as a player, minor league manager and coach, and member of the MLB coaching staff.
  • Brad Ausmus, the Angels’ former manager, is expected to interview with the Padres, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link).  A hiring would represent something of a homecoming for Ausmus, who began his 18-year playing career with 303 games for San Diego.  Ausmus is still owed two years’ worth of salary after being — rather surprisingly — fired by the Angels after the season, though it’s also understandable that he would pursue other opportunities for a quick return to managing.
  • The Padres had interest in interviewing Carlos Beltran for their managerial vacancy but the former outfielder declined the request, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports (Twitter link).  Since retiring after the 2017 season, Beltran was interviewed for the Yankees’ managerial opening that eventually went to Aaron Boone, and had worked for the past season as a special advisor in the Yankees’ front office.  Beltran had long expressed interest in working in a front office and potentially even as a manager, though it isn’t known why he turned down the chance to speak with the Padres.
  • Given the links between Beltran and the Mets, Feinsand wonders if Beltran could potentially be a candidate to replace Mickey Callaway, though Olney feels Beltran “seems like a total long shot” to be the next Mets’ manager given some of the hard feelings that exist between he and the organization dating back to his playing days.  As per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Beltran’s “relationship with [Mets] COO Jeff Wilpon is not good.”

Managerial Rumors: Padres, Royals, Matheny, Pirates, Kendall

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Here’s the latest on a few managerial openings…

  • The Padres are “expected” to hire a manager with prior Major League experience, MLB.com’s Jon Morosi tweets. San Diego’s previous manager, Andy Green, wasn’t a managerial rookie when San Diego hired him prior to the 2016 season, as he came with four years of minor league managing experience (plus additional time as the D-backs’ big league third base coach). However, the Padres were Green’s first managerial assignment at the MLB level, and it seems that this time around, general manager A.J. Preller will pursue a more veteran voice. Morosi suggests Buck Showalter, given his previous connection with Preller from their days with the Rangers, although their tenures only overlapped by about two years. Morosi points out that Showalter is also quite familiar with Manny Machado, but that seems unlikely to be a major factor in the team’s search.
  • Even though they’re coming off their second straight 100-loss season, the Royals may be content to stay in-house to find retired manager Ned Yost’s replacement. Their “very short list” of candidates includes special advisor Mike Matheny and quality control/catching coach Pedro Grifol, according to Pedro Gomez of ESPN. Matheny comes with vast experience as a manager at the sport’s highest level, having led the Cardinals from 2012-18. The Redbirds went a more-than-respectable 591-474 with four playoff berths in that span, but they missed the postseason in each of Matheny’s final three campaigns. While St. Louis put up nice overall results under Matheny, he was a frequent target of criticism throughout his tenure with the franchise. Grifol, who managed in the Seattle farm system from 2003-05 and again in 2012, has been a coach in the KC organization for seven years.
  • One of Kansas City’s former players and coaches, Jason Kendall, told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he’s eyeing the Pirates’ managerial post. “There’s something that I owe to the city of Pittsburgh,” Kendall said. “I truly believe that. That’s why I would be interested in sitting down and talking about it.” Kendall’s best known for his excellent run as the Pirates’ catcher from 1996-2004, and the $60MM extension he signed with the Bucs in 2000 is still a franchise record to this day. The 45-year-old Kendall has never managed, though he did work as a special assignment coach in KC from 2012-18. Kendall believes that experience (in which he was part of a World Series winner in 2015) and his long playing career have prepared him for a managerial position. That said, there’s no indication the Pirates are interested in discussing the job with him.

Padres Chairman Ron Fowler On “Embarrassing” Season

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Neither a gargantuan investment in Manny Machado nor the marvelous rookie introduction of Fernando Tatis Jr. helped the Padres escape from the majors’ basement this season. With a 70-92 mark in 2019, the club’s now mired in a 13-year playoff drought and stuck on nine seasons without at least a .500 finish. Executive chairman Ron Fowler has seen just about enough. As Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes, Fowler apologized to Padres fans Monday for an “embarrassing” season, particularly a 25-47 second-half unraveling that undid the promising 45-45 mark San Diego mustered before the All-Star break.

Fowler also assured fans that “heads will roll, beginning with mine” if the Padres don’t make legitimate progress in 2020. Manager Andy Green already paid the price for this year’s failings, as the club ousted him Sept. 21 and is now seeking someone it believes will be more capable of orchestrating a much-needed 180.

With the Padres having scapegoated the manager for their dismal 2019 showing, GM A.J. Preller could become a realistic candidate to lose his job sometime next year if the tide doesn’t start turning. Preller has helped amass an impressive collection of young talent since his hiring in August 2014, but even when he made a serious effort to build a winner early in his tenure, the roster fell well shy of expectations.

Considering Preller has led the franchise on an extensive rebuild in recent seasons, it’s more understandable that the Padres have continued to wallowed at the bottom of the standings. However, the organization’s attempts to leave its rebuild behind have also come up short so far, thanks in part to multiple questionable signings. The eight-year, $144MM contract the Padres handed Eric Hosmer prior to 2018 has been a disaster. The six-year, $83MM extension the team gave Wil Myers entering 2017 hasn’t worked out much better. And even Machado, whom the Padres inked to a 10-year, $300MM contract in free agency last offseason, wasn’t his typically spectacular self in 2019.

Fowler hasn’t voiced any dissatisfaction in regards to Machado (at least not publicly), whereas the other two big-money Padres have drawn his ire. He “addressed his disappointment” in Hosmer’s defense and Myers’ offense, per Acee, who reports it’s “likely” the Padres would eat half of the money left on the latter’s contract in order to trade him. Myers, who’s cognizant a move could occur, is still owed $60MM for the next three years on his heavily backloaded deal. It remains to be seen whether another franchise would want the 28-year-old for even half of his remaining money, though, as Myers’ offense has only hovered around league average over the past few seasons. Committing $30MM to a corner outfielder/first baseman who’s coming off one of his worst seasons at the plate doesn’t seem like an especially appealing proposition.

While shopping Myers will be on the Padres’ agenda this offseason, they may also be in for an aggressive winter of additions if we’re to take Fowler’s frustration at face value. The Padres’ offense finished this year near the bottom of the majors in runs (27th), wRC+ (24th) and position player fWAR (19th), all of which shows there’s vast room for improvement there. San Diego’s pitching staff was similarly subpar, placing 18th in team ERA and 23rd in FIP, and also figures to be a key area of focus in the coming months.

For now, Fowler told Acee he’s on the heels of his “worst 2½ months of ownership” – a span in which, “There were some days, quite honestly, I didn’t want to get out of bed.”

Poll: Grading Manny Machado’s 2019

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The long-suffering Padres made a stunning strike in free agency last offseason when they signed former Orioles and Dodgers  infielder Manny Machado to a 10-year, $300MM contract in late February. For a short period, Machado’s deal stood as the richest in the history of the game. Outfielder Bryce Harper – who, along with Machado – owned baseball-related headlines last winter, surpassed him less than two weeks later with a 13-year, $330MM guarantee from the Phillies. Harper was more good than great in the first year of his accord, though, while Machado probably wasn’t as strong as many expected him to be in his San Diego debut.

In the end, neither Harper nor Machado led their teams to drought-breaking playoff berths in 2019. The Padres won a paltry 70 games and extended their postseason-less streak to a whopping 13 years, though they surely remain hopeful Machado will help them back to relevance in short order. However, for the Padres to maximize their chances of success as they move ahead, they’re going to need the more productive version of Machado to reappear.

To his credit, Machado continued an impressive run of durability in 2019, appearing in at least 156 games for the fifth consecutive season. He also belted upward of 30 home runs (32) for the fifth year in a row. Overall, though, the Machado who was a dominant offensive player as recently as 2018, when he posted a wRC+ of 140 en route to 6.2 fWAR, wasn’t present. Machado’s wRC+ dropped to 108 this year, while his fWAR total fell to 3.0. Both figures are respectable, but they don’t make for superstar-caliber output. The same can obviously be said of the .256/.334/.462 line Machado recorded over 661 plate appearances. And Statcast doesn’t indicate Machado deserved a better fate at the plate, evidenced by his matching .339 weighted on-base average/expected wOBA (a steep drop-off from his .377/.372 in 2018).

On the defensive side, Machado remained a stalwart at third base, where he accounted for 5 Defensive Runs Saved and a plus-2.4 Ultimate Zone Rating. Per the metrics, Machado was less successful at shortstop (minus-2 DRS, minus-1.5 UZR), but that doesn’t figure to be his long-term spot anyway. He saw 299 innings at the position because of multiple lengthy injured list stints for rookie Fernando Tatis Jr., who, when healthy, showed why he’s one of the most coveted young players in baseball.

Machado, for his part, is still plenty youthful in his own right. He won’t turn 28 until next July, and even though the four-time All-Star wasn’t a force this season, the left side of San Diego’s infield will remain in enviable shape going forward with him and Tatis in the fold. As for this year, though, how would you assess Machado’s performance?

(Poll link for app users)

Grade Manny Machado's 2019 performance
C 52.20% (5,743 votes)
B 27.52% (3,028 votes)
D 13.62% (1,498 votes)
F 5.11% (562 votes)
A 1.55% (171 votes)
Total Votes: 11,002

Hunter Renfroe Set For Minor Foot Surgery

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Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe is scheduled to undergo a minor surgery to remove a bone spur from the top of his right foot, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com.

The surgery is expected to prevent Renfroe from participating in offseason workouts for about a week, per Cassavell.

While it’s unclear just how long Renfroe has been dealing with the injury, it hasn’t required an IL stint for the 27-year-old outfielder. He has been dealing with other injuries to his elbow and ankle throughout the second half of the season, which has been a disappointment for Renfroe after he looked ready to break out with a stellar first half.

Those injuries may be partly to blame for what turned out to be a dreadful second half for Renfroe. After entering the All-Star break with a .248/.303/.618 batting line and 27 home runs, his numbers have plummeted over the season’s final months. Playing through injuries, Renfroe has slugged just .295 since the All-Star break, managing just six home runs.

Whether Renfroe would have been able to maintain his first-half output over a full season is inconclusive, though the truth likely lies somewhere in between the two extremes. He still figures to hold a position in the Padres’ plans for 2020 and beyond; the team refrained from dealing him earlier this season on account of his strong defensive track record, prodigious power, and years of team control remaining.

NL West Notes: Padres, Ahmed, Friedman, Tapia, Wallach

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The Padres are expected have a busy offseason as the team tries to figure out the proper mixture for a contender.  Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune breaks down the Padres position-by-position as they look ahead to 2020, and the common refrain from many inside the organization is that perhaps only seven players (Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Chris Paddack, Eric Hosmer, Garrett Richards, Andres Munoz, and Kirby Yates) look like sure bets to be with the organization next season.  Everyone else, even from seeming building blocks like Dinelson Lamet or Hunter Renfroe, could potentially be traded for more proven talents.

“They have roster problems. They have to move people,” one rival executive tells Acee, which gets to the heart of the challenge facing the Padres.  The team still doesn’t totally know what they have in some players who have been inconsistent at the Major League level, yet a wave of prospects coming up and the organization increasingly impatient for a winning season, some tough choices may have to be made about who stays and who becomes a trade chip.

Some items from around the NL West…

  • Nick Ahmed enjoys playing for the Diamondbacks, but when it comes to the possibility of a contract extension, the shortstop tells Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that “I want to sign a fair deal. I’ve played long enough to realize that. I want to be able to take advantage of what I’ve got to this point in my career.”  A September slump has dropped Ahmed’s slash line to .255/.318/.442 over 621 PA this season, though his 93 wRC+ still represents the best offensive production of his six-year career, and his glovework has continued to be excellent.  Ahmed has one year of arbitration remaining before he hits free agency in the 2020-21 offseason, and he’ll be 31 on Opening Day 2021.  It makes for something of a tricky extension case, as Piecoro notes, since there aren’t many shortstop comps that would serve as a model for a potential multi-year contract.  There also hasn’t been any word from the D’Backs if they’d be interested in extending Ahmed, though Piecoro observes that GM Mike Hazen “does not speculate on such topics.”
  • There hasn’t yet been word about Andrew Friedman’s status with the Dodgers, as the president of baseball operations will reach the end of his contract when the Dodgers’ season ends.  The involved parties didn’t provide any details about negotiations, though there seems to be general optimism that a deal will be reached, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times writes.  Friedman said he wants to return, while team president Stan Kasten said he is “pretty confident” Friedman will be back, and “expect him to be here for a long time.”  Manager Dave Roberts also feels Friedman will remain in L.A., saying “everything I hear is [a new contract] is imminent, that it will get done.”
  • Raimel Tapia projects as an everyday left fielder for the Rockies in 2020, Nick Groke of the Athletic (subscription required) writes, which should help a player who seemed to get better with more regular playing time this season.  As a highly-regarded prospect coming out of Colorado’s farm system, Tapia received only 239 MLB plate appearances from 2016-18 before getting more of an extended look this season.  While Tapia has only a .276/.310/.418 slash line (74 wRC+) over 442 PA, he has also battled injuries and didn’t get many consistent starts until late July, Groke noted.  Sticking with Tapia as the mostly everyday left fielder would reduce Ian Desmond to a backup role, though the highly-paid veteran hasn’t done enough to merit more at-bats over three disappointing years in Colorado.  There’s also the possibility, however, that the Rockies could trade Tapia in the offseason to address other roster needs.
  • Tim Wallach is leaving his job as the Marlins’ bench coach to be closer to his family in California, though one rival executive tells Ken Rosenthal (in his latest FOX Sports video) that Wallach could be a possible candidate for the Padres’ managerial opening.  It wouldn’t be the first time that Wallach has been linked to San Diego, as he interviewed for the last managerial vacancy before the club went with Andy Green.  Wallach has over 12 years of MLB coaching experience and has also managed at the Triple-A level in the Dodgers’ organization, though he hasn’t been a big league skipper.  In the wake of Green’s firing, Rosenthal wonders if the Padres could prefer someone with Major League managing experience rather hire than another first-timer.

Padres Notes: Barajas, Lauer, Garcia

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Rod Barajas has been a big league manager for just about a week, but the former catcher is ready for a long-term gig, per Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union Tribune. Of course, taking over the final week of the season for his former boss was neither how Barajas expected nor wanted to get his first chance at the big chair. He’s not the likely favorite to take over Andy Green’s former post full time either, though it seems he’ll get a chance to interview once this nine-game stint is through. With a young team nearing contention, the Padres fancy a calloused hand steering the ship in 2020, which presumes someone other than the would-be rookie skipper. At the same time, he’s popular among the players, and his ability to speak Spanish is a significant plus in San Diego. The connection he’s forged with catching prospect Francisco Mejia should also play in his favor. Barajas managed Mejia last season in Triple-A, and he’s continued as his advocate in 2019 during Mejia’s first significant extended look in the big leagues. A .267/.318/.439 line has Mejia looking again like a long-term possibility behind the dish and a nice feather in the cap of Barajas. Still, plenty of uncertainty looms in San Diego…

  • What that uncertainty means for 2019’s Opening Day starter is a renewed fight for his rotation life. Eric Lauer has been a steady contributor this season, but nothing is guaranteed for the lefty moving forward, per MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell. Lauer is 14-17 with a 4.40 ERA/4.35 FIP over 52 starts the last two seasons, but with raised expectations entering 2020, the Padres aren’t contenting themselves with the kind of modest production they’ve received from Lauer. Dinelson Lamet looks like a rotation piece in his return from Tommy John (3.92 FIP, 12.9 K/9), and rookie stud Chris Paddack secured his spot for 2020, but it’s an open audition otherwise. Lauer will lock horns with Garrett Richards, Joey Lucchesi, Cal Quantrill, as well as top prospect MacKenzie Gore and whoever else the Padres add to the field before Spring Training.
  • Infielder Greg Garcia knows the drill for teams coming off a losing season. The former waiver claim played Thursday’s game at Petco Park fully aware that he could be on the move again this offseason, per Acee, though it’s been a solid season for the native of nearby El Cajon, California. While providing capable defense at second, shortstop, and third, Garcia put forth a .248/.366/.356 line across 367 plate appearances. That level of on-base ability with the defensive versatility he provides makes Garcia an asset worth rostering, though for San Diego, that may depend on what kind of arbitration raise he would receive on his $910K salary. The 30-year-old could return in a similar role next year, though with Ian Kinsler on hand to back up the presumptive starting infield of Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Luis Urias, it would be fair for Garcia to feel somewhat jittery about his future with the Friars.
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