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Padres Looking For Pitching

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Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes about the Padres’ intention to add pitching to the organization.  He learned that the Nationals inquired about Padres first base prospect Kyle Blanks, but were not willing to trade their own top prospect Jordan Zimmermann.  Would’ve been interesting to see.

Krasovic says the Padres are focused on out of options pitchers, and in particular inquired on Arizona’s Juan Gutierrez.  Krasovic tosses out names of other out of options hurlers on the D’Backs and Angels: Jason Bulger, Shane Loux, Dustin Moseley, Yusmeiro Petit, and Travis Blackley.  Two more possibilities: Giants Rule 5 pick Luis Perdomo and Rangers veteran Jason Jennings.  I don’t know whether the Padres are interested, but a few more out of options pitchers include David Pauley, Hayden Penn, Dustin Nippert, Jeff Niemann, and Jason Hammel.

According to Krasovic, GM Kevin Towers is focused exclusively on pitching this month.  Krasovic adds:

Some Padres evaluators have become dismayed, according to other clubs, by a perceived dearth of power arms high in the organization and are wondering if the club’s four-year emphasis on “pitchability” got overdone.

Peavy Was Willing To Pitch In Boston

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Rob Bradford of WEEI has a quote from Padres pitcher Jake Peavy:

"Boston was a place that I told the Padres I would certainly be interested in playing.  I don’t know if there were any talks. I gave the Padres a list and Boston was on that list. Boston was a place I told the Padres I would be interested in playing at. Set that straight for sure."

At various times during the offseason, Peavy also expressed a willingness to play for the Braves, Astros, Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, Yankees, and Angels (based on previous WEEI reports).  If the Padres do re-engage in trade talks for Peavy this summer, it’ll of course be on his terms given his full no-trade clause.

Padres Seek Bullpen Help

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MLB.com’s Corey Brock talked to Padres GM Kevin Towers, who said he’s "actively looking" for relief help.  Towers is uncertain how his bullpen will shake out beyond Heath Bell in the ninth, and would like to add someone who can miss bats.  Towers doesn’t have much to spend on the free agent market, so a trade may be more likely.

Brock finds Joe Beimel unlikely, but notes that the Padres have expressed interest in Will Ohman.  On the trade front, Towers specifically mentioned pitchers who are out of options.

Rosenthal On Manny, Anderson, Kasten

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • Rosenthal wonders if Manny Ramirez could get a multiyear deal following a big/well-behaved ’09, in the vein of other Boras clients such as Kevin Millwood and Kyle Lohse (Ivan Rodriguez, too).  Of course, Manny is a lot older than those guys were.
  • Rather than money, Garret Anderson wants the 632 hits he needs to reach 3,000.  If he gets there, he’ll make for some interesting Hall of Fame debates.
  • Rosenthal spoke to an executive who knows Stan Kasten.  This exec expects Kasten to surprise with his GM choice, and doesn’t see him hiring a "young up-and-comer" or Chuck LaMar.
  • The Cubs are said to be "content with their bench players."  Cubs manager Lou Piniella has talked a bit about wanting an "extra infielder who can play first and third."  Rosenthal adds that the team’s new ownership "might not be willing to assume the remaining $63 million on Jake Peavy’s contract in a reeling economy."

Offseason In Review: San Diego Padres

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Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Padres. Click here to read our comments about the team from September 3rd.

Additions: Cliff Floyd, Henry Blanco, David Eckstein, Emil Brown, Walter Silva, Kevin Correia, Jae Kuk Ryu, Mark Prior, Chris Burke, Everth Cabrera, Mark Worrell, retained Brian Giles, full season of Cha Seung Baek

Subtractions (includes players subtracted during ’08 season): Khalil Greene, Tadahito Iguchi, Josh Bard, Paul McAnulty, Greg Maddux, Randy Wolf, Wil Ledezma, Trevor Hoffman, Shawn Estes, Justin Germano, Clay Hensley, Bryan Corey

For all the talk of the Padres slashing payroll, they kept Jake Peavy and exercised Brian Giles’ option.  The Giles decision, made November 7th, seemed like a good idea at the time.

I mentioned in September that 2009 provides a nice window for contention for the Padres, since many salaries for current players will increase significantly in 2010.  While the Padres didn’t lose anyone terribly important, they also failed to do much to improve their lousy offense and bullpen or their middling rotation.

The offense could be a touch better, with Floyd plus more Headley and Gerut (and the subtraction of outmakers Greene and Iguchi).  Adrian Gonzalez and Giles will have to maintain their offensive production.  But this team needed a bat, and left fielders were affordable this winter.

Kevin Towers can probably cobble together a decent bullpen, but the rotation needs healthy years from Peavy and Chris Young plus multiple breakthrough/bounceback seasons from others.  Sean Smith’s CHONE projection system suggests the Padres are an 80 win team, mainly because of promising forecasts for hurlers like Kevin Correia, Josh Geer, Wade LeBlanc, Cha Seung Baek, Chad Reineke, and Josh Banks.

Bottom line: After an offseason of bargain bin veteran additions, the Padres’ hopes rest on good health and breakthroughs from young players.

Padres Work Out Top Latin Prospects

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The San Diego Padres held an invite-only camp for some of the top players eligible for the July 2 international signing date.

San Diego’s director of professional and international scouting, Randy Smith, and several front-office staffers were in the Dominican Republic last week for the two-day camp, which had about 21 players at the facility in Najayo.

Corey Brock of MLB.com notes the facility is considered the Taj Mahal of training facilities in Latin America.

Smith told Brock that this year’s class isn’t quite on par with the 2008 group, but there’s still plenty of talent.

The Padres’ camp for Latin American prospects helps the club identify players to pursue.

“Much like your draft, you get your guys in order, figure out who you want to pursue. It’s much like recruiting,” Smith said. “You sell them on your organization; sell him on your facility. The facility sells itself. It’s head and shoulders above everything else.”

Most players are between 14 and 16 years old. Only players who will turn 16 by the end of August are eligible to sign on July 2.

The Padres signed right-handed pitcher Adys Portillo (Venezuela), shortstop Alvaro Aristy (Dominican Republic), outfielder Luis Domoromo (Venezuela) and right-handed pitcher Elvin Tavarez (Dominican Republic), as well as an Australian outfielder, Corey Adamson on international signing day in 2008.

Cubs Rumors: Schilling, Peavy

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Let’s talk about the Cubs’ connection to starters Curt Schilling and Jake Peavy.

Odds And Ends: Orioles, Bowden, Nathan

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A few links for Sunday afternoon…

  • According to MLB.com’s Spencer Fordin the Orioles used "number crunching and statistical analysis" to compare Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis to similar past and present players before locking them up to deals worth $40MM and $66MM, respectively.
  • Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports that Joe Nathan’s happy to see Jonathan Papelbon making lots of money this year ($6.25MM) because it’s good for closers in general.
  • Jayson Stark of ESPN.com points out the absurdity of the Manny Ramirez negotiations and suggests the structure of a deal that could work for both sides. It’s been nearly four months since the Dodgers made their initial offer of two years and $45MM.
  • Pete McElroy of MASN Sports reports that Dmitri Young’s "shocked" to see Jim Bowden resign. Young, who first dealt with Bowden on the Reds, spoke glowingly of his former GM.
  • According to MLB.com’s Jason Beck Jim Leyland confirmed that the Tigers had some offseason discussions about Juan Cruz.
  • The draft’s still three months away, but Keith Law of ESPN.com is already putting together scouting reports about some top amateur players.
  • MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer dreams up a deal that sends Adrian Gonzalez and Jake Peavy to the Angels for 10 players.

Padres Invite Walter Silva to Spring Training

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According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, the Padres will give right-handed pitcher Walter Silva a shot to earn a spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. He will be on loan from Monterrey of the Mexican League.

Tom Krasovic of The Sand Diego Union-Tribune reported yesterday that the teams had "reached terms on what basically amounts to a six-week tryout for Silva." Krasovic said that Monterrey stands to get about $400,000 if the Padres keep Silva.

Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, a teammate of Silva’s in the Caribbean World Series, first recommended Silva to the Padres. Silva went 7-8 with a 4.21 ERA for Monterrey last season. He pitched well in the Caribbean World Series, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts for Mazatlan.

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