A source has indicated that the Padres have about $5-8MM left to spend this offseason, according to Dan Hayes of The North County Times. The team is expected to enter 2010 with a payroll around $40MM.
"There's no question there's good value out there," said (GM Jed) Hoyer, who declined to comment on which players the Padres have targeted. "Certainly we have money to spend. We're going to spread it around to some of our needs. There's a lot of good players."
Hayes says the club's biggest needs are a veteran pitcher, a righty hitting outfielder, a utility player, and a veteran catcher. We've already seen them connected to Mike Redmond, Ramon Castro, Brad Ausmus, Jerry Hairston Jr., Randy Winn, and Reed Johnson, while Hayes throws Josh Fogg's name into the mix.
I would for one rather Dusty Ryan and Hundley push each other for the starting catching job rather than have a “mentor” with little offense. Having said that if they are indeed going to carry a Vet catcher I would prefer the master at calling games in Ausmus.As far as a right handed hitting outfielder, Reed Johnson or Jerry Hairston would be nice, Jerry being ideal, maybe cutting another player out of the equation , meaning playing both infield and outfield enabling him to get more Ab’s. and possibly not having to sign another pricey middle infield FA.As far as starting pitching, I would like to see a few guys, Jon Garland, too pricey IMO. Jeff Weaver, might not be ideal “inning eater” or Doug Davis, maybe my first choice!I also like Johnny Gomes, he is not ideal for Petco, but they guy mashes in a platoon situation with limited Ab’s out of ANY park and can hit lefties, which the Padres lacked in 09
Sad time to be a Padre fan if we really go into next season with the same roster plus a minor addition like Jerry Hairston or Noah Lowry. These guys would be as much of a non-factor on the Pads as anywhere else in the league. I hope Hoyer actually flexes his new power as GM to make a significant impact on the roster like he did when he had the opportunity in Boston to make a big move for Beckett (and I do realize how good Hanley Ramirez has become). Saying that, I would not wish to trade Adrian in any possible scenario — at least not until next off-season if it becomes clear that there is no possible way to resign the guy.
I am excited for players like Kyle Blanks, Mat Latos, William Venable, Cabrera and the rising talent and player development coming through the farm system quickly.The system is vastly improved in contrast to prior years.Noah Lowry could be a great addition if healthy, Hairston Jr. would be a platoon player with Gwynn, Venable or even Eckie at second also backing up SS. Noah would have to take a SD discount and has already expressed through his agent that, “it would not be a hard sell to pitch in Petco”. Having said that, of course he is still a question mark. If you get get him for far below market value it could be a huge boost for the younger pitchers and a possible come back player of the year along side his buddy Kevin Corriea Am I the only Padre fan that is excited to see these kids play and see what they are made of?I have reservations on Hundley and Headley, BUT… do think BOTH players also have some talent and this year is make or break for both. We shall see, but I have high hopes for both players.
Yeah, I agree with what you are saying to a certain extent. I expect Blanks, Latos, and Cabrera to be studs eventually and hopefully they even improve their numbers next season. However I think it is a mistake if we expect these kids to carry us through the year long grind, with our only legit above avg vet being Adrian.
Headley, Venable, and Hundley are average players making the minimum, so I am willing to give them a shot for next season to prove they might become above avg big leaguers, and I don’t expect them to light the world on fire. Cheap young avg players are a great commodity to have with a team on a budget, and these guys are no exception.
Still, it seems like there is still an opportunity to make some moves thru FA or trades. We have a surplus of talent at 3B (on both the MLB roster and in the minors), and a ton of young cheap (yet probably average) arms that could be useful to every team in the majors. With the talent allegedly available that can upgrade our 2B and OF situation, I would simply hope that Jed would get on the phone and make something happen that could upgrade our team with some MLB proven talent. I’m talking about making a move for names like Uggla, BJ Upton (or other stud Rays prospects), Callaspo, Jose Lopez, etc.
In any case, I still plan on going to as many games next season as any other if only to witness the improvement of the kids you mention. But like any other fan, I would prefer to see them win in the process.
Adding vets like Jerry Hairston does not seem like the key to fielding a winning team. While it is said that such players like Hairston and Eckstein can “teach the youngsters how to play the game,” their bats also have a well-established track record of playing below average. For all the flexibility that a Jerry Hairston would give our lineup, he will still be hitting below avg wherever he plays. We need to improve our lineup with above avg bats at more positions than just 1B. While I hope Blanks and Cabrera provide such punch, I do not want to count on such young ball players coming out of spring training. That is really my only point.
Go Padres!
Hoyer has said that they will not make any significant FA splashes. Knowing that, we can rule out MANY players. Through trades, the ones you have suggested, Upton, Uggla etc I like these players, I don’t know how realistic they are considering some of their salaries. Also, you would have to give up a lot for players that are A. making SOME money B. At positions they possibly think they COULD fill from within in the next couple of years. Hey, I am with you, I want bigger names bigger bats etc. I just don’t think its realistic considering all the intangibles that come into play.
I don’t see them being able to acquire Upton, IMO they will ask for too much. Uggla is not a good 2nd basemen, yes I love his power, but I would NOT want to see him work with Cabrera a player still learning.
I also do not EXPECT the younger players to carry the team, however I do think they will surprise some people.
Scott Hairston can be had in a trade with the A’s. He would fill the right handed OF hole.
5-8 mil LEFT? they make it seem as if they actually spent money somewhere
And another thing, why add Mike Redmond, Ramon Castro, Brad Ausmus, Jerry Hairston Jr., Randy Winn, or Reed Johnson when your team is nowhere near competing? the only thing they would do is take up a spot that should be reserved for a young player to develop.
Jerry Hairston is a gamer and could be our right handed bat and utility guy in 1 person. I’m curious to see who the Starting pitcher will be since Hoyer isn’t saying who they are targeting… Should be interesting as long as it’s not another move like last year for Shawn Hill.
I’m getting to the point where I just hope we sign someone of significance before everyone is signed and gone. I would even like to see Ankiel out there but it seems like he is asking alot… Like the few guys before me said Gomes would be sweet too.
That is pathetic. Welcome to last place, San Diego.
Why? The NL West in general has not improved, per se. The padres played great baseball in the second half, especially against tough teams in the division or playoff contending teams.
With emerging players such as the ones I listed above, why cant they compete with SOME tweaks here and there on the roster?
I think the Padres will surprise a lot of people this year. Now, I am not suggesting the Padres contend for the playoffs but they are no doubt improving their player development which is key for small market clubs, especially a team like the Padres.
The payroll is “pathetic” and I am not satisfied with status quo but also realize what a hit the “divorce” played into ownership and how they ALSO have vastly improved the farm system.
So far the new regime has been impressive, Hoyer etc
Go Padres!
The Padres have no chance at competing this year. They will soon, maybe 2011 and when they trade AGON and put that talent in the system they’ll be in a great position. LA SF ARI and COL are all clearly better right now.
My response to “Humm baby” was simply stating the improvement of the Padres, no where do I claim that they will be playoff contenders. Only that they have made great strides in comparison to previous years, and will continue to grow.
Stating that a team “has no chance at competing this year” is just an ignorant statement. Of course they (IE) the Padres have A LOT of work to do, but in baseball anything can happen. I guess it depends on your definition of “competing”…
As I have said before, they (IMO) will not be playoff contenders but will be a much improved team and play superior baseball in contrast to the last two seasons making the NL West once again a tougher division.
As I have said before as well the West has not done much to improve their teams dramatically, it will be an interesting year.
It is hilarious reading this argument! Are you really saying that the Padres have a chance to compete? Baseball has become a complete joke — $30–40 million teams competing with $200+ million teams. Who cares what Blanks, Latos and Cabrera turn into. If they have any kind of success, they will be wearing pin stripes or playing at Fenway the next year. Until we all stop supporting our small-market teams, nothing will change. I have been a Padres fan since 1980, but will do no more than watch the high-lights on SportCenter, just out of morbid curiosity. I have followed every off-season with anticipation as to which big bat or #1 pitcher we will sign. Yet every year we end up with names like Hairston, Wolf, Vinny freaking Castilla!! We are not even getting mid-level guys. Our only hope is that our young guys produce before they get paid, while in the same year, the old cast-offs we pull of the scrap heap have a decent season.
“It is hilarious reading this argument! Are you really saying that the Padres have a chance to compete?”
What do you not understand?
I said, “they (IMO) will not be playoff contenders but will be a much improved team and play superior baseball in contrast to the last two seasons.”
I also acknowledged that they have a “long way to go”.
Just because I am acknowledging SOME improvement by the farm and player development does not mean I am wearing rose colored glasses.
I thought I was pretty clear…
I meant no offense to you at all. I’m just saying that the “long way to go” is still completely out of reach when compared to the 5 teams in MLB that have all the players. The Pads could double their payroll and still have little chance of competing. It takes the perfect storm for us to see the post season, and I’m not willing to wait a decade between appearances anymore.
“It is hilarious reading this argument! Are you really saying that the Padres have a chance to compete?”
What do you not understand?
I said, “they (IMO) will not be playoff contenders but will be a much improved team and play superior baseball in contrast to the last two seasons.”
I also acknowledged that they have a “long way to go”.
Just because I am acknowledging SOME improvement by the farm and player development does not mean I am wearing rose colored glasses.
I thought I was pretty clear…
What have the Dodgers done to be “clearly better” than they were last year? They have lost players, and added no-one…their ownership is in worse shape than the Pads…I would not say that the Rockies or the D-Backs are “clearly better” than the Pads right now.
The only reason I’d agree with you is to disagree with DodgerBlue, but I just can’t do it. Yeah, you guys performed better than expected, but Arizona’s gonna be improved with Webb coming back, LA’s slipped, but they still led the way, I’ve given up counting out Colorado, and the Giants have gotten better, partly by subtraction (Randy Winn, who’d actually do a lot for the D-backs if they signed him; he hits in AZ well) and partly by adding DeRosa and getting a full season out of Sanchez (at a position where we had next to nothing last year). I wish Noah the best if he signs with you guys, but I don’t expect Correia to have another season like last.
There is a lot of “ifs” there, Webb, DeRosa etc I do not think any of the NL West teams are penciled in “head and shoulders” better than last year. I think the Dodgers aside from there owner situation has some serious pitching problems. The Giants still need a big bat. Adding players subtracting, again no team has dramatically improved in the NL West.My MAIN point, the Padres will no longer be a team that is going to lose 99 games “ala” 08 and flop over for the division rivals, making it harder in the division as a whole.Anything could happen injuries have play a big part in MLB, especially for the Padres last two years, the Mets etc.
Hoyer impressive? What are you sniffing?
He has not done ONE thing excpet give KC a good contract, and not let him go as a FA.
Other than that, WHAT?
That was not what I said. I said, “So far the new regime has been impressive, Hoyer etc”.Meaning the new regime in general, the hiring of Hoyer, not necessarily what he has done, it is WAY too early to make any judgments on Hoyer. Bringing in a more strategic GM and the other moves in the FO and even the NON moves. In contrast to years past where the Padres were just making financial dumps instead of good baseball moves. If that were the case, Bell and Kouz would have already have been dealt for quantity not quality.
Pads were very competitive in the 2nd half of last year, and played very well in Sept. I think last place is a possibility, but not a foregone conclusion. Hopefully some of the youngsters who were brought up last year (Blanks, Latos, Venables) will continue to develop, and the pending departure of A. Gonzalez and Heath Bell will free up some money.
The added players that trading Bell and Gonzalez will bring at the trading deadline in July will be an added benefit come 2011.
Lots of teams front offices are pathetic, who just throw money at problems. I think the Pads actually have a plan for the future, and will be contenders to at least win the west in the next few years.
I would say a post of “this is pathetic” is pathetic. Back your words up with some thoughts or facts…
How about a deal that sends Adrian Gonzalez to the Mets for Oliver Perez or John Maine, Luis Castillo, Fernando Martinez, Angel Pagan, Omir Santos or Christ Coste, and Eddie Kunz (+ $12M if they take Oliver or $5M if they take Maine)?
Pagan is a switch hitting OF, Santos or Coste is a veteran Catcher, Perez or Maine for the SP, and Luis Castillo can take over a 2B or be a utility guy. Plus the Pads get a very valuable Martinez and a solid (w/ upside) reliever in Kunz. AND Cash. The money should be about right…
Any time you’re doing a 1 player for six players + cash, you’re not getting much, as is the case here. What do you give the Pads? The ability to fill some holes they don’t necessarily have, cash, and an injured, once-highly-touted minor leaguer who was overmatched in the bigs? A hard sell.
WOW as a Mets fan I’m embarrassed you would even suggest this! It’s not even close to getting Agon with his 5 mil a year salary and with the exception of maybe F-mart and Maine none of them arn’t valuable to the pads so no way in Hell this deal gets done!
Are*
Any trade discussion that starts with “Oliver”…the phone is hung up before you can get to “Perez”. So you want to unload ALL of your crappy players and their bloated salaries in Perez and Castillo, with a broken down catcher and not one prospect that is in the top 100?
Seriously, stick with your PS3 trades and don’t post here, just dumb.
F-mart is in the top 100
Who’s Jarrod Washburn going to sign with? he would be pretty good at Petco… maybe sign him to a 1 year deal for 5-6 Mil and Spend the remaining on Jerry Hairston and call it a off season? I would actually be happy with that lol
Mickykoke: I’m with you on Headley and Hundley I watched every game last year…going into the season I was huge on Headley and was definitely a Headley Apologist but after about 100 games and seeing him everyday it just seems like he is a Average Player at best, as for Hundley I think he will get better but he sure does let alot of balls pop out of his glove…like all the time. I think both guys need to show at least Slightly above avg power this year and that they can hit .270 plus…. who knows A-Gone lead the team at .272 so thats says alot about our teams batting avg’s
Also with Veneble looking pretty much like the player we thought Headley was going to be… why cant we trade Headley and give Veneble all of his LF at bats? A starting pitcher for Headley and 1 prospect would be sweet……..Then we would watch him develop into Jason Bay or X. Nady..lol I bet Macias turns out to be a better player then we gave him credit for too…. No one should go through what the pads put him through last year being the 26th man all year and flying back and forth from AA to the bigs about 6 times….I’m glad AZ got him and I hope he gets at bats over there… There’s no way he could be any worse then E. Brynes
What about a late Vlad signing? He might be able to be had for 4-5Mil. I know he isn’t much of a defender anymore but his bat would be great in the lineup and he would be a good draw. I know I would goto more games if he was on the Padres.
Spent the $ on player development and the draft. Not Fogg (1M). The guy should playing in the Frontier l. for $350.00 a month.
Man if we had Vlad in right field we would need a Centerfielder that can cover center and 50% of right…lol I would also go to more games if he was a Padre…
just sign barry bonds
just sign barry bonds he would attract fans and haters….lol
Is $5-8MM a typo? They need $50-80MM to be competitive next year.
No kidding. I can’t even watch this crap anymore.