The Dodgers’ new front office led by Andrew Friedman is perceived as likely to be statistically driven, but new GM Farhan Zaidi says the Dodgers need to excel at all methods of evaluation, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. “We need to be the best at everything,” says Zaidi. “I don’t think we’re in a position to make trade-offs of saying we’re a stat organization or a scouting organization.” Zaidi adds that he expects decision-making in Los Angeles to be collaborative. He, Friedman and senior vice president Josh Byrnes will all engage in talks with agents and with other teams. Here are more notes from the West divisions.
- On Thursday, Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall chatted with fans on Twitter, and the results are available in a single document at MLB.com. Hall says starting pitching will be the team’s top priority this winter, and he adds that the Diamondbacks hope to retain infielder Jordan Pacheco despite outrighting him this week. Arizona claimed Pacheco from the Rockies in June, and he hit .272/.298/.321 in 85 plate appearances down the stretch.
- Ian Kennedy had a bounce-back season in 2014 with the Padres and now is a top trade asset, writes Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. A move out of Arizona and into a friendlier ballpark was one factor (particularly given Kennedy’s fly ball tendencies), but Sanders feels pitching coach Darren Balsley’s work with Kennedy might have been just as crucial. Balsey’s mechanical changes helped Kennedy boost his velocity — Kennedy’s average fastball increased from 90.3MPH to 91.8MPH last season. Sanders suggests that one alternative to a trade might be for the Padres to extend the reliable Kennedy rather than Andrew Cashner, who had neck, shoulder and elbow issues in 2014.
Kennedy for Cespedes?
I would assume that the Padres are a team that would prefer controllable talent.. That probably doesn’t work
Plus, Cespedes won’t perform great at Petco Park, given its big dimensions. As a Red Sox fan, I don’t want Kennedy, either. His fly ball tendencies are too high, I could see an ERA of 4.50 at Fenway. This would be a bad deal for both parties IMO
Take a look at the overlay of Cespedes home runs in 2014. They all would have been home runs in Petco.
That may be true, but it still doesn’t mean he’ll translate well to the park. Most power hitters see a decline when going to Petco, and I believe Cespedes would suffer somewhat. Regardless it doesn’t matter, the Red Sox wont be trading Cespedes for Kennedy, it just doesn’t make sense, Kennedy won’t succeed at Fenway as a no.2.
He wasnt a #2 for the Padres either.
the cool damp air at Petco also cuts flyball distance so the charts don’t always translate. YC would lose quite a few HR’s, but may up his doubles into the gaps. Good hitters adjust, but this is a tough park even for good hitters. I think Kennedy may have a tough time adjusting too, but who knows
The Padres had quite possibly the worst hitting team in baseball last year. Cespedes would be a big upgrade in there line-up and provide protection for some of there other players, couple that with the rumors of adam laroche going there and you have a halfway respectable line-up.
As for Kennedy in Boston thats a different story, I would see his era increasing, but not by as much as everyone thinks. His k/9 was a career high last year as well as his groundball ratio, and his average fastball was harder than any of the past 4 years, showing signs of a rebirth. He may not be the number 2 starter they are looking for, but he eats innings(making 31 starts or more in the past 5 years) has good control would be a solid number 3 guy for just about any organization.
I just don’t think the Red Sox would take that deal. Ian Kennedy strikes me as too big of a risk. He could likely put up a War of ~1.5-2.5 in Boston, while Cespedes could put up a War of ~4.0 due to Fenway’s offensive nature. In other words, I think the Padres could possibly end up stealing big on this deal if you are right about Cespedes (still don’t think so), while the Red Sox are only likely to get middle of the rotation arm who mightn’t perform as hoped. I just think it would be a lose-lose for both sides. Now, could a Victorino for Kennedy swap work for both sides? Idk. I think it’s possible, but Boston might have to include some money on their end and maybe a weaker prospect, or two. The Padres mightn’t like that either, given Victorino’s lack of durability, and potential question marks. I think he is a good fit for that park however, and if the Red Sox could cut his salary down to 5 million, plus a couple of small pieces, I could see it being a fair deal for both sides.
I see your point. What about a deal structured around Kennedy and Benoit for allen craig and a prospect or two
Do you really think the Padres would even consider that? Craig hit what, .215 last year? If the Padres trade both Kennedy and Benoit, it seems much more likely that they split them up and add a prospect along with each to get a couple of bats. I’m quite sure that neither trade would involve a 30 year old Craig.
Like Out in Left Field said, I doubt it. I really don’t think the Padres would want him. And at this point, Craig has little trade value. Basically, if the Padres want Craig, you just have to give the Red Sox a Rule 5 guy and take on his salary. The Red Sox don’t have much use for him, and he was awful last year so, they’d be fine just dumping the contract to another team. Of course, I could see the Padres doing that, it’s not like Craig’s salary is horrible or anything.
Kennedy is a FA after the 2015 season as well. Both will make about the same money in 2015. Seems like a fair enough deal.
Question for Padres fans:
What do you think it would take for the Angels to land Ian Kennedy?
Kennedy and Kendrick as the centerpiece to a trade would be cool. A few months ago I would’ve wanted Cron, but I’m over that now.
The Padres are going young. They’re not going to compete with the Dodgers and Giants for a playoff sport this year or next. Why would they want Kendrick at that salary who will be a FA after the 2015 season?
It’s not like one year of Kennedy is going to get us a top prospect. Plus, Kendrick represents good value for the Pads, and he’d be the best hitter on the team and won’t break the bank.
Who would you suggest the Angels give back that would actually help this club contend in 3 years (as you’d imagine). I disagree that they can’t fight for a playoff spot with our current Playoff-capable pitching staff. Our team looks worse than they actually are since literally everyone performed well under their averages this year. Kendrick, Tomas and some players that actually hit closer to their averages puts us in the thick of it.
edit: Kendrick can also be extended at a reasonable rate. I don’t see any prospect we get back that will likely put up better career numbers than him.
If you’re saying Kendrick’s the best thing the Angels could offer back for Kennedy, I buy that. However, there are 29 organizations with better prospects than the Halos, and many of them would be better matches for the Padres in a Kennedy trade.
No doubt. But I was playing the “what would it take for the Angels to land Kennedy” game. That’s who I’d like in that situation.
Kendrick is not a fit for the Padres. The FO there has said Gyorko wont be moved off 2B. Probably because he proved he couldnt play 3B worth a dime in the minors.
If the trade they turned down at the trade deadline is any indication, the Padres are expecting quite a bit back. More than they got for Street.
A 290 hitter isn’t a fit for the Padres? That’s 60 points higher than the team average. So…
The FO has NOT said he won’t be moved off second (verify that claim). Because if you remember, Jedd was moved to 2nd because Chase was blocking him at 3rd, not because he “couldn’t play 3B worth a dime.”
I obviously cant post links so you will have to do your own research. Preller absolutely said in more than one interview that Gyorko wont be playing 3B going forward, so Kendrick is not a fit. He has no position on the Padres. Gyorko was not good in the minors at 3B, you can look at whatever metric you like or you can go watch film or if you attended any of his games in the minors you know he was just not a strong defender and posted a .933 fielding percentage at 3B in the majors. He never played the position before being drafted by the Padres, so his lack of skill at the position makes perfect sense.
That .933 Fielding % is over 13 games. Even if that were his career average, which it isn’t, Solarte posted .947 at 3B this year. Which means, the level of play defensively at 3rd would be just about the same… and the defense at 2nd would actually get better because he’s a better defensive 2B than Jedd. Upgrade at 2nd, a wash at 3rd.
Based on this year Kendrick would’ve led our team by .030 points in AVG (.060 higher than our team avg), 60 more Hits than our best player, 20 more RBIs, 2nd best OBP, 2nd in Stolen Bases, led the team with 5.4 WAR (vs 0.4 Solarte @ 3B and -0.5 Gyorko @ 2B), and played all but 5 games this year.
Still waiting on where that Preller interview is at. It’s not the Hot Stove with Bill Center, it’s not the one in the dugout and it’s definitely not the several introducing him as GM around the August frame. There are literally only a few of them as we’ve had little access to him due to his schedule. He never once said that, though I’d like to hear it if you can validate that mention (which is looking like you can’t, thus the lazy “do your own research to find it” reference).
Calhoun for Kennedy and Venable
Venable has negative trade value and one year of Kenndy does not net several of Calhoun.
Padres reportedly turned down a package of 3 Angels prospects headed by Cron for Kennedy at the trading deadline last year. They got 3 of the Angels top 10 for Street. The Padres needs are 1B and OF. So maybe Cron or Calhoun and a couple of prospects.
Derrick Hall used to be brilliant on L.A. radio back in his Dodger days. Does he do any radio in Phoenix?
My guess is Crohn and a relief arm for Kennedy would do it. How many years does he have left?
He is 29. Quite a few is the best guess. The Padres turned down Cron and two more of the Angels top 10 prospects for Kennedy at the trading deadline in 2014. I would doubt they will take less now.