The Padres have struck a two-year $4.5MM deal with righty Craig Stammen, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (Twitter links). He can earn $100K for ever five appearances between twenty and fifty, with another $150K apiece upon reaching fifty-five and sixty games, per Bob Nightengle of USA Today (via Twitter). The sides were said to be in “serious talks” earlier tonight, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Updated Padres Depth Chart]
Stammen, 33, was among the solid relief arms we cited recently as still being available, but he has now joined quite a few of his bullpen brethren in reaching agreement on a multi-year deal. He’ll return to San Diego, where he enjoyed a nice bounceback season in 2017.
Long a multi-inning staple in the Nationals’ pen, Stammen was severely limited by arm troubles in 2015 and 2016. But he returned to form in a familiar role after earning his way onto the Padres roster after signing a minors pact.
In 80 1/3 innings over sixty appearances, Stammen worked to a 3.14 ERA with 8.3 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, and a 51.6% groundball rate — as well as a career-worst 1.34 HR/9 home run rate. With his typical ~92 mph fastball combo, paired mostly with a slider and curve, Stammen managed an 11.4% swinging-strike rate that sits comfortably within the range he carried during his prior years as a successful reliever.
This is why they should have traded him last July. Could have gotten Stammen AND a lottery ticket. Instead they just get Stammen.
Except for at the all-star break he wouldnt have fetched much of anything, Thats why they held onto him.
Just about anything he could have fetched would have been more valuable to the Padres that using him in their bullpen down the stretch. If anything, having him in their bullpen hurt the Padres because 1 more loss and they would be drafting ahead of the Mets next summer.
Yep, who knows, they could have gotten the next Brady Aiken or Tyler Kolek. Or maybe even Matt Bush!
Or maybe even the next Buster Posey!
I often agree with you lately but you treat every prospect like they are going to be an all star. Stammen wasn’t going to fetch us anything worth while.
Maybe not, but the Padres general philosophy of holding onto Stammen, Chacin etc seems pointless. By trading these guys you get a couple lottery tickets, save a bit of salary, and possibly increase your draft position.
Nice straw man argument. I never said they would be All Stars. They don’t have to be to be worth more to the Padres than two months of Craig Stammen.
Something like 75% of players who are drafted never reach the majors. (The percentage is better for first and second-round draftees, but it still isn’t any kind of guarantee) A player who has exhibited major-league talent already is vastly superior to a draft pick. I’m a lifelong Padres fan, and I certainly remember names like James Darnell and Rymer Liriano and Casey Kelly. In five years it will be Anderson Espinoza and Hunter Renfroe.
The average WAR per draft pick gets lower the lower you go in the draft. No one said making it the Majors was a guarantee Einstein. And as for a player who has already exhibited major-league talent being superior to a draft pick, we could have had both by trading Stammen. What value did his performance down the stretch really have to the 2017 Padres? According to you just because we had a couple top organizational prospects bust in the past they all will. While some likely will, that is why Preller stockpiled a large quantity of high upside prospects. If most of them bust then that’s an indictment of him, not prospects themselves.
You really think that preller wouldn’t have done that if he had the opportunity to get something of value? If you have no faith that prospects being offered are going to pan out then there is no point in trading an asset for nothing. Furthermore, holding on to him may have led to us having a better shot at resigning him. Now with two years of control and a good recent track record if he continues to pitch well his trade value will be far higher.
Ryan thinks it’s easy and always makes sense to trade trade trade. He lives in a fantasy land who likes to call anyone who doesn’t agree w him, which is everyone, names. You’re on your own here gramps. Preller is a profession GM, you are not
I have WAY more faith in the prospects we could have gotten panning out than having Stammen for two extra months in a lost season helping this team in any way, shape or form. Holding onto him didn’t make re-signing him even the least bit more likely.
Yes, because EVERY person who has ever been a GM knows what he is doing *cough* Dave Stewart *cough* *cough*
By the way, what’s with all this “Gramps” nonsense?
Gotta know when to hold them, no when to fold um
No when to walk away. No when to run.
This was when to fold em
Ryan, you should submit your resume to be Prellers assistant GM. Not that you know much, but then we wouldn’t have to hear your complain constantly
Next time I want suggestions from the peanut gallery I’ll fill out a purchase order.
Good one Rhino, I’m with padres2019ha. You’re an incessant know it all who complains to much. Are the Padres really your team dude?
They are my team and that’s why I’m upset Stammen wasn’t traded. They could have gotten a lottery ticket for 2 months of him at a time when they didn’t need him and instead they get nothing.
PS: I know how to downvote other people’s comments too.
I use the app on my mobile device, where we can’t down vote coo, nor see them. You actually jump on your PC to check MLBTR? Loosen up there Gramps. The world is not out to getcha
Ron Burgundy for President! You said it all Ron!
there’s an actual website?
Depends what was offered. If it was someone preller had to protect on the 40 man roster then why would preller trade stammen for something hed lose in the rule 5 draft this year?
Maybe it would have been someone he’d actually want to protect and even if not, getting rid of Stammen might have been a blessing in disguise because one more loss and the Padres draft ahead of the Mets.
It’s not like anyone was really shopping Stammen.
Right because at the deadline Preller obviously knew that they’d finish one game behind the Mets. What an awful comment lol
Yeah, who wants a reliever with a 2.68 ERA over the past 3 months!?
Not awful at all an extra win or two has no value to any non-contender.
Are you really that afraid of being one pick behind the Mets? Lol. They have different draft philosophies, so the player they want at 6 would likely be there at 7, and likely sign for less from that slot. Even if they had eyes on the same player, you wouldn’t want the player the Mets draft anyway. They are horrible with first round picks. After Conforto and Harvey, their best pick this decade (heck, since Kazmir in 2002) is Nimmo, who they choose ahead of Jose Fernandez & Sonny Gray.
Yes I am and the Mets also get the bigger cash pool
Stammen had a 4.53 ERA in the first half. No one wanted him.
Which was inflated by a terrible April which he had clearly gotten past by the trade deadline
Him only signing for 2 years at $4.5 million should be a signal to you that there was not really a big market for his services. They still need to fill out a roster, his remaining salary was only $135,000 last year.
Stammen had a 4.53 ERA with 11 home runs given up. There was no market for him at that point and there were rumors that he would be DFA to make room for prospects including Weick and Wingenter. Stammen’s 1.10 ERA while giving up just 1 HR in the 2nd half is why he is getting this contract now.
Had a bad April but as I mentioned had a 2.68 ERA from May 1st until the trade deadline. I’m sure some contender would have been interested.
Nice signing. rumblings were closer to 4 per
Wonder if this means a hand trade is looming as theyve added two rp today.
Actually I think the Padres believe they can compete. It’d explain the Galvis and Hadley acquisitions, and the interest in Hosmer.
No, they really don’t. Taking Headley’s contract was the price to pay to get Mitchell. Hosmer is only 28, so theoretically he’d still be in his “prime” for the next. Galvis, someone needs to play SS. They know they are a few years out.
I think they also got Headley so they could trade Yangervis Solarte, Asuje or Spangenberg, but so far the trade talks regarding either of those players seem very quiet. Preller is a good GM though, he will wait for the right trade if the price is right, he will even hold on to the player if he thinks he can get more out of it (just like at Brad Hand).
Galvis and Headley are stopgaps. They are not pieces to try competing.
I do a hand trade when my right starts getting sore
Now that’s funny!
Dang was hoping the Nats would bring him back. Good value for the Padres.
I’m happy we got him back he turned into bullpen in the 2 half of the season.
Pads with a full 40 man. Gotta make room for Stammen and Makita. Makes me think a trade is in the works. Not sure who I would DFA if it came down to it.
Maybe Baumann and Brewer? Rocky Gale?
Exactly, I think we are about to see one of the logjam of 2B/3B options traded by the pads. One of either Solarte, Headley or Asuaje. Then I think they open the other 40 spot by DFA’ing Rocky Gale. He sticks out as a sore thumb, AAAA catcher with little to no stick. Padres can’t have guys like that taking up room.
I think your right about Gale. It was nice to see him make it to the show and go yard last season but he just doesn’t look the part of a ML ball player. I thought eventually he’d be DFA once a backup C was signed so why not now. It’d be nice to hang onto him for deoth at least.
Not sure whats gonna happen with the 2B/3B logjam. Obviously Headley sticks out as the odd man out but I think some of it depends on who gets the best return in a trade.. I really like what I saw out of Villanueva at 3rd. Hope he gets another look there. I like Spangy more at 2nd but I’m torn between him and Asuaje. Leaning toward Spangy. I like Solarte as the super utility.
We need to trade some of our OF like Travis or Alex then we need to trade some IF like Solarte, Spangenberg or Chase Headley.
I think you’d be selling low on Dickerson after his injury. Teams likely would want to see him play first. I would’nt mind seeing a a Pirela/Dickerson platoon. To me, Jank fits more as a 4/5th OF on this team than Cesar (sorry,I won’t even try). Out of the INF, I think I’d rather trade Chase and Asuaje.
Correct. Think about teams that need 3B and Corner OF help as possible destinations for a trade for SD. Mets have glaring holes at 3B and OF with Conforto being out to start the season. The Braves could get involved as well, don’t think they want to start Riley opening day this year.
Maybe they have finally found a partner for a Hand trade?
$100k for ever sounds good to my ;/
Hopefully this signals a trade of Brad Hand. His value will never be higher and the Padres (although this is a newer GM) have a history of holding on to players for too long after great seasons when their trade value is high (headley, Khalil Greene, etc). With the Padres luck, I wouldn’t be surprised if they hold on to hand, and he has a mediocre to poor year, bringing his trade value to just about nothing. Seems like that happens to us all the time
Don’t forget Tyson Ross the first time he was with the team. And to be fair, they still managed to get Luke Gregerson for Green.
True, but at that time, gregerson was more of a “nice find” than a legitimate prospect(s) that Khalil Greene would’ve demanded had they traded him at the right time. Although he put up great numbers with the Padres, it wasn’t necessarily a great prospect return. Hopefully we maximize Brad hands value and trade him now. I think Preller may be over-pricing Hand a bit… I think Hand is awesome and a well deserved all-star. But to think we will receive a return to the amount of the Aroldis Chapman and/or Andrew Miller trades is a little far fetched. I can see one major prospect and maybe a medium to low level prospect. hopefully we can get something for him and not hold on to him…
For what relievers who aren’t at Hand’s level have been signing for, I cannot see a way the Preller and Co. are over pricing him. He is a top notch reliever and with the his predicted cap hit, he is worth every bit of what Preller and Co. are more than likely asking.
True, relievers of less quality than Hand have been signing for money a lot higher than expected. But I think that shows that teams are more willing to spend money on free agents, rather than over spend with prospects in a trade. It’s not like teams don’t know Hand is available, I think the asking price isn’t worth it to teams like the astros, Cubs, Rockies, etc (teams in need of relief help who have signed FA relievers). Just hope Preller doesn’t hold out too long, Hand have a bad season, then his value is gone and we get peanuts for him, when we could have had at least quality prospects
Hand will bring back quality players with some possibly needing a 40 man spot.
More likely that something is in the works to clear the overflow of 2b, 3b, and of.
With Sano being under investigation I wonder if the twins would be interested in Hand along with Solarte. Kill two birds with one stone.
Twins get Hand and Solarte, maybe add spangenberg to serve as dozier replacement if he departs.
Padres get Nick Gordon, Fernando Romero, Zack Littel, and Lachlen Wells
Why wouldn’t you just get another burrito Todd?
I was hoping the Reds would sign him since he grew up just north of Cinncy. They need more BP help. Good sign by the Padres