Ian Kinsler’s run as the Padres’ regular second baseman (and perhaps his time on their roster) may be nearing an end, a source tells Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Padres signed the highly accomplished Kinsler to a two-year, $8MM guarantee in the offseason, no doubt expecting him to serve as a quality stopgap prior to the Luis Urias era. Instead Kinsler has slashed a ghastly .141/.221/.256 through 86 plate appearances. While a .148 batting average on balls in play suggests fortune hasn’t been on the 36-year-old’s side, his expected weighted on-base average (.216) matches his real wOBA (.216) and ranks as the game’s fifth-worst mark. Now, thanks to Kinsler’s inadequate production, the Padres may be on the verge of turning to Greg Garcia as a bridge to Urias. The Padres optioned Urias to Triple-A El Paso last Sunday after he hit just .083/.241/.125 in 29 major league PA, but the 21-year-old top prospect has torched minor league pitching with a .357/.413/.786 slash in 46 attempts.
- The Diamondbacks will discuss whether to drop right-hander Zack Godley from their rotation, manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic and other reporters Saturday. Lovullo’s comments came on the heels of Godley’s latest clunker, in which he yielded five earned runs on four hits and three walks over 2 2/3 innings in a blowout loss to the Cubs. Having surrendered four or more earned runs in four of six starts this year, Godley’s ERA sits at an untenable 7.58, thanks in part to declining strikeout, walk and groundball rates (7.58 K/9, 5.46 BB/9, 41.3 GB%). The 29-year-old entered the campaign off a respectable two-season run in which he logged a 4.10 ERA with 9.45 K/9, 3.62 BB/9 and a 51.6 percent grounder rate across 333 1/3 frames, making his 2019 output all the more concerning. Demoting Godley to the minors likely isn’t on the table for the Diamondbacks, as a team could claim the out-of-options hurler on waivers. If the D-backs do remove Godley from their rotation, though, Piecoro names Matt Andriese, Taylor Clarke and Jon Duplantier as potential replacements.
- The Mariners have begun the season an excellent 18-12 without third base mainstay Kyle Seager, who underwent surgery on his left hand in mid-March. But the 31-year-old’s recovery is going smoothly, as he took ground balls for the first time Saturday and said (via Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times) that he’s “ahead of schedule” and not feeling any pain. Still, Seager will be out until at least May 25, the first day he’s eligible to come off the 60-day injured list. The Seager-less M’s have turned to Ryon Healy and Dylan Moore at third to mixed results.
is there any way these teams can eat money by renegotiating a contract my spreading out the money, ie release him and defer the money over a few years with interest?
Yes, that’s what the Mets famously did with Bobby Bonilla.
It’s amazing what happens when Urias gets regular at bats. Maybe Andy Green will get it through his head that he needs to stop playing lineup roulette and have a consistent starting 8.
That’s so 1990’s thinking there…..
Lots of teams move guys around and use more than 8 regulars. Dodgers are pretty damn good at it. Matchups are a consideration and Green is not the only decision maker when it comes to who is playing. That said, I’ve seen more than enough of Kinsler to know it isn’t happening. Urias has looked lost himself. Maybe Garcia is a better stopgap, as the article says. Pretty clear to me that with the game on the line, you’d rather have Ty France or Garcia up there instead of Kinsler in a pinch hitting situation (not to mention their other options), so I really do not see a place on this team for Kinsler.
Kinsler follows in the footsteps of Glenn Beckert, Horace Clarke, Jim Edmonds and Jim Presley who came to the Padres after long and good careers and showed they had absolutely nothing left in the tank.. Thankfully, it wasn’t any of my money that they blew on him.
@wolverines….so true—-last season the Dodgers used 155 different lineups in 162 games—-the Cubs 152 different lineups in 163 games…..magically, they have been the last three World Series reps and have been to the NCLS a collective four times in the last three years. (The Dodgers most common lineup was used TWICE). Somehow, though, those two managers continually get ripped for lack of consistently in their lineups—-when, in reality they are masters at picking spots for certain players. Case in point, in last year’s NLCS Roberts used Bellinger in the 1, 3, and 6 spot and didn’t even start him in a game. Yes, the Dodgers are pretty damn good at moving and using guys.
I agree with you that some teams are masters at it and some players don’t mind the inconsistency but I also feel that a burgeoning young star needs regular at bats. It’s why most guys get stuck in the minors for longer than they should, because there’s no place for them in the lineup to Get regular at bats. So if managers think they need regular at bats in triple A, why would t they in the majors? Some players are so phenomenal it doesn’t matter if they played 40 straight games or haven’t played for a week, they’ll do great. But other players don’t have that kind of psyche and need consistency. Call them mentally weak or whatever you will but some people just aren’t built to sustain inconsistency. At least when they are beginning. I mean, look at Daniel Vogelbach of the Mariners. Hasn’t done a lick of anything the last few years in random at bats and pinch hitting situations. But look at what he’s done now that he’s a mainstay in the lineup.
Nobody wants Urias to have success more than I do. He has not received consistent at bats with the big league team because he has looked bad. Clearly they are trying to win at this point. They need some production. Kinsler is not the answer. I hope that Urias will look a lot better when he gets called up next. Ideally he would be the leadoff hitter, bat Tatis 2nd, Machado 3, and slide it on down. Assuming he realizes his potential, that responsibility may still be a year away. Point is you can’t just leave someone in there who is striking out in 40% of their at bats.
IMO they should keep Tatis batting leadoff as he has the speed needed to swipe bags from the lead off spot.. Urias would be nice in the 8th spot because of his high OBP so he can flip the lineup back to Tatis and the big bats.
Tatis hits for way too much power to waste an at bat without guys on every game. He is great in the leadoff spot but with a team that scores most of their runs with home runs, it doesn’t make sense to have him running a ton out of the leadoff spot anyway.
Urias did not received regular at bats in the majors because Tatis was at SS and Kinsler at 2B, not because he was not hitting well. The Padres paid $8 million for Kinsler who still plays good defense, so he got the lion’s share of the at bats and that makes sense.
Kinsler should be gone now and Tatis got hut today. Hamstring. There will be consistent at bats for Urias now. Watch him do in the majors what he has done everywhere else. Adjust and hit for average. He has hit .383 with 6 home runs and 6 BB since being sent down to El Paso on the 22nd.
Dodgers have had 5 guys get 80% of the at bats in the 1-5 holes in the order. I don’t think the Padres have not had the same lineup and batting order in 2 straight games.
We picked up Kinsler as a veteran/mentor role. Andy Green can’t make a lineup that sticks for more than 12 hours.
Urias hit three bombs last night. 2 bombs the night before. (Not at El Paso, LV) We know the PCL stats can be inflated due to playing in high desert elevations, but putting the bat on the ball and exit velocity isn’t affected as much I wouldn’t think.
Urias needs his due as does Renfroe. He (Green) runs Reyes out there everyday, Franimal needs to adjust, for real.
I think Green would mess up his own nocturnal emission.
Doubtful. The Padres don’t seem to believe in consistent positions or places in the batting order or at bats. Players are robots that can play any position and batting in a consistent place in the lineup does not seem to matter. But they are 16-12, so maybe they know something.
Kinsler had 8 MLB years in Texas and also the minors,we as fans knew his hitting routines,pop up or homer in Texas, He also was not a team player when approached on changing positions, this was during the early Jurickson Profar era, he was always a cocky meme me player, guess what comes around goes around, enjoy the millions you made and go out on a low note and last few years a sub, But hey you did get a ring with Boston along with an error in the show.
Haha – one week and 4 HRs later, you look like what you are, a fantasy baseball nerd with a mean streak
I like Godley but he just doesn’t have it this year. Maybe switching him and Andriese will help him get back on track
A’s should trade Profar to the Padres for a sack of peanuts.
Ty France has been taking reps at second in AAA. He was also raking in AAA and is 2-3 so far in the bigs. I say give him a shot at 2B.
I read he was working with Damion Easley turning two before todays game…. I agree they should give Ty the 2nd base job.
How about the padres trade some of those prospects for whit merrifield
Solid idea. I’m surprised the Padres haven’t moved any of their minor leaguers for major leaguers. The padres roster can be improved in multiple areas, and some of the young guys are going to be blocked at the ML level or aren’t ready yet. Trading for a 2b makes a lot of sense imo and Merrifield would be a good candidate
They did that a few years ago and they got awful results from it when they went all in. Why not wait it out? They clearly knew they weren’t going to be contending this year. Just because they signed Machado doesn’t mean they’re World Series bound or even believe that themselves.
lmao spoiler alert* PADRES ARE CONTENDING… Now I agree we shouldn’t get crazy and start trading all of our prospects but I wouldn’t be mad if they trade A prospect to upgrade the rotation but 2nd base seems a little dumb considering we have Urias in the minors hitting bombs and they should give the job to Ty France imo.
Perhaps Kansas City doesn’t want to trade it’s best player?
Why would the Padres trade for a 31-year old second baseman?
Because he can hit and there’s no guarantee prospects will work out
Merrifield is 31 years old and since his game relies on speed, it will begin to decline steeply. Not a good pick up.
Bring back Schimpf
Kinsler was signed when the thought of Machado and having Tatis Jr on opening day roster on the Padres was a pipe dream. I’d keep him as veteran presence and bench piece though.
Don’t give up on Kinsler yet. Play Garcia more and give France a shot. Just flip it and have Kinsler as a super sub/pinch hitter. His defense alone still earns him a roster spot.
Garcia > Kinsler
Urias > Kinsler
France’s bat > Kinsler’s
Padres without Kinsler > Padres with Kinsler
Urias’ bat > Kinsler
Urias’ bat > France
Urias’ defense >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> France
Haha – one week and 4 HRs later, you look like what you are, a fantasy baseball nerd with a mean streak
Greg Garcia??? Why bring up Ty France if not going to play??
6 games at 2b in his life…