3:02pm: Lefty Martin Perez is another name on the Padres’ radar, tweets Rosenthal. San Diego general manager A.J. Preller played an integral role in signing and developing Perez during his days with the Rangers.
While connections between GMs and players they’ve drafted/signed/developed with prior organizations don’t always carry tons of weight, Preller has frequently shown an affinity for former Rangers since taking the reins in San Diego. Not only did he acquire Darvish earlier this winter, but he’s also acquired Jurickson Profar, Mitch Moreland and Carl Edwards Jr. in past trades and signed Ian Kinsler on a two-year free-agent deal.
None of that makes Perez any sort of lock to land in San Diego, of course, but his price tag seems more in line with the back-of-the-rotation depth role that appears available in San Diego than does Tanaka’s expected price point.
Perez, who once rated as one of the game’s elite pitching prospects, has yet to justify the considerable prospect fanfare attached to his name as a minor leaguer, but he’s a durable fifth starter who had a decent showing with the Red Sox in 2020 when he posted a 4.50 ERA in 68 innings. Beyond the ERA, there wasn’t much to like about Perez’s season: 5.43 SIERA, 6.9% K-BB%, career-low 38.5 percent grounder rate. Perez, however, has yet to turn 30, and the lone arm injury he’s suffered since 2015 Tommy John surgery came when he sustained an offseason injury in his non-throwing elbow on his ranch in Venezuela.
2:00pm: The Padres have already overhauled their pitching staff since the 2020 trade deadline, adding Mike Clevinger, Yu Darvish and Blake Snell in a trio of trades. (Clevinger, of course, is expected to miss the bulk of 2021 following Tommy John surgery.) Despite those acquisitions, the Padres still at least open to further additions and are doing “background work” on multiple candidates, including righty Masahiro Tanaka, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required).
It’s been relatively quiet in terms of Tanaka chatter this winter. There’s been plenty of speculation about a possible reunion with the Yankees, given his dependability and success in the Bronx, but the team’s focus has been squarely on DJ LeMahieu to this point. A Tanaka reunion still seems plausible, particularly if LeMahieu ultimately goes elsewhere. As Rosenthal points out, the 32-year-old Tanaka is no stranger to Padres pitching coach Larry Rothschild, who served as the right-hander’s pitching coach with the Yankees from 2014-18. And based on his track record, Tanaka ought to have plenty of other suitors. He’s also left the door open for a possible return to Japan.
Tanaka started 10 games for the Yankees in 2020, pitching to a 3.56 ERA and 4.07 SIERA while striking out 22.3 percent of the hitters he faced against a 4.1 percent walk rate — the latter being the second-best mark of his career. While Tanaka may not be the ace that Yankees fans hoped he could become when he was initially signed to a seven-year contract, he’s become a rock-solid mid-rotation starter who could deepen just about any staff in baseball. Over the past three seasons, Tanaka has pitched to a 4.06 ERA and near-identical 4.03 SIERA with a 16.9 K-BB%.
At the moment, the San Diego rotation figures to be headlined by Darvish, Snell, Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. Young lefty Adrian Morejon could be the early favorite for the fifth spot, and uber-prospect MacKenzie Gore looms on the horizon as an expected addition at some point in 2021. Still, Lamet missed the postseason due to elbow troubles, and signing Tanaka could help the Padres to limit the workloads of not only Lamet but also touted youngsters like Morejon and Gore. It’s expected that clubs will look for ways to prevent major workload spikes from 2020’s 60-game slate to what is currently hoped to be a full 162-game set in 2021; signing Tanaka or another veteran arm would certainly help a win-now Padres club work toward that end.
The larger question for the Padres could be one of spending capacity. The Friars are already in line to open the season north of $160MM both in present-day payroll and luxury tax obligations. Both are franchise records for the San Diego organization at a time when most other clubs throughout the league are looking to offset revenue losses from this past season. Signing Tanaka would quite likely push the Padres beyond $170MM.
pinkerton
Oh lawd they comin’
Loling @ you
Head scratching to say the least. If anything a Josh Hader trade makes more sense to solidify their backend. The bullpen needs a lot of work unless they figure to slide whoever doesn’t make rotation to back end?
I Beg To Differ
Bullpen wasn’t the issue in the playoffs. Or all season. Was an issue early on but things settled down as the season went on.
It was lack of starting pitching. In the regular season and post season.
They add Tanaka along with Snell and Darvish that helps with starting pitching depth and hopefully means no need for a bullpen day, which should save work on arms.
Also, Hader is a luxury at this point. The relief market hasn’t had much movement.
Theyd be better off looking at Tony Watson, Yusmerio Petit on cheaper deals and keeping the prospects itd take to get Hader.
You still have some big names out there. Mark Melanson, Shane Greene, Archie Bradley, Pedeo Baez, Brad Hand, Alex Colome, Cam Bedrosian
dan55
Yeah once Pagan and Pomeranz got healthy our bullpen was pretty good. I don’t think we should bring in another starter on a multi year deal though. Remember that Clevinger will come back in 2022, and Mackenzie Gore will be ready soon.
I Beg To Differ
Yeah, id rather have Bradley, Watson, Petit than spend money on Tanaka. Sure up the bullpen.
Bradley, Watson, Petit + keeping prospects > Hader is my preferred outcome.
LaFlamaBlanca
are you really banking on a guy coming off a tommy john to be a stable part of your rotation really? who in recent memory has come off tommy john and dominated or actually pitched more than 130 innings??
stan lee the manly
Adam Wainwright, right at league average for 198.2 innings in 2012
Deleted_User
Clevinger is done as a starter
Rsox
Perez can be had on a one year contract (with an option like with the Red Sox last year) and even if Tanaka wants multiple years given Lamet’s injury history it might not be a bad thing to have the added depth
Angels & NL West
Remove, have you heard something about Clevinger regarding his ability to be a SP in the future? I haven’t read that, but that would be a big loss for the Pads.
Can you add the article to your post or reference it so I/we can read it. This would be very bad news.
Padres2019ha
WCR w the crystal ball!
dan55
Don’t argue with removepitcherwins/laughing@you(they are the same person). He is a Dodger fan who comes onto every single Padres article to say that the Padres are trash and can’t compete. He never has evidence to back up his claims, he just states his opinion that the Padres are a joke of a franchise and will never be good. He always comes up with crazy opinions that every single Padres player is a bust. It’s better to just leave him alone.
Deleted_User
Padres2019ha with the grammatically errant comments that have nothing to do with the discussion and are clearly only meant to be antagonistic!
By the way, have the Padres traded Wil Myers for Noah Syndergaard yet? How about JT Realmuto? Have they traded for him and “just extended” him yet?
I can go on all day buddy.
Deleted_User
@dan55 Are you seriously accusing me and laughing of being the same person after this happened?
mlbtraderumors.com/2020/12/padres-to-acquire-yu-da…
Deleted_User
@Angels & NL West how many pitchers have had sustained success as starters after two Tommy John surgeries?
dan55
Yes, I am seriously saying this. There have been a few times where I have noticed both removepitcherwins and Laughing@you making the same arguments about the Padres. Arguments that have no basis in reality. I can’t remember which specific articles we have argued on.
Rsox
It is mostly Relievers that have undergone the surgery twice. Chris Capuano did ok after his second surgery and so far so good with Nathan Eovaldi. But usually the second surgery comes at the end of the players career. Clevenger and Jameson Taillon will be interesting to watch to see how they fare going forward
Deleted_User
So it’s Capuano and Eovaldi. The rest have been confined to the bullpen, best case scenario, after their second TJ
Deleted_User
Did you even look at the thread I linked to? Ya know, the one where I asked why the Cubs wanted Zach Davies in the Darvish trade and Laughing responded with some ridiculous story about the Padres asking the Cubs to take Davies as a “salary offset.” Because apparently teams like to just give away good starters signed for below market value like Zach Davies. And apparently the article we are commenting on isn’t about the Padres needing rotation help, something Davies could have easily provided.
Padres2019ha
@Dan55 This clown has repeatedly been kicked off this platform and was called out by Steve Adam’s for being the same person. Red rooster and West Coast Ryan. He is the troll of trolls. He says he could go all day buddy but he says the same thing everytime so all he’s really doing is repeating himself. Clearly no one likes him and yet he still comes here and gets roasted everytime, ha. He has way too much time on his hands and on top of it all has no idea what he’s talking about. His rhetorical comments of, world series or tank is exhausting.
Deleted_User
@Padres2019ha Yes, dance around your ridiculous “Myers for Syndergaard” trade proposals, your talk of trading for JT Realmuto and “just extending” him, your claims that the Mets would make a lateral move in trading Syndergaard for Kluber and your claims that the Padres HAVE to trade for a player first to have any chance of signing him later (Manny Machado says hi). It’s quite hilarious. Although you appear to be quite young so idk what I was to expect.
Deleted_User
Maybe you, pads fans, juicemane and padreforlife should start a fantasy league.
Hudson6
He reminds me of MikeEmbletonSmellsBad. No judgement PitcherWins.
SDHotDawg
@Padres2019ha … I was there in real time when Adams nailed him. Funny as H to see WCR/whoever squirm. As I recall, that was – what? – about two years ago?
After numerous suspensions, it looked like he was finally banned. But, I knew he was back when he started attacking Pads Fans.
Deleted_User
Oh so now WCR is the only person who Pads Fans ever ticked off? And the only person who noticed he comments from multiple accounts (often on the same thread)?
SDHotDawg
@Remove … Of course not. We’ve ALL had disagreements from time to time. The difference lies in taking it personally, and responding personally.
lowtalker1
Bullpen went into 2020 season as the second best behind Yankees. This was pre rosenthal and with yates and Perdomo. Perdomo is trash and losegenter is broken and what’s his name is with Seattle now.
sdfriarfan
We get Jose Castillo back. He was very effective before his finger injury. No other injury history. He’s probably in our plans, thus no push at this point.
Cap & Crunch
SHHHH tats …we dont need them getting Hader !
To the Tats og comment – I agree SD would be a lot scarier with Hader come playoff time than another Sp from a Dodger fan –
Hader is the ultimate weapon come Oct
YourDreamGM
I think they are still traumatized from losing their two best pitchers before the playoffs. Can never have enough pitching.
Maybe should have kept Davies. I didn’t see anyone else giving the Cubs a better package without him included.
fred-3
I think if they signed another starter, it means Lamet is still hurt, which is bad news
Peart of the game
I think it’s more innocuous and it could just be that the Padres are going to implement a six man rotation for 2021.
fred-3
A 6 man rotation means you’re short a reliever. Most teams would rather have the relieverthan a 6th starter, especially over the course of a 162 season
123redsox
“6 man rotation would mean you’re short a reliever “… that isn’t true. With 26 man rosters now, teams carry an extra player and can afford to do that
I Beg To Differ
Probably means Paddack and Morejon piggyback the 5th spot. 3 innings each or if youre dealing you stay in.
So kind of like a 6 man rotation only 2 guys become the 5th spot.
Darvish, Snell, Lamet, Tanaka, and a righty and lefty split the 5th spot. Depends on match up.
If a team is better against righties start Morejon. If a team is begotten against lefties start Paddack.
LaFlamaBlanca
@ibegdiffer Riiiight because the Padres are gonna waste away morejon’s options and Paddack’s confidence with 3 inning starts. When they can just plug in a reliever who can be an opener.
Deleted_User
How are they wasting Morejon’s options if he’s in the majors? The player whose options are about to be wasted is Ryan Weathers.
Loling @ you
Think Fred is right, sounds similar to Richards with angels a few seasons ago, partial tear tried prt injections. Then tried to pitch and ended up going ahead with Tommy John a few month into the following season. You don’t make all these moves for pitching if you think lamet is coming back.
Hudson6
I seem to remember on the Snell and Darvish articles that a bunch of people (and it seems that Tatsumaki and LaFlamaBlanca were 2 of them) said that those adds weren’t enough and the Padres still needed more starting pitching. That the Padres were still short on depth. Now that the Padres seem to be looking for depth all of a sudden it means something else? That is interesting.
May I hazard a guess that you are both Dodger fans?
sdfriarfan
We get Jose Castillo back. He was very effective before his finger injury. No other injury history. He’s probably in our plans, thus no push at this point.
dan55
Castillo is amazing, but I’m not sure he can stay healthy. He hasn’t been able to pitch in the majors since 2018, so I don’t think we can rely on him. It would be awesome if he is healthy though.
sdfriarfan
It was a finger injury. I don’t recall any history of elbow or shoulder problems. Do you?
dan55
I don’t really know what injuries he has suffered, but missing two consecutive years is a bad sign. I hope he can pitch next year, but I’m not expecting it.
Marcus was already taken
Just the finger, a lat strain and a hamstring injury in his history
bucketbrew35
I’m a Phillies fan but I am beyond happy for the Padres and their fans. I hope you enjoy every second of their rise to prominence.
Ryan W
Thank you. It means quite a bit after so many years of previous ownerships trading away anyone who should have been built around, and a decade straight of losing records
VonPurpleHayes
Wow. Tanaka should be the Yanks #1 priority.
Gwynning
Tanaka or Kluber? It’s looking like one of the two. Lamet is currently throwing offseason gas; a move of this significance pushes Paddack or Morejon to the pen.
bravesfan
Why not both… I don’t trust kluber anymore. I think he’s a go get and hope for 1 last round of magic kind of guy.
Gwynning
Nice showcase by Kloobs, wasn’t exactly pumping major gas but he looked good. Low mileage on the right arm is a bonus. Why not both? 40 man implications. I still want Rosenthal back, too. Cheers!
LaFlamaBlanca
were you at the showcase or just talking out of your a$$.
dan55
Laflama – no need to be toxic.
lowtalker1
They traded away kluber once and not really been tied to him sense
Rangers29
wut.
This is crazy. A.J Preller is just going full-on MLB the show with these additions now. He’s like… “Imma cop this ace… and this ace… and you know what? Tanaka.”. I have never seen anything like this in all my years of fandom. I want to be a Padres fan, but I hate them now lol.
Luc 2
lmao yes
Ignore Budgets: On
lowtalker1
Blame your manager. Your manager created the legend and turn San Diego season around
Thanks
Padres went to the season under .500 and rangers were over .500
Rangers29
Trust me. I do not like Woodward. I would rather have Jeff Mathis be the manager soon (maybe not next season “soon”, but maybe after a year of being a bench coach we could try it). That’s one idea I’ve had for a while now, and that’s one idea I’m sticking to.
YankeesBleacherCreature
2005 Phillies rotation
Roy Halladay
Cliff Lee
Cole Hamels
Roy Oswalt
Vance Worley
I would take any of these top four over the Padres’ current ace.
dan55
@lowereastsider – ?????? None of those guys contributed to the 2005 Phillies Rotation.
Cole Hamels didn’t even start pitching until 2006, Roy Halladay pitched for the Blue Jays, Roy Oswalt pitched for the Astros, Cliff Lee pitched for the Indians, and Vance Worley isn’t even good.
I have no idea what point you are trying to make here.
YankeesBleacherCreature
*2011
LosPobres1904
You can be a Padres fan too welcome you to enjoy the ride.
GoLandCrabs
Chris Paddack is so bad the Padres are actively looking to force him out of the rotation.
Hudson6
Paddack, the guy with a 3.74 lifetime ERA, is so bad that the Padres are trying to force him out the back end of their rotation? That would have to be one INSANE rotation for him not to be good enough for the #4 or #5 spot. This just looks like depth so the same thing that happened this year doesn’t happen to them next year.
lowtalker1
A life time era would imply multiple seasons. He has started 38 games which a full season plus 6-7 games into the next.
lowtalker1
Paddack has not even thrown 200 innings. He is currently at 199.2, which means each start he averages about 5 and 1/4 inning so not even 5 inning plus an out
GoLandCrabs
They chose to go to an extremely tired bullpen over pitching Paddack in the NLDS. There are many contenders who Paddack wouldn’t even crack the rotation of.
Hudson6
I just looked up his stats because I seem to remember him being very good in 2019. He was: 3.33-ERA, 0.98-WHIP and 153-K in 140 innings. Now after a bad 59 innings he is done? Didn’t many people have bad years last year?
dan55
About Chris Paddack –
The Padres did not choose the bullpen over him. We were down two games in a five game series. We needed to win three games in a row in order to win the series, and the Padres decided it was better to have a bullpen game on games three and five instead of having Paddack pitch game three and go to the bullpen on two consecutive days.
Yes, he hasn’t thrown very many innings, but a lot of that stems from the Padres being very careful in 2019, as that was his first year back from TJS. If he was fully healthy that year, they would have let him pitch more innings.
Also, I haven’t given up on him yet. Yes, he was bad this year, but that was because he lost command of his change-up, and I think he will make adjustments this offseason. Remember, he was really good in 2019.
sdfriarfan
He gave up a lot of home runs. His fastball was very straight. That’s what stand out in my mind.
Deleted_User
Did they have the option to use Paddack? Yes? Did they choose to use the bullpen instead? Yes?
Then they chose the bullpen over Paddack.
dan55
Pitcherwins – Read my original comment. In the playoffs against the Dodgers, the Padres were down 2-0 in a 5 game series. That means that we needed to win 3 consecutive games in order to win the series. Due to injuries, Paddack was our only available starting pitcher for the rest of the series. Jayce Tingler decided to have Paddack pitch game 4, knowing that we would need to win 3 games anyways, in order to give our bullpen a break in between games 3 and 5. In no way was that decision a criticism of Paddack.
We didn’t choose the bullpen over Paddack. We were forced to have 2 bullpen games in a 3 game span, so we chose to have Paddack pitch the fourth game.
Deleted_User
And YOU read the thread I linked to where Laughing@You made a completely ludicrous claim that I (rightfully) called him on before accusing us of being the same person. WHY would the Padres ask the Cubs to just take a good starting pitcher signed for below market value when they need rotation help?
dan55
I guess I was wrong on that one, but you both are Dodger fans who have invaded this website to attack the Padres. Most of your comments are similar in that you both refuse to give credit to AJ Preller for his work in building a contending team in San Diego, and you refuse to admit that we are good now. You may be different people, but you both have made a lot of bad takes about the Padres.
Deleted_User
Well for one, I am a Padres fan. For two, there is no admitting or not admitting that the Padres are good now considering they just had the 2nd best record in the NL and most of the guys that contributed are still there. For three, many of Preller’s moves defy all logic. Like trading Yasmani Grandal for Matt Kemp, trading Trea Turner for Wil Myers, trading anything at all for one year of Freddy Galvis in the middle of a rebuild and thinking he would just magically sign an extension, not getting the extra year on Tatis, etc. The Padres are good despite those moves, not because of them. It is possible to be a fan and not just blindly agree with every move the GM makes.
DrDan75
Paddack is still a pretty young guy. He still has time to turn it around and be a good major league pitcher. Maybe with some of the pressure off he will find his 2019 form.
bravesfan
Wow… that rotation would be insane
dan55
My guess is that the Padres are just doing their due diligence. I don’t think that we will actually sign another starting pitcher, unless we plan on trading Paddack or Morejon.
lowtalker1
For Nintendo? Done
lowtalker1
You forgot about luchessi
bkbk
Save some for the rest of us “waves fist crying
Ducky Buckin Fent
Cash needs to just stop with this nonsense. Move on already. Spend that 20+ mil on multiple players. As the Yanks have multiple holes there shouldn’t be a problem.
I get it. LeMahieu thinks he’s worth more than the Yanks have offered. Good for him. Let him go get it, then. Yanks remaining idle is hampering off-season upgrades/replacements in all forms.
Tanaka won’t break the bank, or whatever.
Totally stupid that we’re letting one player (who has just completed his career best seasons) completely monopolize the off-season.
dan55
I agree that the Yankees should pass on Lemahieu. He’s good, but you have too many problems in your rotation to spend on him. If I was Cashman, I would sign Andrelton Simmons to play short, move Gleyber to second, and sign Tanaka and Garrett Richards to help the rotation. That would do a lot more for the Yankees than just focusing on DJ.
Rangers29
I hope the Yanks start spending (despite my Mets fandom). I don’t like them much, but it seems unnatural for them not to spend. (Replace Boone btw).
Hey, I replied on the Kim thread earlier too.
YankeesBleacherCreature
At this point, I’m expecting Cashman to swing a trade for pitching with FAs coming off the board. It’s been remarkably quiet and unsettling on the Tanaka and Gardner front.
LaFlamaBlanca
Lmaoooo Padres are soo overhyped, just look at the comments. I’d be more worried about these moves blowing up more than anything. Looks like Lamet is screwed why else look for more pitching? (probably needs tommy john again) Clevinger is out and probably won’t be any good for another 2 seasons ( you don’t come back from tommy john & automatically dominate). Paddack was a train wreck last year 5.02 fip, 4.73 era, 14 home runs, 31 runs given up, in only 59 innings. Blake Snell had a good 2018 & won the Cy Young, remove that season and he is a 1 WAR pitcher who has never pitched more than 130 innings, last year he had an fip of 4.35, do the Rays really make bad trades?? Yu Darvish is their ace can he sustain his success 2nd half success of 2019 and the 60 game season last year?
Padres2019ha
Cronenworth and Pham for a slapdick prospect and A DFA’d Renfro looks like they lost that one. Jury is out on Margot for Pagan still. Margot had a nice postseason but was crap most of the year. In previous post you went on and on about Myers and Machado and Hosmer and everyone else saying the can’t repeat their 2020 success…it’s all speculation on your part and you could do that to any team, in any sport.
You big scared
Deleted_User
Rays don’t miss Pham and let’s see how Xavier Edwards does in the coming years
Deleted_User
Also, “You big scared”
Seriously, who talks like that?
Greenmamba559
Wow pretty cool to see the pads doing this type of stuff regardless if he signs with them. Idk how long that front office is going to want to have a high payroll year in year out but I’d like to see. Hopefully they don’t pull a Philly and spend “stupid money” only to be where they are now lol but this is really nice to see.
ArianaGrandSlam
Should check on Lincecum. He‘s ready.
Deleted_User
Didn’t he retire like 5 years ago?
bbatardo
People seem to forget players only played 60 games last year. How many pitchers are ready for a full 162 game workload? Pitching depth will be huge this year.
lowtalker1
Perez is garbage
ohyeadam
Took the words right out of my mouth. Guy had one good season 8 years ago and teams keep looking at him cause he’s not old yet
DarkSide830
agreed
los_leebos
Not a directed statement against Preller necessarily, but does anyone else find it exceedingly amateurish to have a natural affinity for a guy/artificially inflate his value just because you have a history on some other team together? Perhaps its overblown because when speculating, you have to resort to reading the tea-leaves. But if any part of that evaluation is actually influenced by “oh i liked him 5 years ago in Texas” really that way of thinking has F—All to do with what kind of player the guy is right now, even less with how he will perform in the upcoming season. Like isnt that some pretty immediate confirmation bias at play which in the long run will lead you to flawed evaluations on that player and/or shortsightedness on the value of other players? Just wondering if anyone else sees the “from their time in Texas” rationale for liking/signing a guy as totally flawed and wildly anachronistic in the analytics-informed world of modern baseball FO’s?
dan55
Since Preller scouted all of these players heavily and got to know these players in Texas, he probably knows more about these guys than any other GM, which could give him an advantage if he thinks they are undervalued. GMs signing players they are familiar with is nothing new.
mlbnyyfan
I’m worried about Tanaka elbow. It’s a TJ surgery waiting to happen. Great pitcher if he comes cheap.
dan55
People have been saying that about Tanaka since 2015. At this point, I trust that he can pitch just as reliably as someone who has a fully healthy UCL.
bobtillman
It would be great if we could get rid of a couple of complete fantasies I see here all the time.
(1) The Yankees are incredibly capable of dealing with the DJ issue AND be doing other things. To think that they’re being held in some type of paralysis by flippin’ DJ LeMaiheu is just ludicrous.
(2) It takes about and hour and a half to do all the flippin’ “due dillegence” you need to do. You talk to the 5 people whose opoinion you trust, you run all the performance through whatever stat “shreader” you use, you call Accounting to see if the contract fits. THAT’S IT! If it takes you any longer, you shouldn’t be running a lemonade stand, never mind a MLB club.
C’mon folks, this isn’t the way it works.
dan55
Bobtillman –
The issue with the Yankees is that they want to stay under the CBT. They only have about $30 million to spend before they reach the CBT limit. If they sign Lemahieu for $20 mil/year, then they won’t be able to spend much on their rotation.
In regards to your second point, a lot of doing due diligence revolves around figuring out what a guy’s price is. For example, the Padres might want to sign Tanaka at $8 mil/year, but Tanaka might want $15 mil/year. Since his market has been slow this year, the Padres could check back in with him to see if he has lowered his price(these are made up numbers I’m just using for this example). Since MLB is a billion dollar business, teams are willing to spend as much time as it takes to ensure that they will have good players on their team.
bobtillman
(1) You’re convinced that the Spanks want to stay under the CBT; I’m not. In fact, if the Mets keep rolling along while the Yanks stand there, they may treat the CBT the way most teams, in reality, do; ignore it.
There’s too much at stake for a team like the Yanks to worry about small change when fannies in the seats, eyeballs staring at YES, and fans listening to the radio are in doubt.
(2) Again, all that due diligence you noted takes about a half hour. You have a Plan A; if it can’t happen, you have Plan B; then you have Plan C. Wash, dry, fold.
Sure, there’s negotiation, and that takes up some time. But you can’t accept that the Pirates are dong their “due diligence” on signing Trevor Bauer.
Ducky Buckin Fent
@B-Till –
1.) Cashman has intimated that until the DJ “situation” is resolved that the Yankees are – indeed – in a holding pattern. Capable? Yes. Interested in acting that way? Nope.
2.) I don’t really understand this point. Are you implying it’s easy to decide how your club is going to invest millions of dollars?
Guess I don’t see it that way. I don’t believe that any MLB GM does either.
So.
Seems like this *is* “the way it works”.
Ya know?
mlb1225
Why Martin Perez? He’s a decent innings eater or back end rotation starter on deep rotations, but definitley won’t find a spot in San Diego unless they want a lefty bullpen/swingman arm. Even then, they’d probably be better off deploying Joey Lucchesi in that role. Saves them money and has a liklier chance of being more effective.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Lol I posted nearly the same thing before I read this post.
stpbaseball
agreed. I’d rather run lucchesi or even weathers than Perez
Brew’88
Gore and Morejon before Weathers or Perez. Baez is also in the mix
stpbaseball
keep forgetting Baez. pretty sure he’s ending up in the pen. could be a future closer
Deleted_User
Ok I’m calling it. Something is wrong with MacKenzie Gore.
Brew’88
more likely Lamet, Gore is fine
CNichols
It’s also probably that Gore is 21 and only has 5 career starts at AA. Like all minor leaguers he lost development time last year.
I think he’s going to be legit eventually, but it might be nice for him to get a few more starts in the minors before they plug him into the rotation.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Why Martin Perez? He is basically the man of mediocrity. First time I’ve seen Padres shoot that low. Tanaka is the better choice.
Hudson6
I’m not sure the Padres are looking for a stud, they seem to be looking for depth. Perhaps they do not wish to spend $10 million or more on someone who will be a #5 to #9 starter?
dan55
Agreed, @Hudson6. I think that we already have our top end of the rotation filled out with Lamet, Snell, and Darvish, so now we just need to bring in guys to serve as injury replacements.
Enrico Pallazzo
So the padres are just trying to somehow sign or trade for every single MLB pitcher?
Hudson6
I would if I was looking to compete and had money to spend. Actually I would expect that most teams have at least checked in on Tanaka and Perez.
Brew’88
The Friars continued pursuit of another SP is concerning, because if Lamet was healthy they would not need to.
sdfriarfan
or they’re trying to win the World Series and Siedler gave Preller an higher budget. Hard to say.
Brew’88
I somewhat disagree. If they have additional $, and Lamet is healthy, SP is hardly the need to fill to take them over the top. If Lamet were healthy, and they sign Tanaka, what do they do with Paddack, Morejon, Weathers, Baez, and especially Gore, the top SP prospect in all of MLB who is on schedule for a full 2021 debut? If Lamet is healthy, they need to spend $ on a closer, or another OF piece, not shunt the emergence of their young SP studs.
sdfriarfan
Well, Paddack and Lucchesi could be packaged for a higher impact player.. IMO, neither will be a dominant pitcher in their career. I think Preller sees this and is in a win-now mode. The others remain. Gore is still a mystery.. I really think is working this team better in any way he can.. He remarked that his goal is to make them as strong or stronger than the dodgers at every position. It looks like that’s what he ‘s trying to do.
Brew’88
At sdfriarfan: Let’s hope that’s what he’s trying to do (add depth) in discussions with Tanaka (and other SPs). That would be quite the deep SP staff, 6-8 deep.
But my concern is that he’s more likely looking for insurance on Lamet because his recovery isn’t going so well. I’m highly doubtful that they’re ready to abandon Paddock just yet. I know they have huge expectations for Gore and Morejon in 2021 and 22. It would be shocking if they went with Darvish, Snell, Lamet, Clevenger (in 22) and Tanaka, leaving no room for Gore MLB’s # SP prospect or Morejon, and the benching of Paddack’s their 2020 opening day starter. Paddack’s contract isn’t supportive of being traded either..
sdfriarfan
I saw a video of Lamet pitching off a mound yesterday.. Best case scenario, he returns to be a starter. If not, he’d be one heck of a closer. Thus no re-signing of Rosenthal or Yates as of yet.
Hudson6
Isn’t Paddack at league minimum? He hasn’t hit arbitration yet has he? I don’t see that contract as being difficult to move.
Didn’t the Padres lose their 2 best starters right when the playoffs started last year? Don’t you think that Tanaka might have been useful to them then?
I myself think that a team should have 8-10 pitchers available to start every year. Granted at least a few of those should be in the minors but they should at least be ready. Every team has pitcher injuries every season. I can pretty much guarantee that even if Gore doesn’t start the year in mlb he will still be called upon. That is almost guaranteed. I see Dodger fans on here all the time bragging about their depth. Now when your team signs extra people it must mean something is wrong and someone is injured? I guess Preller cannot win no matter what he does.
Brew’88
I’m not suggesting that interest in adding additional SP absolutely means there’s trouble with Lamet, but his recovery is definitely not certain. The Padres already have SP depth, but no one to replace the caliber of a Lamet. I’m just hopeful he’s healthy because I really want to see what he can do in a full season.
Sure they could feasibly trade Paddack, but why? His value is as low as it’s every been. He’s 60 games removed from being dominant in 2019 and in the minors, and getting rid of him now could seriously backfire! More likely he’ll return to form in 21 and could easily out-perform most SPs they might sign (especially Perez)..
Brew’88
Interesting experiment – Lamet closing. I’d rather the spend $ on Rossy and Yates (instead of Tanaka) and start Lamet if he’s healthy
sdfriarfan
I’d prefer Tanaka and Rosenthal. Yates would be nice but he was not as reliable as the previous season
jakeryan760
Yates got hurt almost immediately. He was obviously having some issues leading up to his injury. The spring training shut down I’m sure affected more than a few arms last season…. Well see what happens to arms around the MLB this season now that they have to go back to an full season.
Hudson6
If your team is looking to compete next year, wouldn’t you rather have Tanaka pitching at the end of your rotation than an unproven rookie or 2nd year guy? I can guarantee that at least 1 or 2 of your pitcher’s will suffer some kind of injury next year. Likely more than that.
Brew’88
Honestly, I”m not sure they would replace their young studes with Tanaka, his upside is no where near Gore’s.
Hudson6
You are correct that Tanaka’s upside is nowhere near your young pitchers but his reliability and consistency blows them away.
krillin89
Weirdly enough, Tanaka is the one guy I’m most interested to see where he signs
HBan22
I feel as though he has somehow become slightly underrated.
HBan22
I like Tanaka to the Padres if (maybe a big if) they can get him on a one-year deal. There simply won’t be room for him in the rotation next season if all of their SP is healthy. Maybe a one year contract in the range of 15-18 million could get it done if Tanaka doesn’t receive the longer term contract he may be seeking.
kreckert
I’m not a Padres fan, but since my team sucks I’m looking forward to watching this team next year. What they’re putting together is fascinating. I don’t see them winning the division, but even as a Wild Card team, the rotation they’re building can make one heck of a playoff run. Congrats to their fans. Teams that go all in are to be admired, especially when they do it at difficult times. Cheers.
mlbnyyfan
Tanaka probably comes back to Yankees with one year about 8-10 Million after the DJL situation is finally resolved.
dan55
Tanaka is worth more than a one year $8 million contract. If that is all the Yankees offer him, then I could see him signing with another pitching-needy team like the Angels or the Phillies. Or he could go to Japan, but I don’t think he would make as much money there.
Deleted_User
Tanaka will easily get more than that.
Ducky Buckin Fent
If you are using the word “probably” to mean “something I wildly hope for” then, yeah. Sure.
But if you actually think Tanaka will get *less* than Drew Smyly (using “probably” in the normal way) it is well past your bedtime, bro.
BillTheThrill10
Lol, it’s pretty comical to see all you MLB The Show “GM’s” on here talk like they know what it takes to be a real life GM. If that’s the case, go be one instead of belittling people on here for just expressing their thoughts and opinions on the matter. I’m talking mainly to you @bobtillman @ removepitcherwins @Laflama. You guys just shut the heck up and don’t open your mouth until you have something intelligent to say. It’s ok to disagree or have a different opinion, but for goodness sake can we all be adults here? Stop bashing the Padres and their fans because you are jealous your team isn’t making the same noise that this team is. And just so you know, you guys wouldn’t last an hour in any sports front office let alone get passed an interview. This has been your public service announcement, carry on.