The Padres signed right-hander Logan Gillaspie to a minor league contract earlier this month, as per Gillaspie’s MLB.com profile page. The 27-year-old Gillaspie will return for his second season with the organization, after the Padres non-tendered him in November to create 40-man roster space.
Gillaspie had a 4.10 ERA over 26 1/3 innings and 28 appearances for the Orioles in 2022-23 before the Red Sox claimed him off waivers in September 2023. This stint in Boston didn’t result in any big league playing time and didn’t last long in general, as San Diego picked him up in another waiver claim just two months later. The Padres optioned Gillaspie back and forth from Triple-A the maximum five times, and the shuffle of assignments might have impacted his performance — Gillaspie had a 7.15 ERA in 11 1/3 innings over nine appearances with San Diego.
On the plus side, Gillaspie had a 3.77 ERA, 21.5% strikeout rate, and 9.7% walk rate across 45 1/3 innings with Triple-A El Paso. These decent numbers look even better within the context of the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, and they represent a step up from Gillaspie’s Triple-A performances in 2022-23. That said, Gillaspie’s strikeout numbers have ticked downwards over the last two seasons while he has allowed a few more walks.
Gillaspie is out of minor league options, so if the Padres were to select his contract to the active roster next season, the team would have to try and sneak him through waivers in order to send him back to Triple-A. This could leave Gillaspie in another form of roster limbo if his 2025 campaign ends up being a flurry of DFAs and outright assignments, but for now, he’ll continue to operate as minor league bullpen depth in the Padres’ system.
Longtimecoming
Come on Tow, let us have it!
This is a good signing for the record. No risk and was worth a chance.
SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs
Anything to get that guy to shut up
towinagain
Nothing more than minor league depth.
Team lacks two starters,a starting lf, starting catcher,bench depth.
Division now has Snell and Burnes, Adames, Teoscar etc.
Padres are hoping for Sasaki.
Hey, “hope” is affordable. Doesn’t cost a dime to market “hope”.
Tangible hope is something else altogether.
This team fails to sign Sasaki it’s in all sorts of trouble especially if trading Cease is mandated.
And the team went on a win streak AFTER Arraez was acquired.
To think that letting Arraez leave will somehow benefit the Padres is foolhardy.
If “dumping salary” is manadated it won’t be reinvested into say acquiring an Alonso it will simply be for profit.
“Sustainability” equals “profit”.
Now, for all my “Budget Warriors” out there fighting for the bottom line, “Sustainability” does not win championships.
The Rays and A’s have produced “sustainable” success in the past but have zero hardware for their efforts.
You spend money and you win, you don’t and you won’t.
Brew88
This article is announcing a minor move to establish minor league depth, which you acknowledge. But the diatribe that follows is as out of context here as it would be if delivered to the cashier at Home Depot.
Simm
Brew – True.
Though it’s pretty par for the course Tow.
I will say a number of things he said are currently pretty true.
Brew88
Of course some are true, such as spend money you win. But what does that have to do with minor league depth?
Simm
That is him spamming the same crap every post.
Lloyd Emerson
This really ought to move the needle for all the Padres fans clamoring for their team to make a move.
Longtimecoming
Most SD fans realize we are waiting for 1/15/25 to see what AJ is going to do. It just is what it is u til then. HSK, JP and possibly even Peralta and Solano are just sitting and holding just like the fans to see if Roki is coming or not. If he does, some money available to run it back with those guys – may still trade Arreaz.
If he doesn’t, probably need a Pivetta type or maybe a 1 year Verlander to fill out rotation so get ready for Tirso in LF and Sullivan backing up Campy at C because the money allotted to a SP.
They probably have a good handle on Vasquez, Waldron and Brito as to their continuing development. All could be reasonable 4-6 options in a rotation. I said could, didn’t say they would but V and W had pretty good streaks last year of being ready.
Simm
If V and W are the 4-5 guys to start the year the padres rotation will be in big trouble.
Longtimecoming
Hoping for 5-6 – Roki is 4 – and go back and look at stretches in 24 where they each lay claim to being the best in the rotation. They aren’t the best 5, 6 in the league but not the worst either.
Simm
5-6 is where they started last year.
Cease, king, Musgrove, darvish…Waldron.
Vs
Cease king Darvish Sasaki…Waldron
I’m pretty concerned that Waldron was figured out last year. I know some think fatigue. Vasquez was okay at time but gets crushed by lefties.
The padres desperately need to sign Roki and they can get by with a number of options in the 5th + spot. I do not see how the padres can trade Cease. I’d like them to look at possibly bring back Perez as well. He won’t pitch deep into a lot of games but he generally gave them a solid chance at winning.
Longtimecoming
I agree on hoping Cease isn’t traded and bringing back Perez was a no brainer, I thought. Work to extend King in a way to reduce his cost in 2024 would be a good plan.
I think V and W are worth giving a fair shot in ST to see what has changed / developed. It isn’t like SD can just go out and sign 2 more high end SP’s this year because they don’t deem those 2 as good.
In today’s game, just getting that last WC spot with a healthy 3-4 man rotation in October is a very acceptable goal.
James Midway
Roki would come from the international pool money for his bonus and would only make minimum wage (assuming they sign him). He also would not start 30 games this year. He would need to be walked into an MLB workload. Write off at least one year for inevitable TJ.
The fact that AJ has done so little is concerning. If all moves are resting on a minimum wage guy’s decision there is real trouble.
Simm
Roki could start 30 or close to 30 games. Same way king did last year. They will monitor his workload but he as limited as you think.
We are all aware of Sasaki free agent status.
Edub23
I know the Dodgers are probably the most loaded team coming into this season since probably the Big Red Machine in 1976, but I wouldn’t worry too much if I’m San Diego.
Padres still have alot of talent and were the toughest team last year for the Dodgers during their run to win the WS.
They have enough to get a seat at the table in the playoffs along with LA and Arizona in the NL West.
Probably be the Mets for the other WC.
Braves don’t impress me with this off-season and it’s not certain when Strider and Acuna Jr will be back to playing to their capabilities.
HiredGun23
Signed for depth. Never bad to sign pitching in hopes that a couple prove to be serviceable…
SewaldSwansonSwoon
I think the fact that Baltimore let Gillaspie go after scouting him for years in independent ball tells us all we really need to know. His stuff doesn’t play at the big league level, for whatever reason. It’s good at every level except MLB. He’s a quad-A pitcher.
That being said, not a bad emergency piece to have for the Friars. Their pen felt a little questionable last I looked…
Craviduce
We have Pads movement, they moved. Fans on here demanded movement. The organization delivered!!! ;p
Well....shoot
This is how we combat the Dbacks with Burnes and Dodgers with Snell…
99socalfrc
I’m guessing the Padres will land Sasaki then trade Cease.
I suspect Profar & HSK are getting reality checks right now on their asking price, either of them could end up back on short term deals.
Simm
Makes zero sense to trade Cease unless it’s an overpay. Padres need a starter now, signing Sasaki and trading cease means they still need a starter.
They have enough offense to survive losing profar. They need starting pitching.
CrikesAlready
The Padres hot stove is more like a rusted tea kettle…
Simm
Padres hot stove starts in mid Jan/feb
Baseballisthebest
I don’t understand that line of thinking. If they get Sasaki they will have to go to a 5 man rotation wouldn’t they. Trading away their workhorse would not make sense in that situation.
The only way that trading Cease makes sense is if they don’t get Sasaki and still have multiple holes to fill.