12:01pm: President of baseball operations A.J. Preller was asked about the Cease rumors today. “He’s a very big part of our club,” Preller said, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. “The additions the last couple days supplement what’s a really good rotation. That’s our focus here going forward — having that strong rotation.”
10:30am: Rumors have swirled all winter about the Padres trading a starting pitcher such as Dylan Cease or Michael King. Yesterday, they added to the rotation by agreeing to a deal with Nick Pivetta. They made another modest rotation add today by signing lefty Kyle Hart. It would be fair to wonder if those signings were precursors to a trade but Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports that the club is “inclined” to keep their starters and open the season with a rotation of Cease, King, Pivetta and Yu Darvish. That report came out before the Hart signing, though it seems unlikely that such a modest deal would impact the club’s plans for a headline-grabbing deal.
It’s a perfectly logical stance from a roster perspective. The rotation depth has appeared thin all winter. Joe Musgrove required Tommy John surgery in October, putting a big hole in the starting group. Cease, King and Darvish gave the club a decent three but the depth options all had question marks. Matt Waldron showed some potential in the first half of last year but had an 8.10 ERA in the second half. Guys like Randy Vásquez and Jhony Brito had some passable ERAs last year but with middling strikeout rates.
The only reason a trade of Cease or King was even considered was the club’s financial situation. They had spent aggressively for several years but then they hit a wall in 2023. Their TV deal collapsed, putting a dent in revenue. There were plans to scale back spending going into 2024, even before Peter Seidler died, which has led to an ongoing ownership squabble.
The financial squeeze led the Padres to trade Juan Soto and Trent Grisham last offseason for a five-player package. Losing Soto certainly wasn’t ideal but it saved some money and helped add some pitching depth. This winter, the thought was that a similar trade might be necessary, with names like Cease, King, Luis Arráez and Robert Suarez thrown around as possible candidates. None of those players are as talented or expensive as Soto but the theoretical plan would be similar, to trade one good but pricey impending free agent for several lesser but cheaper and controllable players to patch several roster holes.
Lin’s report now suggests that isn’t likely to come to fruition. He does leave the door open a little bit, suggesting the Friars could be bowled over by an offer from another club, but it seems holding this rotation core is the mostly likely outcome. Assuming the club doesn’t pivot to a trade, they will go into camp with a strong front four and with Hart jumping into a competition for a back-end role alongside Waldron, Vásquez and others. Stephen Kolek is also going to be stretched out to potentially give some extra depth.
Perhaps the club never got a trade offer that they found particularly compelling or perhaps they simply decided to creatively dance around the payroll situation. Trading a starter to improve rotation depth was always going to be a difficult task, so perhaps they thought it better to just address their holes on a budget. In left field, it seems that a platoon of Jason Heyward and Connor Joe is the move. They each got a $1MM guarantee plus bonuses, so the Friars only committed $2MM there.
Elias Díaz got a $3.5MM guarantee to join Luis Campusano behind the plate, but even that modest guarantee was backloaded. Díaz will get a $1.5MM guarantee and then a $2MM buyout on a $7MM mutual option. The buyout won’t be due until the end of the season, so it allows the Padres to avoid more than half of that guarantee in the short term.
The Pivetta deal is also significantly backloaded. Though he’s guaranteed $55MM on his four-year deal, he’ll only get $4MM this year, in the form of a $3MM signing bonus and $1MM salary. The remaining $51MM will be paid out with salaries of $19MM, $14MM and $18MM in the three following seasons, with Pivetta able to opt out after the second and third seasons. Even King’s $7.75MM salary to avoid arbitration helped the club in the short term. That money breaks down as a $3MM signing bonus, $1MM salary and then a $3.75MM buyout on a $15MM mutual option. Hart’s deal only guarantees him $1.5MM, with $500K of that being a club option buyout.
Because of those creative maneuvers and some other backloaded deals, the Friars have a big gap between their actual payroll and competitive balance tax number. The latter is calculated via the average annual value of contracts, so a guy like Pivetta will have a $13.75MM CBT hit this year, even though he’ll make far less than that in 2025.
RosterResource currently pegs the Friars for a $259MM CBT number but an actual payroll of just $207MM. That payroll is still a big spike from last year but perhaps it’s manageable enough that the club doesn’t have to pivot to trading Cease or King. The CBT number will lead to some taxes, but they will be modest.
The Padres reset their tax status by ducking under the line last year, meaning they would be “first-time” payors if they pay in 2025. That means their base tax rate is 20% on overages. With their current projection, that would lead to a tax bill of just $3.6MM. That’s also not calculated until the end of the season. If things go poorly during 2025, they could flip Cease, King or other players at the deadline, thus lowering their tax bill or ducking under the line completely.
They could also cut down this year’s payroll in the short term in other ways, with Lin suggesting a trade of Suarez is more likely than one involving Cease. Suarez is making $26MM over the next three years, broken down as $10MM this year and $8MM in the final two seasons of his deal. However, he can opt out of his contract after 2025, which will complicate trade talks.
It’s hard to agree on fair trade value when opt-outs are involved. For an acquiring team, they know they will only get one year of Suarez if he performs well. He would only stick around for 2026 and 2027 if he pitches poorly or is hurt. The limited upside and significant downside generally makes clubs unwilling to give up significant talent for such an arrangement.
For clubs still looking for a frontline starter like Cease, they don’t really have other options at this stage of the winter. The free agent market does still have some guys available, such as Andrew Heaney, Jose Quintana, Kyle Gibson, Jakob Junis and others, but they are more mid-rotation or back-end options. Guys like Marcus Stroman and Jordan Montgomery are likely available in trade but they’re also mid-rotation guys at best and coming off difficult seasons.
Teams such as the Mets, Twins, Cubs and Orioles have been connected to Cease but they haven’t been able to get him thus far. Other clubs would be sensible fits. Unless they bowl over the Padres or the Friars are just posturing for leverage, those clubs might have to be patient. They could consider some of the aforementioned mid-rotation options or wait to see if the deadline offers the big rotation upgrade they seek.
They have to do something. They have too many starters now.
No?
No team ever: “We got too many starters.”
What a great problem to have.
Darvish
Cease
King
Pivetta
Hart
Vasquez Brito Waldron have options and start the year in aaa and get called up in the event of injury.
Padres don’t have too many starters. They finally have the correct amount.
Anyone penciling in Waldron and Vasquez was using the hope and prayer argument to defend the rotation. Those guys had to be your depth starters.
Cubs seem to be dodging bullets with no Bregman or trades involving more rentals, I’m sure it’s not from the FO trying to go all in on winning the NL Central. Unfortunately the Cubs are in wait until after 2026 when the salaries they have finally come off the books with all the NTC’s finally gone. Unless for some reason they decide they want to go. That’s unlikely. Even after that it’s not entirely evident that the Cubs will spend to the limit to fight with the Dodgers and Mets. If they’re going to be the perennial tax team, They need a better POBO with a vision of what they want to be. They also need to keep drafting well and trading guys when they are out of arbitration years Ala Tampa Bay. Keep the line moving. Not a guy who chases shiny objects.
@Jbig Though they won 93 games last year with Waldron and Vasquez as no. 4 and 5 guys. Having them as depth pieces now just makes it a better staff than last year
doesn’t pecota have the Cubs winning the Central by 10 games?
You mean same as last year?
Not going all in when you give up a huge haul for Tucker, who’s no guarantee to return, is kind of strange to me
Waldron was the 5 for a lot of the year. Vasquez was the depth starter who made 20 starts. Because depth starters end up making significant starts in most cases.
Waldron was so bad in the 2nd half of the year that you couldn’t possibly have him penciled in as the 4. Kyle Hurt is a maybe so there’s a very real chance that one of those 2 gets the starting nod anyway. Either way they’ll both likely be making quite a few starts.
Big market teams in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston and Texas don’t operate like the two franchises in Chicago. The Cubs and especially the White Sox have faking dog big market owners who also have the advantage of being the only large metro areas in their respective divisions. In addition to building strong farm systems and making shrewd trades like other teams, the Cubs and White Sox should have the wherewithal to spend their way to division titles that feature small market rivals. Clearly they don’t take advantage of that capability.
With spring training already happening, it’s fairly late for the Cubs to pivot their “Bregman dollars” toward another impactful player. That probably suits Tom Ricketts just fine. He’ll gladly OK a cheap remaining acquisition like 40-year old Justin Turner. At this late juncture the only significant potential move that Jed Hoyer could make which solidifies the Cubs as prohibitive NL Central favorites and a possible World Series threat would be trading for Padres ace Dylan Cease.
Yeah? At what cost for another 1 year rental on his way to FA? The cost would be prohibitive as was the cost for Tucker with no intention of signing either one. It’s a desperate act that really isn’t needed and wouldn’t tip the scales any farther.
The cost of winning a championship like most other big market owners seem to strive for more than Tom Ricketts does.
Last offseason the Yankees traded significant prospect capital to the Padres for Juan Soto. That move did help them reach the World Series where they fell to the bigger spending Dodgers. Of course, there was a far greater probability of Soto resigning with the Bronx Bombers before he switched boroughs and took Steve Cohen’s money in Queens. Once that occurred the Yankees didn’t save their shekels. They took the Soto dollars and signed ace free agent Max Fried and 1B Paul Goldschmidt while also trading for Brewers closer Devin Williams and Cubs CF/1B Cody Bellinger. Now that Alex Bregman is in Boston, the Yankees might counter that by acquiring fellow 3B Nolan Arenado from the Cardinals. That’s the way true big market teams operate, unlike the faking dog ones in Chicago.
Meanwhile and despite paying CBT taxes and other penalties, the Dodgers, Yankees and Red Sox still manage to maintain strong farm systems. In fact, the Red Sox boast MLB’s top system farm system and still went out and added Bregman.
Waldron was, I believe, participating in his first high inning MLB year. I think he was burned out by mid-season. He may be stronger this year.
Just screams half measure if I’ve ever seen one, vp! Half-@$$ is NO way to go about anything, especially sports.
Preller is acting like Hoyer. He usually has a pretty good idea of what he wants. I think the ownership nightmare is screwing things up. Right or wrong at least Preller picks a lane and stays in it where Hoyer wobbles back and forth depending on the shiny objects you dangle in front of him.
No they don’t. Waldron, Brito, and Vasquez are more depth starters than actual MLB caliber lock em in guys. Unless Hart fails completely in ST they’ll give him shot as their no. 5. They are just right now. They can sell off at the deadline if they tank, but right now I think SD stays put and competes.
Nah, Arizona has too many, with the money they’re making. SD doesn’t. Cease, King, Darvish, Pivetta are the only locks. They’ll use the rest for the 5th starter/spot starts. If they had a 6th starter making 20 million like Arizona, then you’d be right.
@cooperhill,
Pivetta might be in the bullpen by June, which would resolve this issue.
They basically have four starters. The rest are relief pitchers they are planning to try to convert to starters. They’re hoping one or two of them will successfully translate to the starting rotation.
Good to hear they want to stay competitive.
That’s always been the message from the FO. But that never stopped the rumors to the contrary.
Good, maybe this will finally put an end to the constant Dylan Cease articles (until the trade deadline at least).
They will never Cease.
Well played Reds
I’ve already heard one guy on the local radio suggest that they will need to dump salary and Pivetta is already on the block. He was signed yesterday and already he’s tossed into the mythical fire sale?
It’s against the CBA to sign a FA and trade him. There’s a time limit on when that can happen. Not sure how long it is but whoever said that is a complete fool.
@Unclemike1526 Mid-June is when they are allowed to trade him. But trading him would still be close to impossible with all the opt-outs.
yes, a fool, probably worked for SI
Fools work everywhere. Especially the WH.
SI doesn’t have any writers anymore. All the articles are AI generated click bait. How the once mighty has fallen.
Some of you can be on pornhub and would still feel the need to get political. But since you are, I sure hope you’re not insinuating that a bunch of brainiacs were there previously, lol.
Some people will always see political where there is none. The point was that if a fool, Or fools as you like can work in the WH, They can’t work for SI? The supposed trade involving a recently signed FA when it’s illegal is obviously the work of a fool.
Yeah, they should at least know the rules before they publish stuff
Yes. Teams cannot trade signed free agents until after June 15th of the same season/year unless the player agrees to a deal.
especially most of the west coast you mean?
of course they are. The last 4 years have been fantastic!!! says no one.
Let me guess. Jon and Jim.
Those two live under a rain cloud
Which one is tow? Jk jk, we love all Compadres!
Well looks like padres are ok going past first tax thresholds first time payers again.
They could still move Suarez but that alone doesn’t get them below.
They may as well go for it this year. Cease, King, and Arraez all come off the books this year anyway. Feels like maybe their last legitimate shot for a while, with payroll restrictions and some of the big contracts they’ll still have.
Their bats are going to be a strength for a few more years but that rotation could be ugly after this year.
Think the hope is they can extend king. Musgrove comes back next year, and they *should* have money freed up to spend. I don’t think it’ll be that bad. Especially if they can add some cheap prearb talent to the roster in Salas and LDV.
Be pretty aggressive to see De Vries very early in ‘26.
Pads push them up but I’m not sure he has a defensive position yet and has only played in low A.
ugly how? 2026 Musgrove, Darvish, Pivetta, Hart and $70M off the books to sign 2 more FAs in what will be one of the deepest SP FA years ever.
Brew’88 … not exactly $70M when you factor in the gigantic bumps in salary to Machado next year and in two years, and to Pivetta next year, and to Tatis in a couple years, and not to mention that King will be on payroll next year regardless of whether he’s on the team or not.
@HH Good point. I was speaking to the CBT calculation not payroll
The Pads need at least one, maybe two kids to come up from the farm to ease the FA salary demands. Seems like everyone’s doing static analysis, when the situation is anything but static. Guys on the farm move up and down, some of the moves get traded in packages that bring in other prospects, who fail or succeed, then maybe King gets extended, maybe someone in plain sight like Brito or Waldron come up big, move into the #3 rotation territory.
All fans ever see and remember are the “fails”, and that’s pretty logical. Most prospects fail. All we seem to see is failure. (Lol, it’s truly unbelievable how much money, time, and efforts go into the farm system, for such miniscule returns.).
Anyhow, the money coming off the books will give the Pads the flexibility to extend Jackson and King, who are the two top targets (though I probably forgot someone – not counting De Vries or Salas yet). That’ll maybe leave cash for one major FA and a few lower $$ ones.
Just listened to new AJP interview, he doesn’t usually tip us on what’s next, but he did explicitly say would add another bat, most likely DH/1B
While those guys come off, that will also give them some money to spend next year. Plus Musgrove will be back next year and can replace one of them.
On top of that we will if Salas and DeVries make a leap forward this year.
Musgrove won’t be himself til 27 and will be babied next year tho. At least that seems to be the way it goes the vast majority of the time.
He will have been 1.5 years after surgery by then. I think he will be a ref part of it barring any setbacks.
I think they will add one other pitcher next season.
Yeah, I see Musgrove TJ at his age is pretty much done as far as Padres productivity is concerned. Not taking anything away from Joe, he’ll be driving so hard his Docs will have to strap him down from hurting himself during rehab, but it’s the nature of the UCL beast. Plus, remember, he’s had other elbow issues. I don’t think the Pads can count on getting any further value from his contract. It’s the risk of the MLB pitchers. If Joe retires in a few years, I hope the organization moves him into the F.O. as for other vets, and he’s a Padre for life.
Plenty of people comeback and are productive at his age. I wouldn’t count him out of anything.
I’m just talking about the terms of his 5 year contract, and the money sunk. He could rebound, he could be extended or sign FA with another team for another contract. However, he has what, 2 years remaining, one which is a dead year (2025) and the next, from which we can expect variable performance, Full recovery from a UCL surgery averages 18 months to 2 years. I’m just saying that he’s done as a Padre, unless they extend, and beyond that, he’ll be (not sure), 36? 37?. His Padre future is pretty clear.
3 years remaining, they should get two more good years from him.
… i never could count
Salt, 12-18 months. Musgrove will be 15 months out from the surgery at the start of 2026. Of the 454 MLB pitchers to have TJ surgery for their 1st time and return to playing, 309 have returned to their previous career averages in the 1st year back. Better than 2 to 1 odds in Musgrove’s favor.
The. Padres. Have. No. Payroll. Limitations.
The Padres were always going for it this year. They have consistently said that all offseason and their actions have matched their words.
good for the Padres and their fans. They will be formidable this year, if healthy.
Mahalo Blue, best to you and your squad this year (when we’re not butting heads, of course!)
back at you Gwynning!
See guys, I told ya there were some mature adults amongst the Dodger fans who stop by, after that kid came flaming the Pads/Pad fans yesterday.
I really value opposing fans when they add info to the discussion. Hope there’s a fun competition between our team this season, Norcal. (Otherwise, it could be a boring season. Watching a team win 110+ games maybe a “dream season”, but it can also make for a boring, predictable season.)
Yeah you get a mixed bag when it comes to opposing fans. I’ve had some fun conversations with Dodger fans in the stands that were great. Others have been obnoxious and done very strange things.
If there is a way to pry the now-more-expendable Triston Casas from Boston without giving up Cease or King, Pads should make it happen. BoSox need some insurance at the back of their ‘pen: Robert Suarez, anyone?? Would have to be Suarez ++, but get it done Pads!
They’ll still be able to beat the hell out of the Rockies most days, so it’s all good. Ahahahahaha!
I’m of the opinion that Boston shouldn’t trade Casas yet because they’d be selling low on him after an injury season. Let him establish some value (hopefully) and up the potential return. Or even better, ride his bat to a playoff spot (I can dream).
Casas isn’t expendable. Yoshida is still expendable. Devers, if moving anywhere, should move to DH.
Suarez for Yoshida could be the beginning of a thing…
Maybe but it would require the Sox to eat some money. Padres are on a 1m add streak for salaries.
Rather sign someone like Turner or Martinez to do 1b/Dh with Arráez
Vs lefties put Joe at DH, Lockridge at LF, Turner/Martinez at 1B, Eguy at 2b
cheap + controllable + proven + available-ish big leaguers don’t come around often and it seems like Boston has at least 3 (Wilyer, Kutter, Casas) after the Bregman signing. They also have multiple uber-prospects knocking on the door right now. Just feels like a somewhat rare situation that Preller should jump on in some fashion.
Alternatively, I agree would like to see what JD has left in the tank for a year, plus whatever rubs off on the younger guys from a hitting approach standpoint.
Since they signed Bregman for 2B and Devers will turn into a Lil b**** if he can’t continue to hurt the team defensively at 3B, they might have to trade one of those middle infielder that are blocked now.
The Padres have a 1B in Arraez. Shildt has been saying since last season that he does not want a full-time DH. That he likes having that position available to rotate position players through for rest. Preller and Shildt have said they value positional flexibility and Casas has none.
never made sense to me to get rid of cease. but then what do I know? My team only has 6 or 7 starters.
It ultimately comes down to team control. Cease only has one year left until free agency so the Padres have a decision – can they afford to sign him, do they want to trade him for prospects, do they value the comp pick they’d get by offering him the qualifying offer and letting him walk.
In my opinion, I think they should just hold onto him unless they get some insane prospect package offer for him at the trade deadline
They traded for him so let him pitch
They also traded for Juan Soto lmao
Hmmm just like we’ve been saying all Offseason, weird.
But but but but they’re broke!!!! Hahahaha all the clickbait was garbage.
Sincere question though, not from a team assets vs payroll side, but, with the number of guys who should be QO recipients next winter, how long do you ride this roster through the season before pulling the plug and flipping contracts to duck below the CBT line?
It’s a big difference between multiple comp picks after the 2nd round and the same after the 4th.
You have to ride it out if you’re in the playoffs. If they’re 5 games out in July—you gotta sell IMO.
With a 50 team “wildcard” system the MLB has developed, NO team is truly out by the All Star game anymore (or so it seems). That’s only made trade deadline top tier ballplayers worth that much more.
Good point(s) GA, and while I don’t necessarily *know* the answer, I suspect it all depends on the team’s performance. If they’re in the mix for a WC or the Division, then they’ll probably add if need be. The alternative dictates that if they’re “out of the race” then they’ll sell under the CBT. Just a hunch.
The reason that stands out to me is twofold:
1) during our recent years of futility I watched in frustration as a payroll that was just under cbt got pushed over the limit by non-impact roster churn moves and we dropped our QO comp the 2 rounds. It was maddening.
2) long term, it is true. The trio of bogey/machado/tatis will make over $100m combined in a few years. Those aren’t going to be movable for returns of note or easy to free up. The long term success and not winding up in a mini dark age of your own like I’ve watched here since after 2019 is getting some impact prospects to plug holes cheaply.
I’d think the 2025/2026 drafts will be *key* to SD having a pipeline ready in a few years when those contracts balloon, wouldn’t you? You don’t necessarily *need* the extra 2nd rounders vs 4th, but, they also wouldnt hurt
For Preller to sell at the deadline they’re going to have to be way out of it, like 10 games back in the wildcard where the odds are ridiculously long.
In 2015 many thought they should have dealt Justin Upton and again in 2023 with Snell and Hader in particular he kept them all in hope of making the playoffs (they didn’t).
The past few years they have had better record in the 2nd half particularly down the stretch so I think that will be Preller’s mind as well and he’ll be selling that to the higher ups to go for it. When they’re packing the stadium it’s even easier to make that point.
I think they held at the 23 deadline for Peter. They’d be more realistic this year if things go south.
That said, this team has most of the bones of last year, and actually better rotation depth. I’d be surprised if they’re not in it.
GaSox, a few things to keep in mind.
The Padres have $70 million coming off the books for next year and only an estimated $6 million in arbitration raises.
With Pivetta locked up and Musgrove returning next season, the Padres rotation will still be strong at the top with Darvish, Musgrove and Pivetta. Yes, Cease and King will be free agents. The staff will be strong even if they leave.
Of their starting, non-platoon position players, only Arraez is a free agent.
The Padres can extend players any time after late April and it will not count towards the 2025 CBT payroll calculations.
The Padres will have the payroll flexibility to extend one or even two of their FA and still stay comfortably under the CBT in 2026.
So to answer your question, the difference between getting a 2nd and 4th round comp pick may be a moot point for the most part. Also, take a look at the Padres 4th round picks under Preller – baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?team_ID=SD… .
I think there were those that wanted to will it into existence (Rosenthal and his ilk). I think the front office saw all of the sellouts and the window still open and pressed forward. I still think Ornelas gets a good look in ST even with Joe and Hayward.
I’m still weary of the new ownership group. I know with the lawsuits they want to watch what they say, but they haven’t even put out a generic “let’s go” statement. Guess they just aren’t Peter.
I hear ya. Even Peter was fairly private, but I have to imagine that if John Seidler is in place by OD, he’ll need to make a formal public presentation.
Kicking the can down the road. Pivetta only $4mm this year. Machado contract ballooning in 2027 just in time for further performance decline. It’s almost reckless what Preller is doing. Sure, they stay competitive in the current season and maybe they keep this game going in 2026 with some trimming but they’re handcuffed on roster moves and spending more than they should be. Perhaps Preller is bolting after 2026 season, or gets canned by then.
Why you worried about us when we’re just fine? Maybe concentrate on your own issues?
good point but we don’t have any issues. 🙂 yet.
Good to hear Evan Philips and Michael Kopech are A-OK, Sal. Good luck Champs
Pretty small problems in LA when you added Yates and Scott.
Barely feel that. Unreal that’s a true statement but…..
Phillips & Kopech are minor problems. And good luck to you
Not worried about the Padres at all. Just pointing out what is obvious. That the Padres are stuck based on Preller’s past moves. Pivetta only $4mm this year is a typical Preller who cares if this bites us later, I may not even be around then move.
Or maybe it’s just a great deal for an arm with the talent of a Pivetta?
Go Pads
Padres have 70m coming off the books next year and have Musgrove back. Paying Pivetta isn’t an issue.
The only question is does paying Pivetta mean they definitely will not be paying King next year? They haven’t put much on the payroll for this year but managed to add 4 ML’ers.
Which was necessary
Coming off the books is only helpful if it’s dead weight. You do realize that you’ll need to spend more to get same level of play on the field for King/Cease replacements.
Jbig, that is true but having Musgrove back next year covers a good part of that and he isn’t coming off the books.
Yeah I figure to sign Arráez,King, and cease to a free agent contract you’d be looking at almost all of that availability taken up and then you’d be running into the issue of more long term money. I don’t think next year is necessarily a blessing. They’ll have to get creative in using the payroll space to not create more long term deals. Eventually those turn and payroll is bloated. If you won’t spend like the Mets a decline hits.
Jbig- they will not resign all three of them. One maybe two. With zero being a real possibility but they will be able to add next year.
If DeVries has a big season he could be the replacement for Arraez. Moving Xander to second and Cronenworth to first.
Same with Salas… plus you never know what player who may breakout this next season.
Either way the padres will be in good shape in 2026.
You mean like 11 starting pitchers that didn’t make it through more than 22 starts in the majors last season?
Gwynning……..The @MLBdefergerfanboy is howling at the moon again.
This guy has been singing the doom and gloom on the Padres all offseason. It’s his hobby.
To his credit, he has been 100% off base/wrong the entire time. So, the consistency is impressive.
Oh-for-100 is consistent af, so at least he’s got that going for him Rob!
AJP was patient and driving media crazy until this past week, inciting the masses to claim a fire sale was happening. Now he signs a few guys and it’s “wreckless” spending. lol
Recent signings are nothing compared to what’s already been done. Pivetta structure is interesting that’s all. The recklessness was mostly done. These signings are the byproducts of that. Having to backend that Pivetta contract because they’re fully tapped out. Taking out loans in the past to cover payroll. Trading away most of your prospects. There is positioning to win now but Preller went beyond that IMO.
The dodgers have deferred a billion dollars.
So backending a contract when it’s not the Dodgers doing it is a sign of recklessness
Wrong. Dodgers players have deferred a billion dollars.
Loans were for completing the purchase of the land for cisterra.com/tailgatepark from the city of San Diego and the already scheduled renovation at mlb.com/padres/ballpark/gallagher-square
If you want to continue to spout BS, be my guest. Intelligent people will know that you are just a jealous Dodger fan.
It really doesn’t matter how many $BILLIONS the Dodgers have deferred, other than the simple bean counting aspect of responsibly avoiding CBT penalties (or scheduling them, so that they don’t stack up). Again, though Dodger fans dispute this, the Dodgers could offer free tickets and media, and still make $BILLIONS from legacy revenue from the team name and other investments. I’m exaggerating, of course, but not by much. Revenue will NEVER be an issue for the Dodgers. Its’ a very profitable franchise for Dodger owners. I’m not sure if they’ve ever had a cash call, or how long it’s been since they’ve had to do that. (Also don’t know if Dodger owners are receiving any kind of dividend revenue from their investment, either.)
The Pads vs Dodgers will just never be financially comparable. If nothing else, the Pads fan base is limited on two sides, i.e. the southern border, the Pacific Ocean, and arguably, there’s not much $$ potential East of SD, either. The Dodgers in LA are in a financial honey pot, which is why they moved from Brooklyn decades back.
Like I said most of the recklessness is done. Pivetta deal just shows you how cash strapped they are right now with the paltry $4mm now, and bunch of bargain bin shopping. Preller is the guy who blew his money on anything and everything and now is left to spend scraps to get a full roster together.
And sure the Dodgers have added risks with deferral money. I don’t disagree with that. But they’re in a much better financial situation than Padres are. The two are apples to oranges. And lastly the money they have/will make on Ohtani sure makes that deal very good. He’s the majority of the deferred.
@mlbdodgersfan. Padres are one of the smallest media market teams in the MLB, but despite that, 2nd/3rd in MLB in attendance, top 10 in payroll. I know those two later points rarely go with a small media market team, but it is what it is and the Padres FO think it’s sustainable. Seems to bother or threaten fans from the big market franchises like those from LAD that the Pads have the balls to challenge them in the one sport where spending $ really does correlate directly with winning.
Not threatened at all. Just call them like I see them. Padres get more press clippings on roster construction because of all the Preller moves. FO that has to borrow $50mm to cover payroll lacks some credibility don’t you think? They may have balls but they’ll be paying for that in the future. They will most likely be stuck at some point in the future. Most likely starting in 2027.
And sure attendance has been good of late because they’ve made postseason 3 of last 5 years. But when they stop making postseason attendance will likely decline.
mlbdodgerdude- you keep repeating they’re “cash strapped” but they are running a Top 8 payroll. Wouldn’t a “cash strapped” club trade away some guys, or at worst have a fire sale? The Pads keep adding up, but your story doesn’t.
You need to reassess your facts. The loan wasn’t for payroll as Pads Fan was kind enough to explain above. He even gave you links to educate yourself. You would seem to be stuck in an odd bubble of anti-Padre rhetoric. Very odd that you don’t learn the truth but would rather dictate “your” truth. Cheers fella
Wrong again, derail. They *both* did.
Sorry, but a contract isn’t done until the player signs it.
Whilst that is true, who pays for it?
The Dodgers are certainly willing to defer money for a player, but deferrals are often used to get a certain number that a player wants. The more a player defers, the higher the total of the contract goes. Just like if Shohei decided he didn’t want to defer, he’d have never gotten close to 700, he would’ve gotten closer to the current day value of the contract, which I’m sure you know is calculated for the CBT. The Dodgers front loaded and back loaded some of the contracts they did this year. Snell has deferrals, but he got a rather large bonus as well. But again at the end of the day, it’s the player that chooses the contract that he signs after his agent has negotiated for him.
Braves need to step up and trade the garbage they have in the minors.
for what? someone elses garbage?
They say that, ‘Variety is the spice of life!’
Preller is an animal. Totally lengthened that rotation at the eleventh hour. That rotation looks much better now.
“Too many starters”
My prayers and best wishes go out to MLBTR who must now figure out what to post about now that that rumor has been put to bed..
And the Padre fans can finally unbunch their panties.
Sorry, floppy…I go commando. Underwear is for the weak!
No you don’t. The evidence of your comments indicates otherwise. It’s all frills and lace with HiredGun. Good luck with your next little b&tchy internet campaign !
Hahahaha…thanks for being a groupie.
Oh you big tough anti establishment independent thinking rebel. You got me with groupie. Too good,mate.
Except for Tow I think it’s more the SD haters that need to I bunch more so than the fans. I’ve seen a great deal of fans saying “where is the budget cut”, etc. defending all of these unfounded rumors.
Good ol’ Tow, I wonder if they are smiling right now because of all the recent activity
We who actually follow the Padres and knew they we’rent broke are commando-mooning guys like foppsy now. Fun times.
Oh please. You and your Padre sisters have been b&tching non stop at writers who are doing nothing more than collating rumors that are out there, for a free of charge rumors collation website. All because you aren’t man enough to deal with the discomfort of the rumors. That’s fact. Spin it however you like but there is no getting around the pathetic nature of it.
Enjoy those fun times !
Brew, I just find it funny how they defend the writers without fail. In addition, they are all financial advizors/super scouts! I wish them well in their endeavors to endearing themselves in hopes of getting a free upgrade to the front office subscription…hahahaha!!!
Oh dude. Yeah. That free subscription is what’s it’s all about. The truth is, I just really enjoy mocking men that behave like children. It’s a character deficit of mine. Apologies.
@foppert. Nah, I get the click bait motive, so not really bothered by it, but it’s a free place, and I’m just as free to counter false information as you are to defend it, right? Mute me if it bothers you. And hey, it’s natural to feel threatened when proven wrong, but dude I just mooned you in online effigy, it’s not like I declared war. Calm down lil’ guy.
Brew, it doesn’t bother you but it’s sure as heck bothering me. Dude imagines me wearing frilly lace. And as everyone knows, I’m more than just something to look at, I’m also quite sarcastic and over-caffeinated!!!
I’m not sure which bothers me the most – him imagining you in frilly lace or that Brew isn’t bothered! LOL.
Whatever helps you sleep at nigh, little miss. No chance I’m muting you. Mocking your weak nature is way too much fun !
Long…110% agree with you!!!
Suarez is SURE to be traded now. And Arraez. And Crone. LMAO.
This clearly means Tatis is goners
PADRE FIRE SALE!!! Everything must go including the Swingin’ Friar!!
“Them Madres are gonna regret all that ridiculous level talent they bought now that they’re broke. Umm, wait a sec …”
— Other Team Fans Who Rant on This Forum.
I bid $10.00 on the swinging friar.
Hey, the San Diego Chicken brought in more than that with the first bid when they sold him off at the last fire sale. Step up, man, step it up, lol.
$11!
They reportedly asked Stearns for their 2 top prospects +, which is a ridiculous ask for a rental.
Which should tell you neither was ever really available
Nick
I don’t see that.
They wanted a haul but didn’t get it, so they packed it up and will revisit if they are bowing out of playoffs or at deadline.
They need to fire sale if this doesn’t work out by the deadline though.
Absolutely cannot miss the playoffs and be a lux tax payor. Won’t get decent comp back for King and Cease in the offseason and will be penalized heavily to sign anyone else’s QO free agents.
@jbig Not a fire sale, just common sense. If they’re 10 games out of contention at TD then it’s smart to retool the team for 2026 and beyond by trading rentals Cease, Suarez, Arraez. That’s what GMs do.
I’d go less than that. 5 games back of a WC at the deadline and you need to deal every rental so you’re not stuck with a late 4th round pick as compensation for those guys.
Let the mental gymnastic start below Nick. People will try to say “No, the Padres really want to trade those guys blah, blah, blah…”
Tip of the hat to AJ Preller, who is apparently the only PBO out there that realizes that a 3rd round pick turning into Nick Pivetta would be reason for jumping jacks and raises to everyone directly involved in scouting him
Different penalties for different clubs. I like Pivetta but didn’t want the O’s to give up the 34th pick in the draft to sign him.
They wouldn’t have because they weren’t over the tax line last year.
O’s have to give up their 3rd highest pick which is a comp A 1st rounder after Burnes and Santander walked.
Sign Pivetta, lose a pick. Trade for Cease, gain a pick. It’s your choice.
Both king & cease will be mets 2026
Wow, you don’t say. So much for that fire sale…
Ok now with this report, I expect to see both traded by the end of the day!
Really, I hope I see both still in camp when I show up to Peoria on 3/3!
@LT. Say hi to Leodalis for me!
Will do – last year I showed up the first day he hit the practice field. He was impressive for a kid that age for sure. I’m just curious how a scout knows what a 16 year old is supposed to be at 22. I’m only good enough to say “he is a lot better than the other 16 year olds!”
I can’t wait to see him play this year (will go to some of his games). Unfortunately I won’t make it to Peoria though.
“I’m just curious how a scout knows what a 16 year old is supposed to be at 22. ”
LOL, your guess is as good as mine. However, when I was coaching youth baseball, ya could see those who might be standouts. Like, the pitcher we had who was shagging balls in deep center field (maybe 320′ field), picked one up on his knees, and threw a missile to me standing at home plate with a fungo bat in one hand and my glove on the other. This kid had a nice, moving 2-seamer, which kinda showed as this missile approached. It swerved about 10 feet to my left as it arched in. I .. uh.. didn’t make the adjustment well. It hit me on my left thigh. Hurt like heck for FOUR MONTHS. Yup, that kid was special, went on to pitch college ball.
So, I dunno, maybe these scouts get out there on the field with ’em. Kids change SO much as they mature in their teens. Some of my guys in the Navy grew four inches starting about the age of 18. Late bloomers. I have no idea how a MLB team can bet so much on say, a 16 year old, or start tracking even 12 year olds early.
Padres added Pivetta, and aren’t moving King or Cease. So much for the Padres being constrained financially as these writers kept paying…
It’s a really weird one and then the rumors went into overdrive after the control person lawsuit. Some writers will ignore the Preller quotes today and keep up with their drivel.
I started counting. At one point there was a run of 13 “Cease will be traded” articles in 13 days in mlbtr alone
Except all the San Diego beat writers, the ones with actual info, have not been saying fire sale at all
Though many of the radio hosts are 100% preaching fire sale. I won’t name names
They did structure the Pivetta deal so that they’re paying him just $1M this year for his base salary so they definitely have some sort of financial constraints they are working with. It seems like they’re not focused on the CBT though, they just care about cash payroll for 2025
Herc, the Padres have $70 million coming off their CBT payroll in 2026 including $12.2 million in 2025 payroll and $17.2 million in CBT payroll that is there for Hosmer.
Paying Pivetta $4 million, a $3 million signing bonus and $1 million salary, in 2025 makes sense as long as he was willing to accept it and he was.
@Herc33 If you’re suggesting that the Padres may have cashflow issues, then why sign him at all while providing them a higher tax bill at year’s end to pay and also lost draft picks? If Pivetta opt-outs in two years, his CBT hit will be $11.5MM AAV each in ’25 and ’26.
The tax bill will be really small. It’s a first time payer at the lowest level, since they reset last year.
VPSD, the CBT hit for Pivetta is $13.75 million and put the Padres over the 2nd CBT threshold.
No, they’re still under the 2nd threshold.
The tax bill is like 3m.
@YankeesBleacherCreature I’m not necessarily saying it’s a cash flow issue, I’m just pointing out that the unique structure here where they backloaded the deal so they only have to pay him $1M in base salary this year means they are operating with some sort of financial constraint in mind. Said differently, I don’t think this signing is good evidence for the conclusion that the Padres have no financial constraints. They agreed to complicated contracts so they can pay their #2 and #4 SP each $1M base salaries this year and that didn’t just happen accidentally.
Like I mentioned before the CBT doesn’t seem to be the consideration here, it’s more that they are just trying to keep salaries down in 2025. They’re like ~$18M over the threshold but as a first time payer that’s about like under $4M in penalties. If you look at just Pivetta’s contribution to going over, that means an additional $2.7M in penalties are going to be paid for him. If you add that to his signing bonus and base salary, that means he only costs them like $6.7M this year.
Before Hart, they are at $262.5 million.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hUvYNZODpusJEJQm41…
That is Cots Baseball Contracts at Baseball Prospectus
The Padres 40-man roster payroll is $44 million higher than last season and their CBT payroll is now at $264 million with Hart. That shows that they are being smart, not being limited.
Every team has financial constraints, even the Dodgers and Yankees, but in no way does increasing payroll 20% represent being in financial trouble as the article tries to say.
The Padres over the 2nd tier of the CBT which means they will pay a 42.5% tax on the current $24 million in overages. Their highest draft pick will also be moved back 10 places.
The Padres #3 starter is King and he is guaranteed a minimum of $7.75 million and has incentives that can push that to $8 million. A $1 million salary, a $3 million signing bonus, and a $3.75 million buyout of his 2026 option. All of that counts towards 2025 unless he and the Padres accept the mutual option. Their #4 starter is Pivetta and between his signing bonus and salary he will be paid $4 million in 2025 unless I missed something and he will be paid more in 2025 or the signing bonus was deferred.
I don’t think it had much to do with payroll limitations as much as needing clarity with who would be in charge and what direction they wanted to go.
Preller made a few nice moves after the question got answered.
No questions have been answered yet. Nothing has changed yet. The MLB vote on control person was symbolic because it had already been blocked by a temporary injunction by the Texas Probate Court. 8 days after the vote and this is what the FO looks like today – mlb.com/padres/team/front-office
Still the same.
I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.
What a wimpy comment.
Always fun seeing a team push their chips in (when it’s one of the teams without an infinite supply of chips, at least)
As usual, it depends on what a team offers. For example, if Baltimore offers Kjerstad, Kremer and Povich or someone even more intriguing, then they might have to think about beyond this season. They won’t switch for someone who will be much less effective than Cease or King unless it’s multiple guys with alotta upside. Especially considering that it looks like ownership said, “All this press about us being a cheap train wreck of a family hurts my feelings. I’ll ok you to sign Pivetta”, apparently. Seems like it’s something like that considering they passed on everyone but him.
That’s a lot of mental gymnastics. Is it so hard to take things for face value that the Padres want to compete this season? Signing Pivetta cost the Padres draft picks so now they should trade Cease for prospects? There’s no indication that the O’s even want him based on their activities this offseason.
YBC- exactly.
The we have seen trade rumors about cease with a ton of teams.
One thing they all had in common was the massive asking price from preller. It’s clear he wasn’t trading cease for anything but a haul. No teams met that price so here we are. Very unlikely any team does so not barring a big injury or something.
Simm, a hypothetical. Imanaga gets hurt in spring training. The Cubs come back and say “ok, we will give you (the previously rumored Preller asking price of) Shaw, Assad, Brown, and Aliendo for Cease”. Do the Padres make that deal now?
Nah PF, the price has gone up.
Yes the padres would still do an over pay deal.
Listening to preller today…he said he will likely add another arm at lease via a minor league deal.
He also sounded like he will bring in another bat.
So he definitely isn’t done after hearing him today.
I just finished listening to that interview and Preller said that the Padres were in contact with several starting pitchers that would impact the MLB rotation and some that might be added as a minor league deal as an NRI.
I also found it interesting that he said they still are looking to add a bat to the lineup in the next few weeks. I had thought that Diaz, Heyward, and Joe would be the final additions.
Him saying that they are looking at it as Croney at 2nd and Arraez at 1B also clarified the lineup for me. They have flexibility because both can play multiple positions in case of an injury, but they are slotted in for now.
Padres were 75-51 after Arraez came on board. Shidt said that was the best in baseball. Not sure if that is true, but a .595 winning percentage is pretty damned good. That is the same number of wins that the Dodgers had the rest of the season.
For those that haven’t seen it, here it is on YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=7PlwJkOoknQ
Gwynning, who would you add or exchange in that package?
Yeah it sounded like he was mainly looking at a 1b/dh.
Guess I need a list at this point. Off the top of my head you have Turner and Rizzo.
Perhaps nobody the next couple of weeks.
Pitching wise on a minor league deal I’d be good with Corbin. Let him cook with Ruben this spring.
Nice.
Go Pads!!
lol. What a waste of brain power went into the Cease trade rumors
Analysts/journalists/podcasters have a “publish or perish” mentality. If the off-season is slow for the team of your focus (e.g. Padres), you still have to come up with news every week or day (depending on your schedule), to earn a paycheck. The Pads salary vs CBT colors the entire discussion of “what will AJP do next” (the answer to which is “who knows?”, end of article). This theme gives them stuff to write about when there’s nearly nothing to write about.
I don’t blame them. I think that it’s on the fans to have a little common sense to interpret what they’re hearing. We fans don’t like to “common sense” as much as we like to emote, lol.
They all seem to LOVE Preller’s seemingly constant “action” and couldn’t retrain their thoughts this offseason. He essentially made this year’s roster last offseason and just needed to fill cracks. Only 5 roster spots needed filling, and I think he did a great job going about it.
They have been saying the same things all offseason but the rumors persisted.
Will the rumors about Cease and King being traded stop now? I doubt it. Padres rumors drive traffic.
It’s the “just who do they think they are trying to be good” type rumors that bait
Too bad Tatis, Jr. has a NTC through 2028. Who’s next?
MLB writers have been begging for Tatis in a bigger market since he broke with the team. I suspect we’ll have to hear Tatis hypotheticals his entire career.
Merrill? Everyone else on the roster has already been rumor ravaged
I find it fascinating that Merrill, a Maryland kid, stayed in San Diego all offseason until showing up in Peoria yesterday. He is a definite baseball rat who is trying to soak up all the knowledge he can.
I am hoping that the Padres spend some of the money they have coming of the books after 2025 on an extension for Merrill.
“The Pads lost their wallet, stopped by Navy Fed for a loan and can’t afford to pay Jackson Merrill in 5 years… tomorrow on ESPN the Ocho!”
They’re actually building towards 2026 when they have largely the same lineup and have more payroll flexibility, not the opposite.
No? Okay I’m open minded, explain to me more specifically your argument as to how the wheels will fall off in 2026?
Rosters aren’t static though. 2026 rotation of Musgrove, Darvish, Pivetta, maybe Hart has wheels. Maybe they extend King. But if not they’ll likely add (using $70M off the books) from the deepest FA SP class in years. A year ago they lost 4 SPs from rotation, Snell, Lugo, Wacha, Martinez, and filled those holes via trades and FA.
Yeah people forget we are playing Musgrove 20m not to pitch this season. He will have had 1.5 years of recovery by opening day next season.
All going well he will take one of the spots opened up by king and or cease. The padres will still have about 70m in tab coming off and about 45-55m coming off the books next season. More than enough to sign a starter like king plus fill any remains holes.
Padres are in a good spot money and roster wise for the 25/26 seasons.
Padres will also be keeping JOE KING !!
The quote from your article is demonstrably false.
“The only reason a trade of Cease or King was even considered was the club’s financial situation. They had spent aggressively for several years but then they hit a wall in 2023. Their TV deal collapsed, putting a dent in revenue. There were plans to scale back spending going into 2024, even before Peter Seidler died, which has led to an ongoing ownership squabble.
The financial squeeze led the Padres to trade Juan Soto and Trent Grisham last offseason for a five-player package.”
The PADRES never considered trading either. Other teams CALLED about them. YOU considered trading them because it drives site traffic.
The Padres were about to extend Soto when Seidler died. Boras has been consistent in saying that is a fact. Trading Soto was a great baseball move and improved the team in 2024, which was why he was traded.
The Padres lost just $1.7 million in TV revenue in 2023. We know that to be a fact because MLB said so in DSG bankruptcy case filings. MLB made one payment of $6.8 million to cover the promised 80% of any lost TV revenue and all the Padres lost was one payment of $8 million. This was confirmed by both the Padres Chairman and CEO.
There was never a plan to scale back spending for any other reason than to dip below the CBT threshold for a single season as demonstrated by the Padres actions this offseason. Even that didn’t happen until Soto was not extended. If he had been, the Padres would not have dipped under the CBT.
The ownership squabble has nothing to do with needing to scale back payroll. Read the lawsuit.
The only reason for the Cease and King trade rumors was the media needed something to drive traffic. Eric Kutsenda and Erik Greupner, the Padres Chairman and CEO respectively, have said several times have no financial difficulties. They have consistently said that there was no set payroll other than it would be somewhere between 2023 and 2024. Both of them and Preller have said that they have the financial flexibility to ADD to the payroll for the right players. We saw proof of that with the signing of Pivetta.
That you keep trying to defend your false narrative on the entire subject is getting old.
Yeah, after the attempt at an apology (first two paragraphs), the article weirdly goes into a lengthy doubling down on the fictitious narratives (final 8 or 9 paragraphs).
Mlbtr took reports from guys like Acee and Lin and counted it as factual. When it was more of a guess.
I don’t actually think the crew here takes any of rumors as gospel. It’s merely a summary and pulse of what other writers are saying so I won’t judge the content that they decide to post.
Eh, they do take the reports as facts. They restate their opinions as if they are more facts than rumors.
All reports are really just rumors. Most of them are not accurate.
I posted this in the Kyle Hart thread but it certainly applies here as well. People are always so quick to comment that AJ Preller is this or that and usually none of it is very good. The Padres have had some very good GM / POBO people that have been able to put a team together that have been able to make the playoffs and World Series although they are still looking for that first World Series Championship with the ever present “Budget Constraints”… “Trader” Jack McKeon and Kevin Towers come to mind and some of us still remember how bad the Padres were when they had Paul McNulty as a starting outfielder…Paul “Frickin” McNulty for crying out loud.
AJ Preller has always done a masterful job of identifying talent and this is just another signing that has very little downside but has a huge upside…another TALL pitcher -6’5″ lefty that changed his whole idea about pitching. Will he make a difference for this team? Who knows but if he can give you a spot start, long relief and shows decent then he becomes a valuable piece and could very well be a trade chip at the deadline because by then EVERYBODY is looking for pitching and being a lefty only helps not only him but the Padres as well. To many people get caught up in the present-day game of checkers and AJ is playing 6th dimension chess. Give him and Pivetta some time with Ruben Niebla and I wouldn’t be surprised if both of them take a big step forward very similar to Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha
This roster as currently constructed is going to do some damage provided they can avoid the dreaded three I’s…injury, illness and ineligibility. Trading ANY of the starting pitchers is a non starter…Cease, 1.07 whip, 65 BB/224 SO, could be a trade deadline move depending on where the Padres are sitting and would be harder to resign given his agent is Scott Boras, King, 1.19 whip, 63 BB/201 SO is the one that I think will benefit from all of the money coming off the books next year and I for one would love to see him extended, Darvish will continue to be steady- 1.07 whip, 22 BB/ 78 SO, Pivetta – 6’5″ is a great deal right now with a crazy 36BB/172SO line from last season and a 1.12 whip. Then you have a combination of Vasquez, Waldron, Kolek, Honing, Britto that could step up and fill the #5 or #6 spot in the rotation and Morejon could make the transition as well. Suarez is a quality closer and is back although bullpen arms are a bit easier to develop than starters so he could be a trade deadline piece that gets moved before any of the starters…I would go to battle with a starting rotation of Cease, King, Darvish, Pivetta and any of the aforementioned candidates for the 5th or even a 6th spot in the rotation…Mike Shildt has plenty of options and having so many possibilities is a quality problem to have and they will get Musgrove back in 2026…2025 isn’t worth the risk of coming back to soon.
Arraez changed the whole team when he got here and having a true leadoff hitter is always a plus, added Conner Joe, who can play OF and 1B but can also play 2B much better than anybody even realizes, Jason Heyward can still play a solid OF and brings a left handed bat, Elias Diaz is more than serviceable behind the plate with Campusano
Lost Profar, who had an outlier season, Higoshioga that turned into a pleasant surprise as a throw in, Solano and Peralta that fit their roles perfectly, Tanner Scott who was a rental, Martin Perez was a rental.
All in all, this team is not the gloom and doom that some people believe so sit back and enjoy because we all know that with every new season comes the eternal hope that maybe this is the year and besides…Baseball at Petco is always a good time
AJP struck gold in so many of those signings, he absolutely should have been GM of the year. AJP’s good, but no one get’s lucky like that two years in a row. (Or, if he does, I’ll have grave concern for his mortal soul, due to the deal with the devil he evidently made to get there, lol.)
Love your post Splitty, probably my favorite on the page, but you forgot Ha-Seong Kim. All your points are spot on though!
I had a brain freeze for sure…how I forgot Kim is a major omission on my part and he just proved my point about AJ being able to identify talent…brings him here from Korea on a four year 28 million dollar contract and in my opinion he out performed that contract…Gold Glove, always played hard with a lot of hustle and certainly a fan favorite. Good catch Gwynning.
All of the Padres front office from top to bottom has been saying throughout the offseason that their goal was to, in their words, field a championship caliber team. They have also been saying that they would increase payroll to somewhere around the midpoint between 2023 payroll and 2024 payroll. Does it surprise anyone that they are there money wise and team quality wise on the opening of Spring Training?
Regardless of the rumors that people like Rosenthal and Lin at New York Times sports and that local sports writer in San Diego have been spreading, the Padres actions have been consistent with their words. Imagine that! Execs that are transparent and honest with fans. Too bad we don’t have that in Boston.
You’re pretty in tune on my Pads B, I’ll come to you if I ever have any questions here. Lol
When your asking for top 50 prospect for 1 year of a non-extendable pitcher, you will be keeping him.
Another reason I would not use Boras as my agent.
Boras has zero say in what the Padres might try to seek in a trade.
to be fair, its 1 year of cease and a 1st round draft pick, there is a lot of value there.
I dont believe it, still think a Cease + Xander + Suarez for a bag of balls trade could be coming. It just makes too much sense to move now and reset a lot of payroll. with this offense, we will still win a lot of games.
You’d trade your Ace, starting SS and lights out closer… for BP balls? Goodness me oh my oh, am I glad you’re not in charge! No offense, but that would be a horrific and irredeemable trade. You’d be lynched out of town, ty.
Maybe it’s for big balls, I heard he is a genius.
If Im in charge and facing a budget for this and years coming, then yes it makes sense. $50M saved this year and $25M for the next decade. Its a unique opportunity because some teams may have some interest in Xander, with his negative contract value balanced by a couple of 1-year rentals.
Use those funds this year to sign Dejong and Heaney, and have a wide open future to extend our guys.
If there is no budget, and we can support >$200M year over year, and no concern with going over CBT, then no need to try and move Xanders contract in this unique opportunity to package him with a couple of 1-year high-value guys.
You replace Cease with Heaney, X with DeJong, weaken the Pen, pocket the cash… and expect to compete? Sorry, no fly zone. The idea is to win a ring.