14 replies to this topic

[Robert Plant]

I'm a little late starting this thread so I will give you a run down of this very busy off-season's highlights thus far.


The Padres' GM followed Theo to Chicago.
Jed Hoyer's Move to Chicago Appears Likely


A new GM was promoted.
Padres' Josh Byrnes Back in His Coveted Role as GM


The new GM brought in a veteran to shore up/ backup the outfield.
Mark Kotsay Returns to Padres


Byrnes added a very nice catcher to platoon with/ back up Nick Hundley.
Padres Add Catcher John Baker in Trade with Marlins


Unfortunately, Heath Bell went to Miami.
Padres Need Closer as Heath Bell Headed to Miami.


No worries though, within days Byrnes traded for a shinny new closer.
Padres Trade for Street, Fill Closer Vacancy


Then the Josh Byrnes' magic really got started with a trade that sent Matt Latos to Cincinnati for 3 top prospects and Edinson Volquez.
Reds Pay Heavy Price for Latos
Gammons: Depth Accelerating Padre's Rise


And if that wasn't enough...
Padres Acquire Carlos Quentin for Two Prospects

Edited by Robert Plant, 03 January 2012 - 01:20 AM.

[Robert Plant]

The Rizzo era has come to an end in San Diego. The Padres traded Anthony Rizzo and "prospect" Zach Cates to the Cubs for Andrew Cashner and "prospect" Kyung-Min Na.

http://sports.yahoo....adres-cubstrade

I'm not really sure of what to think of this trade. It certainly appears that the Padres sold low on Rizzo. On the other hand, Cashner's fastball flirts with 100 mph. Josh Byrnes is certainly high on him. Today on XX1090 the main sports radio station in San Diego, Byrnes compared Cashner with Daniel Bard and Neftali Feliz.

[Robert Plant]

Citing economic concerns, Bud Selig and the MLB owners delayed approval of the sale of the Padres to Jeff Moorad. This does not bode well for a crucial TV deal the Padres are close to with Fox. If the sale drags out long enough, it could effect the Padres ability to rebuild and compete. On the other hand, if Moorad's group truly does not have their financial house in order, in the long run it is probably best for San Diego if they do not buy a majority stake in the Padres.

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. -- Approval of Jeff Moorad's purchase of the Padres was tabled on Thursday as owners asked for clarification on several outstanding financial issues, Commissioner Bud Selig said.
"There were a lot of economic concerns," Selig said after completion of the first quarterly ownership meeting of the year. "The most important thing we do is bringing in new owners, so we have really become very fastidious about whether people can [financially] make it. I'm not suggesting there's anything negative. There were just questions that we didn't have time to answer here. But that's where we are and we're going to do that as expeditiously as possible."

http://sandiego.padr...news_sd&c_id=sd

Edited by Robert Plant, 12 January 2012 - 10:29 PM.

[Robert Plant]

The Padres hot stove report by Jeff Passan at Yahoo-sports is predictably optimistic about the future and surprisingly optimistic about 2012.

While this version of the Padres lacks Latos, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell, enough promise exists on the current roster that the surfeit of talent on its way makes for a potentially exciting present and awfully promising future.

http://sports.yahoo....o_padres_012312

Edited by Robert Plant, 24 January 2012 - 01:17 AM.

[Robert Plant]

The Padres signed Micah Owings today to a one year deal worth 1 million dollars.

http://sandiego.padr...news_sd&c_id=sd


Owings is quite an interesting and extremely versatile player. He is a reliever who can also spot start. In 473 career innings pitched he has an ERA+ 91. Not great, but perhaps good enough for Petco Park. What is remarkable about Owings however is that he is also a seemingly above average pinch hitter. In 217 career plate appearances he has a 108 OPS+. His versatility is clearly what makes him valuble. What a great thing in the national league to have a pinch hitter who can eat up some innings pitching. This should be another nice move for the Padres.

Edited by Robert Plant, 02 February 2012 - 09:27 PM.

[Robert Plant]

In case you're wondering what Jeff Suppan is up too (I know I wasn't), he signed a minor league deal with the Pardres today. This is being framed as a depth move, although the Padres also expect Suppan to mentor pitching prospects down in Triple A.

http://sandiego.padr...news_sd&c_id=sd

[Robert Plant]

The Padres have signed Cameron Maybin to a 5 year deal worth 25 million dollars.
http://sandiego.padr..._sd&c_id=sd

In 568 plate appearances last season Maybin put up a .719 ops; which with Petco park translates to 103 ops+. He stole 40 bases and is an awesome fielder. Last season his UZR in center field was 9.5. Maybin is a great fit for massive Petco park and his hitting stands a very good chance of improving over the next few years as he gets more comfortable with major league pitching. I like this deal. In a couple of years it could look like a steal for the Padres.

Edited by Robert Plant, 04 March 2012 - 01:25 PM.

[Robert Plant]

Carlos Quintin is having arthroscopic knee surgery tomorrow. He is expected to be out 4-6 weeks.

http://sandiego.padr...news_sd&c_id=sd

This is not happy news for the Padres, but assuming he is really back within 6 weeks it is not the end of the world either. It does give Jesus Guzman and Kyle Blanks the chance to prove they should be playing in the big leagues.

[Robert Plant]

Josh Byrnes is still at it. He signed young catcher Nick Hundley to a three year deal worth about $9 million dollars. There is also a $5 million dollar club option for 2015.

http://sandiego.padr...news_sd&c_id=sd

This is seemingly a great deal for the Padres. By all accounts Hundley's fielding has been improving each year and most now consider him at least an average fielding catcher. He is also quietly becoming one of the better hitting catchers in baseball. Last year in 308 plate appearances he put up a 134 OPS+. His OPS+ has improved in each of his 4 seasons in the major leagues. Believe it or not he gave the Padres 3.5 W.A.R. last year. This was the 2nd most W.A.R. on the team. His downside is that he seems injury prone. In his short 4 season career he has yet to appear in more than 85 games.

In any case, this contract is great news for Padres fans; and should catching prospect Yasmani Grandal blossom into his potential, the Padres will have a great trade chip.

Edited by Robert Plant, 20 March 2012 - 10:53 PM.

[derekson]

I assumed the Hundley deal was basically made to increase his trade value, especially with Grandal waiting in the wings. With his cost locked in he's much more attractive to teams with limited budgets. The Rays seem like an especially good fit.

Edited by derekson, 21 March 2012 - 01:32 AM.

[Robert Plant]

I assumed the Hundley deal was basically made to increase his trade value, especially with Grandal waiting in the wings. With his cost locked in he's much more attractive to teams with limited budgets. The Rays seem like an especially good fit.

He certainly would be a nice trade chip in his own right, but everything the Padres are doing and saying seems to indicate that they are trying to be competitive for the foreseeable future. Hundley seems to fit in with this plan. He is a cost controlled player who actually hits better in Petco Park than elsewhere. In addition, the Padres organization views him as a team leader.

A member of the Padres organization recently said that Hundley was considered by his peers as the captain of the team, even though there's no official designation.

http://sandiego.padr...news_sd&c_id=sd

[derekson]

Then why trade for Grandal? Obviously he was among the Reds' top prospects but if they're truly committed to keeping Hundley you'd think they would've gone for a player at a different position or at least flipped Grandal after the trade. It just sounds to me like they're talking up his value and saying they don't HAVE to move him. With his value, their depth at the position, and the state of the catching position around the majors it makes no sense to not at least explore the trade market.

[Robert Plant]

Jeff Moorad stepped down today as the CEO of the Padres.

http://sandiego.padr...news_sd&c_id=sd

It certainly seems like his purchase of the Padres will not go through. This is bad news for the club in the short term but perhaps good news long term as the Padres will hopefully get an owner with deeper pockets.

Edited by Robert Plant, 22 March 2012 - 07:45 PM.

[Robert Plant]

Then why trade for Grandal? Obviously he was among the Reds' top prospects but if they're truly committed to keeping Hundley you'd think they would've gone for a player at a different position or at least flipped Grandal after the trade. It just sounds to me like they're talking up his value and saying they don't HAVE to move him. With his value, their depth at the position, and the state of the catching position around the majors it makes no sense to not at least explore the trade market.

Perhaps Grandal was the best player the Reds were offering and the Padres want to be deep at catcher. I agree they will probably trade a catcher at some point in the not too distant future, but am not convinced it will be Hundley. Why trade away a catcher that pitchers are comfortable with? Why suffer the growing pains of a rookie when you have a strong, proven catcher who is locked up for several years?

[Robert Plant]

The Padres continue to sign some of their potential star young players to long-term, cost-controlled deals. The latest player on the list is Cory Luebke, a left handed starter who could turn out to be the ace of the Padres staff for the next few years. The Padres locked up Luebke through 2017. The last 2 years of the deal are club option years.

http://sandiego.padr...news_sd&c_id=sd

In 157 MLB innings, Luebke has posted a 1.09 WHIP. In the minors he posted similar numbers (1.16 WHIP over 430 innings). Although not tested over the long term, Cory very well might end up being a legitimate ace.

Edited by Robert Plant, 31 March 2012 - 08:14 PM.