Offseason Preview: San Diego Padres

Players Under Contract For 2009 & Beyond



OF - Brian Giles ($9M Option or $3M Buyout)
OF - Jody Gerut ($1.5M - Arb Guess)
OF - Scott Hairston ($750,000 - Arb Guess)
OF - Chip Ambres, Chase Headley, Drew Macias, Will Venable (x4 - $450,000 - Pre-Arb Guesses)
SS - Khalil Greene ($6.5M)
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff ($500,000 - Pre-Arb ???)
1B - Adrian Gonzalez ($3M - Through 2011)
IF - Craig Stansberry, Luis Rodriguez, Brian Myrow, Sean Kazmar, Matt Antonelli (x5 - $450,000 - Pre-Arb Guesses)
C - Luke Carlin, Nick Hundley, Colt Morton (x3 - $450,000 - Pre-Arb Guesses)
SP - Jake Peavy ($8M - Through 2013)
SP - Chris Young ($4.5M - Through 2011)
P - Heath Bell ($1.5M - Arb Guess)
P - Cla Meredeth ($1M - Arb Guess)
P - Clay Hensley ($600,000 - Arb Guess)
P - Justin Hampson, Joe Thatcher, Cha Baek, Tim Stauffer, Mike Adams, Kevin Cameron, Mike Ekstrom, Josh Greer, Enrique Gonzalez, Charlie Haeger, Dirk Hayhurst, Wade LeBlanc, Scott Patterson, Chad Reinke, Josh Banks, Justin Germano, Carlos Guevara, Sean Henn, Bryan Corey, Brian Falkenborg (x20 - $450,000 - Pre-Arb Guesses)


Players Leaving Via Free Agency


P - Trevor Hoffman ($7.5M)
C - Michael Barrett ($3.5M)
C - Josh Bard ($2.2375M - Non-Tender Very Likely)
P - Mark Prior ($1M)
P - Shawn Estes ($550,000)


About $50M is on hand for next season, which is where their payroll should be near with the rumours of cutting payroll.


Greene is a trade candidate, with a few teams looking for a solid SS. Toronto, Detroit, Minnesota, and maybe Texas & Tampa will be looking for a SS with Greene's D & power. I see him being dealt, probly to a team I am not thinking about, maybe St. Louis.


If they really want to blow it up, Chris Young is an affordable, solid mid-rotation guy. He would cost a couple solid prospects, but would be worth it to many team looking for stability.


Kevin Kouzmanoff could be moved if they want to move top prospect Headley back to 3rd. The Twins, Rangers, Indians, Oakland, and maybe Baltimore are options in the AL. I see him going to the Rangers, maybe for a pitching prospect with solid bullpen potential or back-of-rotation upside.


The Deals I Would Make


Excercise Brian Giles' option, and explore trading him. Have the aquiring team pick up the whole $9M, and maybe another year for Brian to waive his no-trade rights. I'd send him to Atlanta for a solid prospect or 2. Jordan Schaffer or Brandon Jones, preferably the more athletic Jones and Cole Rohrbough or Tommy Hansen.

Trade Khalil Greene to the Tigers for Matt Joyce, straight up.

Trade Chris Young to an AL team desperate for pitching, with little payroll room, like Kansas City for Luke Hochevar. Hochevar has struggled, but could excell in a pitcher-friendly league and park.

Trade Kouzmanoff to the Rangers for one of their catchers, Taylor Teagardon or Max Ramirez. Ramirez would be more likely.

Trade Jody Gerut to somewhere who could afford a $1M+ 4th OF, like the Yankees, for a relief prospect like Phil Coke.

The 2009 Team, In My World

C - Max Ramirez, Nick Hundley, Luke Carlin, & Colt Morton
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Matt Antonelli
3B - Chase Headley
SS - Luis Gonzalez & Sean Kazmar
OF - Matt Joyce, Brandon Jones, Scott Hairston, Will Venable

SP - Jake Peavy, Luke Hochevar, Clay Hensley, Charlie Haeger, Josh Greer
RP - Heath Bell, Cla Meredith, Mike Adams, Bryan Corey, Justin Hampson, Joe Thatcher, Brian Falkenborg.

Conclusion.

The Padres will be the worst team in baseball next year, unless they decide to spend and hit about $80M in payroll. They have too many holes to fill from within, and free agents and trades are very costly.

This will be the last of this series, as it just isn't entertaining to me anymore. I may do something similar to it, just trades I would make or signing that seem perfect for some teams, but no more team-by-team. I may do one for the Jays, and update it frequently though.

Peace