1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Wednesday. “PADRES–WHAT TO DO”
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“THE PADRES–QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING-BASEBALL”
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PADRES & MONEY…They have set records for revenue intake over the last two summers. Does that mean a bump back up in the Padres budget, that was (169M) last season, or are they banking money to wipe out all the debt AJ Preller incurred in his early years of mistakes. By the way, the Padres heading into the 2025 season, have raised ticket prices a combined (50%). What will be the real payroll.
PADRES ROSTER…Big weeks of decisions coming on players they have to sign:
..Dylan Cease..due about (13.8M) in arbitration-they will have to pay it
..Michael King..likely a pay bump up to (8.5M) based on strong season
..Tanner Scott..could demand (8-to-10M) to be a closer somewhere else
..Kyle Higashioka..pay bump up to (8M) after 17HR season
..Jurickson Profar..now repped by Scott Boras-are you going to pay him (10M)?
..Jackson Merrill..Rookie of the Year season-earned 800,000..likely to get (4M)
..Luis Arraez could get (14.8M) in arbitration-but he is a singles hitter-with no position
TRADE RUMORS..White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet is out there, but the Padres may not have the right combo of players to make a deal work. Chicago sources say the White Sox don’t want Jake Cronenworth’s (10M) per year deal and the Friars may not have the right mix of top minor leaguers, aside from C-Luis Campusano, to make a deal work. The Mets and Red Sox seem to have the mix to do a White Sox deal.
PADRES NEEDS…A starter to replace Joe Musgrove for a full year. The list likely starts with Randy Vasquez if you believe you can get quality starts from him without bad innings included. AJ Preller knows pitching and how to rent it. Names like Matt Boyd, Charley Morton, Shane Bieber and the return of Martin Perez are names to keep an eye on.
BENCH BUNCH…Rock solid seasons from Donovan Solano and David Peralta-could be revisited with a slight pay bump. Maybe (2.5M) each to be super utilityman will lure them back here. Other names to watch, Harrison Bader, Tyler O’Neill, Michael Taylor.
CATCHING..If Higashioka defects back to the Yankees, it might be a scramble to replace him. Travis D’Arnaud is already gone to the Angels, Jacob Stallings, Elias Diaz, and Dan Jansen are out there. Have to see whether or not Luis Campusano can make himself a complete receiver.
Interesting November-into-December ahead of us for the Friars.
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