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Thursday, February.21, 2013

San Diego GM Josh Byrnes did little in the off-season aside from signing Freddy Garcia. This team will surprise people with their lineup and their starting rotation. They will be Oakland Athletics of the NL West Division.

By Chris Lacey (Baseball Writer) Follow @aecanada12

The San Diego Padres 2012 season is one that can be split into a tale of two seasons. There was the first half of the season where they struggled to score runs and their record reflected that. They went 34-53 and only managed to score a total of 305 runs as a team. The first month is what really set them back; they had a team batting average of .215. The second half of the season the Padres did a complete 180 degree turn in the way that they played. They scored 346 runs and their record was 42-33 in second half of the season. The team batting average increased to a season high in September of .267. The Padres can carry over what happened in the end of 2012 season into 2013 this could be a very competitive division.

General Manager Josh Byrnes did not do much in free agency. He did sign former All-Star pitcher Freddy Garcia to a minor league deal. The Padres have a history of not having a high payroll. They prefer to use their farm system to generate their major league talent, rather than spend money on Free Agents.

Chase Headley 2012 Highlights. Mature Lyrics – Parental Guidance is Advised:

Carlos Quentin will be relied upon starting the season to help with the Padres offense. He can also provide some protection for Chase Headley. Carlos Quentin had his best year with the White Sox in 2008 – where he had 36 HRs and 100 RBI in just 130 Games. He has averaged a HR/17.33 AB for his career.

SIGNED CONTRACTS:

Carlos Quentin OF – (First Year of 3 -YR Deal, but there is a Mutual Option for 2016 at $10 Million) $9,500,000 – This is a good deal for the Padres, because this gives them a power hitting threat in their lineup. He can also provide protection for Chase Headley while in the lineup.  The deal is worth a minimum of $30 Million – if the slugger plays 320 Games from 2013-2015.  He will make 9.5 MIL in 2014 and 8 MIL in 2015.  The Mutual Option would bring him up to 37 Million over the 4 full years of 2013-2016.  If the club doesn’t pick up the option for 2016, Quentin receives a $3 MIL Buyout.

Chase Headley 3B – (1-YR Deal) $8,570,000 – The Padres were able to Avoid arbitration with their power hitting 3B. Headley had a breakout year by leading league in RBI with 115. If Headley has a repeat performance the Padres may want to either lock up  Headley  long-term or trade him for some major league talent. Headley is under team control for 2014 (Arbitration), before he hits the Free Agency open market in 2015.

Huston Street RHP – (First Year of 2-YR Deal but there is a club option for 2015 at $7 Million) $7,000,000 – The Padres are getting a great value for their closer at this price. Street was doing a great job as their closer before he strained his right lateral muscle and his left calf. Street saved 23 games and had an ERA of 1.85.

When the game was on the line last season Street was almost unhittable. He held opposing teams to a .130 batting average and had a WHIP of .718 to along with a 1.85 ERA.

Edinson Volquez SP – (1-YR Deal) $5,720,000 – The Padres avoided Arbitration again with one of their Starting Pitchers. Volquez will be relied upon to be the staff ace. He will need to cut down his walks, so he can pitch deeper into games. As a pending Free Agent in 2014, the Padres may decide to deal the veteran if they are not in contention near the Trade Deadline.

Clayton Richard SP – (1-YR Deal) $5,240,000 – The Padres were able to come to terms with the lone Arbitration Eligible player in MLB. Richard was the lone member of their pitching staff that managed to avoid going on the DL. He made 33 Starts and pitched over 200 Innings.  He is Arbitration Eligible in 2014 and a Free Agent in 2015.

Luke Gregerson RHP – (1-YR Deal) $3,200,000 – The Padres once again were able to avoid going to Arbitration with one of their players. Gregerson was one of their better relief pitchers. He also closed games when Street was injured.  He is Arbitration Eligible again in 2014 – and a Free Agent in 2015.

Cameron Maybin OF – (2nd YR of 5-YR Deal, but there is a club option for 2017 at $9 Million) $3,000,000 – Maybin is the Padres best all-round player. He has the speed to steal bases and run down fly balls in the spacious Petco Park. He has some power in his bat by having 33 XBH.  The next four years his contract increased incrementally to $5 MIL  in 2014, $7 MIL in 2015, $8 MIL in 2016 and then the Team Option.  He has a $ 1 MIL buyout payment from SD – if they decline.  This would make the deal from 2012-2016 ( 5YRs) worth 26 Total Million or 34 Million for the years between 2012-2017.

Nick Hundley C – (Second Year of 3-YR Deal worth $ 9 Mil,  but there is a club option for 2015 at $5 Million) $3,000,000 – Hundley will be the Padres catcher to start the season until Yasmani Grandal’s  suspension for testing positive for a banned substance is up. Hundley will make $4 Million in 2014 before the Team Option.  The deal would be worth 4 YRs/14 Million (2012-2015), if the option is picked up.  The man will be a Free Agent in 2015.

Jason Marquis SP – (1-YR Deal) $3,000,000 – The Padres sign Marquis as a Free Agent. Marquis can be a mentor to some of the young pitchers that the Padres have on the team.

Will Venable OF – (1-YR Deal) $2,675,000 – The Padres again avoided going to Arbitration with another one of their players. Venable had a very solid year for the Padres while showing he could hit with some power, and steal bases.  he is Arbitration Eligible in 2014 and a Free Agent in 2016.

Chris Denorfia OF – (Second year of a 3-YR/ $5.42 Million Deal) $2,000,000 – Denorfia will be splitting time with Venable in Right Field. He has the ability to hit for a high Batting Average. He had more than 300 at-bats and had a 3 slash line of .293/.345/.451.  Denorfia will make 2.25 MIL in 2014 and will be a Free Agent in 2014.

Yonder Alonso will be one of the benefactors for Petco Park once the fences are brought in. He only hit 3 HRs in 261 AB in SD last year – absolutely abysmal power from the First Baseman Position.

Yonder Alonso 1B – (1-YR Deal) $1,500,000- Alonso is the Padres future at 1B. Alonso in his rookie season had 62 RBI, to along with 39 2B. He will be a staple in their lineup for years to come.  He is Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018.

Joe Thatcher LHP – (1-YR Deal) $1,350,000 – They were able to avoid Arbitration with another one of their players. Thatcher was one of the Padres better arms in their bullpen.  He has one more year of Arbitration next year before becoming a Free Agent in 2015.

Mark Kotsay 1B/RF – (1-YR Deal) $1,300,000 – Kotsay is a good veteran player that the Padres can have on their bench.

Everth Cabrera SS – (1-YR Deal) $1,275,000 – The Padres were once again able to avoid Arbitration with another one of their players. Cabrera was able to steal 44 bases in just 398 AB during the 2012 season. He also played solid defense as well.  He is Arbitration Eligible in 2014 and a Free Agent in 2017.

Cory Luebke LHP – (Second Year of 4-YR Deal but has club options for 2016 at $7.5 Million and another option for 2017 at $10 Million) $1,000,000 – The Padres were smart to lock up Luebke. Luebke had a good 2011 by throwing for 139 Innings –  and had a 3.29 ERA. He was to be a fixture in their starting rotation until he had Tommy John surgery last May.

Freddy Garcia RHP – (1-YR Deal) $1,300,000 – The Padres signed the veteran to a Minor-League deal. He can earn a salary of $1.3 Million, if he is brought up to the Major League Roster. There are performance bonuses that can be earned which can increase the deal by another $1.25 Million.

John Baker C – (1-YR Deal) $930,000 – The Padres again avoided arbitration with another one of their players. Baker will be the backup and will split time with Hundley until Grandal suspension is finished.

Yasmani Grandal C- (Fourth Year of 4-YR Deal) $750,000 – The Padres will miss his bat during the first 50 games of the season. Grandal has already apologized for testing positive for a banned substance.

Kyle Blanks OF – (1-YR Deal) $605,000 – The Padres again avoided Arbitration with another one of their players. Blanks will be competing for the 4^th OF spot on the team. He is under club control until the 2015 season – and will become a Free Agent in 2016.

The total cost to the Padres for these 19 players is about $61 Million.

Pre-Arbitration Eligible Players:

Andrew Cashner SP- $486,100 (Arbitration Eligible in 2014 and a Free Agent in 2017) – The best pure stuff of any pitcher the Padres has on the roster. Cashner has a fastball that consistently can hit 96 MPH and above.

Andrew Cashner health will be key going forward for the Padres this season. If Cashner is healthy he could be the team’s ace for their starting rotation. He has a lot of pressure on him having been traded for Anthony Rizzo

Jesus Guzman 1B – (1-YR Deal) $486,000 – The Padres will Guzman bat off the bench, and a possible backup for Alonso. Arbitration Eligible in 2014 and a Free Agent in 2018.

Anthony Bass RHP – $485,300 (Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018) – Bass is one of the Padres newest arms that they have in their bullpen.

Logan Forsythe 3B – $481,400 (Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018) Forsythe has shown that he has the ability to get on base at a high rate. He had limited At-Bats with only 58 but had OBP of .419.

Alexi Amarista 2B – $481,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018) Amarista showed some offense upon being traded from the Angels to the Padres. This was likely due to more playing time with the Padres.

Fautino De Los Santos RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2016 and a Free Agent in 2019) Fautino will be competing one of the spots available in the Padres bullpen.

Brad Boxberger RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2016 and a Free Agent in 2019) Boxberger pitched very well for the Padres since he got called up. He became one Bud Black’s go-to guys in the bullpen.

Brad Brach RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018) Brach did have a high ERA for a reliever at 3.78. This was due to the fact that he was used often to go more than one inning. Brach just had his first full season of relieving, with more experience he will get better at working multiple innings and lower his ERA.

James Darnell 3B – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018)  Darnell will be competing for a spot on the bench. Darnell makes the team out of spring training; his value could come as being a pinch hitter.

Casey Kelly RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2016 and a Free Agent in 2019) Kelly started six games for the Padres last season. He was average at best in four of his six starts. If Kelly impresses this spring training; he would be a candidate for the fifth starter.

Tom Layne LHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2016 and a Free Agent in 2019) Layne was brought up late in the season, and performed well by having an ERA of 3.28. Layne provides Bud Black with the option of using a lefty out of the bullpen.

Miles Mikolas RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2016 and a Free Agent in 2019) Mikolas pitched well when he was called upon by the Padres, he had an ERA of 2.92. Mikolas even closed some games for the Padres. When Bud Black would like to give Street a day off, he has confidence knowing that Mikolas can close games.

Tyson Ross RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018) Ross was acquired by the Padres by trading with the Oakland Athletics. Ross had some very good starts and very bad starts. Ross would be better suited to pitch in the Padres bullpen.

Eric Stults LHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2014 and a Free Agent in 2017) Stults was picked up on waivers by the Padres and pitched very well. The Padres can use Stults either as a starter or long-relief pitcher.

Dale Thayer RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018) Thayer pitched very well for the Padres. Thayer was also able to save games for the Padres when Street went down early in the year with a strained lat muscle. Thayer gives Bud Black an option if Street is not available.

Nick Vincent RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2016 and a Free Agent in 2019) Vincent pitched very well for the Padres when they called him up. Vincent had a very good Strikeout to Walk ratio of 28:7. Vincent can be a future closer for the Padres, if those numbers continue or improve in the future.

Joe Wieland RHP – $480,000 (Arbitration Eligible in 2015 and a Free Agent in 2018) Wieland had Tommy John surgery last July and is not expected to be back with the team until the middle of July. Wieland was pitching well before he had the surgery.

Total Payroll for these guys is about $ 6 Million.  The Padres total Payroll looks to fall between 67-72 Million in 2013.

Going Forward:

Right now, the Padres have only 5 players signed for 2014 for a total of about $27 Million. This gives them some flexibility to lock up Chase Headley long-term. They could also look to extend Street and Quentin if they improve from last season.  They will have a tough time competing both of the Dodgers Payroll (220 Million) – and the Giants (140 Million) in 2013. 

Headley led the NL with 115 RBI in 2012 amongst 31 HRs, he will need to put up monster numbers for the Padres to compete with the LA Dodgers going forward. Headley captured a Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger in 2012. He ealso nded up finishing 5th in NL MVP voting. He hit 23 HRs and 73 RBI in just 75 Games after the ALL-Star Game.The 3B actually fared well at Petco Park in 2012 – with a 3 Slash Line of .272/.357/.812. He added 13 HRs and 51 RBI. He could potentially hit a few more out with the fences drawn in.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***

A big thank-you goes out to our ”Diamond Backs Correspondent’ Chris Lacey. Chris has been a fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks ever since he started watching baseball at the age of 13. Now he does like all sports – but his favorites after baseball are  hockey and basketball.  Chris is very good with computers and is a college graduate.  He is excited for this season to see what Arizona can do – and believes they will win the west.  Chris is very active on Twitter and especially during the baseball season chatting with other Diamondbacks fans. Be sure to follow him and talk about the great game of baseball. Follow @aecanada12

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