Can San Diego’s Wheeling And Dealing Get The Padres A Ring?

No Comments September 2, 2020 Padres By John Stellman

So who do the San Diego Padres think they are!!!

The New York Yankees?

The Los Angeles Dodgers?

You would expect those historic World Series contenders to be active at MLB’s trade deadline if holes in the armor needed to be patched.

Serious Business

But San Diego?

The Padres modus operandi has been to sell, not buy.

Yet here they were taking center stage right up until the last second on the final day.

Six trades involving 26 players!

They had all of baseball shaking their proverbial heads.

I mean this wasn’t happening in the Bronx.

Not even in Chavez Ravine.

But in San Diego.

Huh?

Perennial Losers

A team that hasn’t had a winning record (90-72) since 2010.

That year they finished second, two games behind San Francisco in the National League West.

Now in their 51st season, the Padres have made only two trips to the World Series.

Both were embarrassments.

In 1998 they were swept by the Yankees.

In 1984 they hardly put up a battle, losing to Detroit in five games.

Swung But Missed

They failed on three other ill-fated attempts to reach the Fall Classic.

In 1996 and 2005 they were unceremoniously swept (losing both series 3-0).

The following year they barely put up a fight, bowing out in four games.

So now, all of sudden, the Padres have become relevant.

Apparently we shouldn’t have been surprised at all.

“We decided we’re going to spend money right now when we really don’t want to spend money,” said Executive Chairman Ron Fowler, citing an empty Petco Park .

“But if the market was as hearty as it would be without this pandemic, it would have cost us a lot more to do that.

That’s why we went for it. If you’re going to lose money, you might as well win baseball games.”

Turn The Page

So with the blessings of General Partner Peter Seidler, the Padres went all in.

But unbeknownst to us perhaps, that foundation for future success was poured two winters ago.

On February 19, 2018 the Padres quietly signed Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer. The 30-year old slugger will earn $21M this year.

Almost one year to the day later – February 21, 2019 – San Diego corralled Manny Machado. The cost? $32M.

Ironically, both have “opt out” clauses in their contracts.

Hosmer can become a free agent after the 2020 season. Machado can exit the next year.

Nothing like trying to convince a couple of marquee accusations to stick around.

All In

Fowler and Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller believe it’s a mission accomplished.

The ground work was laid during discussions in the weeks prior to the trade deadline.

“He (Preller) said he’d like to upgrade the bullpen. He did that. He wanted to get a starting pitcher. He wanted to get a bat. And he was tired and wanted to upgrade the catching position.

I’d say he’s 4-for-4,” Fowler said.

Step No 1: Kansas City reliever Trevor Rosenthal.

After a disappointing 2019 season, the 30-year old right hander signed a minor league deal, went to spring training and promptly earned a spot on the Royals opening day roster.

Rosenthal quickly caught the Padres’ eye, compiling a 3.29 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 13 2/3 innings while routinely challenging triple-digits on the radar gun.

Fowler laughed at a call he received from Preller a few days earlier.

“He’s rattling off all these names and I said, ‘Let me get to this office, let me write this down,’ ” Fowler remembered.

“People might think it’s chaos, but it’s really not. It’s a lot of hours spent back and forth and evaluating an incredible amount of research.”

In addition to Rosenthal, the GM also added Seattle right hander Taylor Williams to the bullpen.

Next…

1 down, 3 to go.

So now it’s on to a starting rotation that’s hardly on life support.

Towering right hander Mike Clevinger, (pictured above) the best starter available, outfielder Greg Allen and the infamous Player To Be Named Later joined the Padres.

In exchange, Cleveland received Austin Hedges, Josh Naylor, Cal Quantrill, Joey Cantillo, Gabriel Arais and Owen Miller.

“Before the trades, this was a World Series caliber roster. Now, it’s just getting even better. This is a team to make a serious, serious run,” marveled Clevinger, whom the Angels sent to Ohio in August, 2014, for pitcher Vinnie Pestano.

In his five seasons with the Indians, Clevinger was a very workman like 42-22 with a 3.20 ERA.

He tops a San Diego rotation that also includes Dinelson Lamet, Chris Paddack, Zach Davies and Garrett Richards.

Batter Up

No. 3: A bat.

As part of the pandemic shortened season, rule changes now allow National League teams to employ the designated hitter.

Talk about just what the doctor ordered!

The Padres collection of DH contributors is one of the team’s sore eyes.

A .254/.326/.431 line is woefully pathetic.

Enter Mitch Moreland.

Masher extraordinaire.

He may be 34 years old, but he can still swing the lumber.

Inserting Moreland into the middle of the Padre lineup is the coup de grace to an already formidable ‘Murders Row’.

In 22 games this year with Boston, the 6-3, 245-pounder walloped eight home runs and knocked home 21 teammates.

Critical Upgrade

His line: .328/.430/.746.

In 2019, the imposing left handed hitter cracked 19 home runs and had 58 RBIs in just 298 at bats.

More importantly, Moreland’s pedigree includes 3 World Series, 3 ALCS and 6 ALDS appearances.

So what did this perfect fit cost San Diego?

Infielder Hudson Potts and outfielder Jeisson Rosario.

And with a $3M club option, you might very likely see Moreland in Padre gear next season.

Last but certainly not least was San Diego’s aggressive determination to bolster their talent behind the plate.

Mariners, Angels Help

Two AL West teams came to their rescue.

Seattle sent highly regarded catcher Austin Nolan along with right handed pitchers Austin Adams and Dan Altavilla to the Padres in exchange for catcher Luis Torrens, pitcher Andres Munoz, infielder Ty France and outfielder Taylor Trammell.

In 29 games with the Mariners this year, Nolan’s slash line was .306/.373/.531.

Another plus: He is under club control through the 2025 season.

Then to back Nolan, San Diego sent right hander Gerardo Reyes to the Angels for Jason Castro, who is considered one of the best pitch framers in the game.

And all of this was accomplished without surrendering MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams or Kuis Campusano, three of the Padres prized prospects.

Clevinger Fired Up

That’s one of the reasons Clevinger is so pumped.

“Definitely something special brewing here and I think it’s going to be something special for coming years, not just this year,” Clevinger remarked

“I don’t believe in the narrative that we’re all in and this is our only shot.

Not only do we have a chance to be a better team for this year … I also believe we’re going to be set up for the future stronger as well,” said Padres manager Jayce Tingler.

“Before the trades, this was a World Series caliber roster. Now, it’s just getting even better. … This is a team to make a serious, serious run,” Clevinger surmised.

“There’s a real collective focus to get this team to the playoffs and hopefully do damage,” Preller agreed.

“This is the most exciting team in baseball by far right now,” Clevinger concluded. “This is kind of the place to be.”

“We’re just going to aim for the big cake. Why not? Let’s go win a World Series,” said San Diego’s Most Valuable Player candidate, Fernando Tatis, Jr.

That sentiment was echoed by the General Manager.

“Why not? Let’s go win the World Series.”

THIS….. is who the San Diego Padres think they are!!!

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John Stellman

I was born with sports in my blood. I began coaching little league baseball at 15. I was the sports editor of my high school newspaper. I did football play by play for the college radio station. I broadcast high school basketball for a local commercial station. But baseball was always my passion. During the 1970's I covered the Angels for the Orange County Register. And now I am back where I belong...