Happy New Year!

Time to look at the Padres remaining needs:
Edit: Miner signs with the Royals,
Prediction: Okijima

Bullpen arm:

The top 8 options-

1.       Chad Durbin

He is my favorite option here and was solid with Philly.

Projection-3.20 ERA 4-2

2.       Aaron Heilman

Arizona’s former closer would be the most expensive cheap option.

3.40 8-5

3.       Joe Biemel

Really good Lefty specialist and could allow us to move Thatcher to a set-up man and Adams to closer to move Bell.

2.20 1-3

4.       Hideki Okajima

Same of Biemel but not as good last year but was playing for Boston

2.99 2-1

5.       Will Ohman

More expensive but better then Okajima and Biemel

2.11 3-3

6.        Zach Miner

Decent middle reliever,  Mujica without Bombs every 10 pitches

3.49 3-3 87k

7.        Randy Flores

Cheap solid Lefty

3.20 1-0

8.        Trevor Hoffman

Retire as a Padre!

6.09 1-10 or 2.89 8 saves not sure what to expect

Reserve middle infielder

Top 5 options:

1.        Jerry Hairston Jr.

He would soften the blow of the free agent losses. He is the cream of the utility crop.

.277 8HR 10 SB

2.        Ramon Santiago

An ex-Tiger and a decent Utility Man he is next year’s Jerry Hairston Jr.

.288 1HR 16SB

3.       Kevin Frandsen

Solid player and ex-Giant step down from other 2

.272 2HR 8SB

4.        Cristain Guzman

Really good bat below average defense

.322 8HR 8SB below average defense

5.        Augie Ojeda

.260 1HR 1SB

Better than Gregorio Petit

My predictions-

The Padres sign Zack Miner to a 1 year 800k deal

The Padres sign Ramon Santiago to a 1 year 900k deal

The Padres sign Randy Flores to a minor league deal

The Padres sign Trevor Hoffman to a 1 day contract to retire as a Padre

Hawpe

    Hawping on the Hawpe Train!

    It is believed the Padres have agreed to terms with OF/1B Brad Hawpe on a one year deal and I think this will be the best bargain in baseball next year. Did you know the former Rockie has 60 bombs at home in his career and the same number on the road!? At PETCO in a 600 AB season half at home and half on the road he would hit .281 with 24 HR and 90 RBI! He will play first base and it took time to look at his stats before I realized he would be amazing!

Prediction:  .297 29 HR 100 RBI All-Star

Padres: 96-66

Padres Elf Yourself

I really loved this and it cracks me up every time I watch it. I didn't make it, but I do enjoy it! It's a little bit of Padres holiday fun. Watch it here!

Random Thoughts

Random Thoughts

• The Padres should sign Troy Glaus to a 850K deal.
• We still need a back-up catcher and there aren't many options left.
• A recent Jed Hoyer interview- 

          http://www.xx1090sandiego.com/pages/archive?app=podcast&podcastID=2268     
        (once open, scroll down to 12/15/10)

• 2010 Padres prediction     93-69
• Go Padres!!!!!

It's Official

It’s official

It is official the Padres have acquired SS Jason Bartlett and a PTBNL for four prospects. They also signed 2B Orlando Hudson to a two year deal worth 9.5 million dollar deal with a mutual option of eight million dollars with a two million dollar buyout and acquired 2B/OF Eric Patterson to complete the Gonzalez deal. 

Bartlett: See previous post.

Hudson: He will add some coolness and fun to the clubhouse. Not to mention a little bit of pop and decent defense at a thin position. PP  .290 8 HR 25 SB

Patterson: He will fill Jerry Hairston Jr.’s role as the utility man.  .300 100 AB’s 8HR 10 SB

Brandon Gomes: He is the biggest part of this deal and will be missed.

Adam Russell: He will pitch in the 8^th inning.

Cole Figueroa: He is a very good UTIL man at worst.

Cesar Ramos: Pretty good waiver wire type.

PTBNL- He will be the key to this trade and I am hoping for John Jaso, a catcher.

Hudson-   A-

Bartlett-    A+ to a C-

Patterson-    C

Padres Projections 2011

Some  2011 Padres projections-Round 1

Mat Latos

2.21 ERA    210k    19-9  W-L     5.2 WAR

A young, mature Latos will come close to a Cy Young.

Heath Bell

1.89 ERA  59 saves 6-0 W-L  4.0 WAR

Big year, maybe a trade.

Cam Maybin

.277   18 HR   47 SB Gold Glove 4.4 WAR

Breakout campaign, Former top prospect.

My Padres Plan

Let’s do some math! The Padres have approximately 45 million dollars to spend.

1	Will Venable	.4	CF
2	Oscar Salazar	.4	1B/3B/OF
3	Cam Maybin	.4	CF
4	Ryan Ludwick	7*	LF
5	Chris Denorfia	.8	OF
6	Chase Headley	2*	3B
7	Everth Cabrera	.4	SS
8	Nick Hundley	.4	C
9	?		Back-up catcher
10	?		1B
11	?		2B
12	Jason Bartlett????		SS
13	?		LH Bench Bat
14	Joe Thatcher	2*	LHP
15	Mike Adams	2*	RHP
16	Heath  Bell	7*	RHP
17	Luke Gregerson	.4	RHP
18	Dustin Mosley	.9	RHP
19	Aaron Harang	4	RHP
20	Mat Latos	.4	RHP
21	Clayton Richard	.4	LHP
22	Tim Stauffer	.4	RHP
23	Ernesto Frieri	.4	RHP
24	George Kontos	.4	RHP
25	Cory Luebke	.4	LHP
Totals	*approximate salary	30.9

           

That leaves us with 15 million dollars to spend on 5 players.  After a finalized Bartlett deal that leaves us with 10 million for 4 players.

Here are my suggestions:                                                                                                                                                                               Sign Rick Ankiel to a minor league deal or call up Baxter and that leaves you with a little less than 9 million. This is the shocker of today, sign Jorge Cantu and Derek Lee for 2 and 5 million dollar deals. Cantu would play second base. Next trade Jeremy Hefner and Nick Hundley for Geovany Soto. Last off sign sign Henry Blanco and you end up with a 40 to 50 million dollar payroll.

The line-up is great:

CF Cam Maybin

SS Jason Bartlett

1B Derek Lee

LF Ryan Ludwick

C   Geo Soto

2B Jorge Cantu (I know!)

RF Will Venable/ Kyle Blanks

3B Chase Headley

SP1 Mat Latos

SP2 Clayton Richard

SP3 Tim Stauffer

SP4 Aaron Harang

SP5 Cory Luebke

CL Heath Bell

SU Luke Gregerson

SU Mike Adams

MI Ernie Frieri

MI George Kontos

LS Joe Thatcher

LR Dustin Mosley

BN Rick Ankiel

BN Everth Cabrera

BN Blanks/Venable

BN Deno

BN Henry Blanco