Girl Detective suspects a deal is in the works

by Dex on Mar 19, 2007 1:38 PM PDT in News

Drama just sent me the news that the Padres have acquired Justin Germano off waivers. Now, our bullpen is supposedly among the best in the majors already. There's obviously no room for Germano in the rotation. He would've been on his way to triple-A in the Phillies organization. Where's he headed in San Diego?

Well, as you all know, I very much enjoyed pretending that I was Nancy Drew Girl Detective in my younger days and as I pull out my magnifying glass and check the clues, my girl detective instincts have once again kicked in. Nancy Drew, Girl Detective as played by Dex, Gaslamp Baller suspects that the Padres are about to make a deal. Could Germano be an extra arm to sweeten the often rumored Linebrink for anybody who you might happen to offer deal? Girl Detective thinks he is.

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Suspicious indeed.....

KT was on record in that he would keep this bullpen intact going into the season before making a move. Either he is very confident in the depth the pen has now and is willing to entertain offers for a hitter. I'd be surprised if something happened for opening day.

by Peanuts and Beer on Mar 19, 2007 9:13 PM PDT reply actions

No...

KT said he would do any of the deals he'd been offered and that about 25 teams had asked about Linebrink.

With the salaries middle relievers are getting (see Danys Baez and his 3-year, $19mm contract w/ Baltimore), Linebrink and his $1.75mm contract are quite palletable and could fetch quite a return. KT just isn't giving away Liney... Don't be surprised if he does a deal for Ensberg, Burrell, one of the Tampa OFers, or someone along those lines.

That said, deals are hard to do. It's less risky (a bad trade looks bad in the local press & to a team's owner) to stand pat. KT is PERFECTLY willing to deal Linebrink, he just has to find the right GM who's willing to give up what KT wants.

-peter http://padresrundown.blogspot.com

by PeterF on Mar 19, 2007 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Let's All Face the Facts Here...

There is about a 1% chance that Scott Linebrink will finish the 2007 season in a San Diego Padre uniform. Here's why:

Liney is a free agent at the end of the season. As Peter pointed out in his post above, Danys Baez scored a 3-year deal for about $6.3 million bucks a year. We all know Linebrink will do even better than that. There's no way the Padres are going to pay Linebrink, or any other reliever, $7 million a season to be a set-up man. (The Padres option on Trevor for 2008 for $5.5 million became gauranteed at the end of last season because he finished over 45 games in 2006.) KT is not about to lose Linebrink in free agency and get nothing in return after spending the last two seasons turning down offer after offer for him. KT WILL deal him. But, like Peter said, he's not going to give him away. He's in the position of power right now...KT will wait until he gets exactly the deal that he wants...plus maybe even a little more.

"People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball." ~ Sandy Koufax

by Drama on Mar 20, 2007 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions

we wouldn't get nothing in return ...

...if we lost Scott Linebrink to Free Agency. He's at least a Type B free agent (probably a type A) so there will be compensation picks including first round sandwich picks plus possibly a compensation pick (if he is type A) from the team that signs him. I have to think that he likes it here and would be willing to stay with the club, but I don't see the Padres paying 3y/20m with such a deep system full of young cheap arms

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 20, 2007 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

As usual...

As usual, RevRun, you are correct. But I think KT is hoping for much more than draft picks for Liney. But, either way...the Padres won't end up empty handed.

"People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball." ~ Sandy Koufax

by Drama on Mar 20, 2007 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Draft picks are good, we have the best scouts

I know it sounds crazy, but I actually think we should be making a move for another reliever. We have extra left handed bats on the roster. We need to have a deep bullpen. We're going to need 500+ IP from our bullpen, and we need more guys in the middle so that we don't over use Cla, Scott, and Trevor. I am all for building a veteran seven man bullpen to throw quality innings after our starters throw six innings of good ball (on average).

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 20, 2007 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Who should we try to get for Linebrink?

To Toronto with a draft pick and cash for Troy Glaus? (liv
To Houston for Morgan Ensberg?
To Minnesota for Nick Punto?

by RBS on Mar 19, 2007 9:54 PM PDT reply actions

hey Encyclopdia Brown...

Great move by the front office. Hopefully this kid will gel with the pitchers and benefit from the Padres organization. Does anybody remember him from 2004? I was still a Red Sox fan living in Virginia and missed the inaugural season for PETCO in the gaslamp.

I have to disagree about trading Scott Linebrink. I don't see a scenario where we trade him (well maybe for Ryan Howard) because he is a damn good pitcher who helps this team win. He has his spells and I admit to having over criticised him on this blog in the past but his stats are good.

In order to win games the Padres have a deep seven man bullpen all season. Don't get me wrong, we have the best starting five of any in the division (and our division is the best in the majors, pitching wise) and our starters are going to win some games, but they are not going to pitch deep into games on a regular basis. And that is fine. We just have to get some good innings from guys other than Cla, Scott, Trever, and the LOOGy. If anyone is to be traded why not one of our lefty power bats for a similar right handed bat or another quality relief pitcher. I am sure we can get the Royals to trade Octavio Dotel for Todd Walker and some bling.

I did like this quote:

"I'll do whatever it takes to help the team," Germano said. "If I'm a long reliever for life, that's fine if I'm in the majors."

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 19, 2007 10:02 PM PDT reply actions

Doug Brocail

Broke will be an awesome 'pen guy all year.

Lots of errors in the previous post.

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 19, 2007 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions

dang

i had just gotten the hope for any trade or big move out of my mind and had jumped on the sledge bandwagon getting excited about him in LF...now you bring up this possiblitiy and im getting excited about a possible move for the first time since before spring training...

since im already on the sledge and kouz bandwagon and have gotten myself hyped i think im happy with brink in the pen and kouz and sldege out there. dont want ensberg to take kouz opp for success if they ever were to trade for ensberg as someone above mentioned...

if we did the trade id love a powerful left fielder with proven success though

and i dont mind throwing in walker to any trade to sweeten it up for us...

threepeat?(never thought id be able to say that about the padres!)

by Peavyforprez08 on Mar 19, 2007 11:00 PM PDT reply actions

July 31 trade deadline

Linebrink, Walker, and ____(LF Sledge, Cruz Jr, or MacAnulty) for

Manny Ramirez

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 20, 2007 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions

The Key is Mike Thompson

I think Thompson is going to make the club as a bullpener. Mostly because of David Wells' struggles. So another warm body was needed for AAA. Plus you always need a plan to fall back on if 80% rotation gets hurt at once.

by Wonko on Mar 20, 2007 10:37 AM PDT reply actions

I guess it comes from wanting more pitching

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 20, 2007 1:01 PM PDT reply actions

does anybody know who ...

Justin German is? Anybody remember him from '04?

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 20, 2007 1:03 PM PDT reply actions

Germano....

When San Diego lost David Wells to an injury three years ago, Germano was called up to make a few starts. He beat the Phillies in his debut, but finished 1-2 with an 8.86 ERA in seven games, including five starts.

Originally selected by the Padres in the 13th round of the 2000 First-Year Player draft, Germano made his Major League debut with San Diego on May 22, 2004 and became the 16th pitcher in franchise history to win his Big League debut. He compiled a 1-2 mark with an 8.86 ERA (21 ER/21.1 IP) in seven games for the Padres (five starts) during the 2004 season. Germano was traded along with right-handed pitcher Travis Chick to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Joe Randa.

This is kind of funny...my in-laws live in Hershey, PA and during a visit to see them my wife and I drove to Philly to see the Padres play the Phillies. I am proud to say I was in attendance for Justin Germano's major league debut and first win.

"People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball." ~ Sandy Koufax

by Drama on Mar 20, 2007 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Citizens Bank Park

That new stadium in Philly was in its inaugural year as well in 2004, so that game must've been a treat. I saw a Sunday interleague day game there in June 2005. Boomer started for the BoSox and actually legged out a Double!! It was a perfect day as the Sox came back to destroy Philly 12-8 and complete a four game sweep. Philly fans are the biggest tools in the shed.

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 20, 2007 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions