Padres sign Matt Stairs

This has “Cliff Floyd” written all over it.

via 619sports.net

There’s no downside to the move, unless you really, really think Drew Macias deserves a spot on the 25-man roster out of Peoria. If Stairs is over the hill, he won’t make it out of Spring Training. If he’s on the big league team, he might get a couple of pinch hits. If he performs well, expect him to be the first one traded to a contender come July/August.

outside of an offensive lineman in the NFL.

BTW, was Gaslamp Ball serious when it asked its Twitter Followers if they would prefer Mark Loretta as a bench player /pinch hitter over Matt Stairs ? Must be Loretta’s clank fielding (he can only play second base badly) and his .548 OPS (2009) that makes the comparison worthy. Damn, I hate a late innings PH that rarely ever walks, has no power and zero speed. Every year I have to suffer with the SD talk radio callers that scream on the phone “bring Loretta back”.

Its not like Boch is managing the team and will scurry him out in LF every night instead of Blanks. It could even end up being a wash if the Padres do something that was considered to be absolutely crazy by the last administration and carry 6 bench players and forego the extra extra long reliever who is seen less than el chupa cobra (yes I’m looking at you Kevin Cameron)

besides being a minor league deal. Is that Jerry Hairston is on the roster in additional to having multiple OFs that can play multiple OF positions. When you already have players backing up every position, why not get guys like Stairs and Salazar who are basically there just to provide pop off the bench.

The other side of the move is that bench players don’t matter very much when you aren’t a credible threat to make the postseason. Of course, you could also say that you don’t want your young guys rotting on the bench, so you might as well sign old guys. Also, keep in mind that you can trade these type of veterny bench players at the deadline if they are healthy. Tony Clark turned into one of our better minor league relief prospects, Evan Scribner.

Jonathan Broxton runs and hides…

Stairs, who spends each offseason as the assistant hockey coach for Bangor High School

He had a decent OBA (.360) last season. Still got a little pop when he manages to run into one. It’s a nothing move. If BB actually plays him in the field i might have to walk forever into the Pacific Ocean and let the cool water ease my torment and free my soul.

assistant hockey coach for Bangor High School in Maine

That’s only the creepiest town in America!