FanPost

Royals Review GM Simulation - Padres Review

As Padres GM for the second year I came into this year with a few immediate goals

1) Trade the most valuable pieces available

2) Find a stop gap at one or two positions (SS)

3) Add & Clear the way for young talent

4) Find good deals where I could

1) Trading the Most Valuable Pieces

Padres trade P Luis Perdomo, P Brad Hand, and P Miguel Diaz to the Brewers for OF Corey Ray, 1B/3B Jake Gatewood, and OF Larry Ernesto

Padres trade INF Yangervis Solarte to the SF Giants for OF Bryan Reynolds and RHP Shaun Anderson

Obviously I wanted to trade Brad Hand, and I needed to move Solarte to make room for the log jam of infielders we have. First day I struck by getting a top 50 prospect for Brad Hand in Corey Ray - a four plus tool and one average/good tool outfielder that will start in High A and gives the team a new top 10 prospect. Corey Ray could be a starting RF in two years for a decade. I also cleared out two Rule V guys getting the best international free agent the Brewers signed last year (another potential five tool guy) and a power hitting corner infielder.

While I'm against moving players within the division, the move for Solarte included another prospect I like a great deal and another top prospect. Reynolds is a guy I've been a big fan of for years and would fit the role of an excellent LF option with good obp/speed and defense with power coming along. Anderson is an excellent high A two pitch pitcher (fastball and slider/curve) who is working on another - sound familiar? He has the very make up of a Lamet.

2) Finding a stop gap

Padres sign SS Alcedies Escobar to a 1 year $2 million deal

Padres sign RHP Shelby Miller to a 1 year $8 million deal with a club option for the same amount.

Padres sign RHP Michael Pineda for 1 year $7.5 million

If it's another year it's another stop gap. This time all I need is for one year at most; between Guerra/Tatis/Rondon something is going to happen to make this no longer a position over repeated band-aiding. Escobar is a former top prospect and player who wants to make up for a bad year. Again, he does well, he handles the position and he can be flipped.

Just as last year I needed pitching and ideally pitching I could flip. I definitely overpaid on a pair of injured players but both A) can be back this year and B) can be flipped if they pitch well. I'm basically taking a chunk of payroll for one year (basically) hoping I can get both guys to pitch well and be flippable. If not well, that's life.

3) Add and Clear the way for young talent

Padres traded 1B Nate Easley for RHP Mark Appel

Padres send INF Cory Spangenberg to the Marlins for 3B Joe Dunand

Padres send OF Matt Szczur, RP Carter Capps, RP Kirby Yates, and SP Clayton Richard to the Twins for SP Kyle Gibson, OF Zach Granite, SP Landon Leach, and 3B T.J. White

Padres trade OF Travis Jankowski to the Texas Rangers for SS Michael de Leon

Just decided to see who I could add and who I could clear. In Easley I traded a very low level first baseman for a pitcher that had fallen on hard times but had once been a potential two time first over all pick. I think Appel could be a workhorse but he needs A) a chance and B) some more coaching. Padres can provide both.

In Dunard I acquired A-Rod's younger cousin and a talented 3B prospect (albeit in rookie ball) for a player whose time had passes and needed to be moved along so that players like Urias/Asuaje could get more time (plus it gives a player I like in Villanueva the opportunity to start). Dunard is a good multi tool player especially his bat and power but again is a long way away.

The big trade is again clearing chaff to make room for other younger players. Gibson is a hard luck pitcher who has 4 solid pitches but never has been able to put it together.I see him alot like Travis Wood. Granite is a speed OBP left hand hitter with blazing speed that could actually be at the top of the line up but also could be a fourth outfielder. Think he's a far better Jankowski replacement who could even start. Leach is another low A pitcher with mid 90s good fastball, one good curve ball and one working change up. He's a pure projection. White is a AA corner infielder who makes up for a lack of power with great OBP, speed and defense. For chaff I feel like I got alot of upside.

Jankowski was past his time and needed to be moved. So basically I threw him to the Rangers and got back the AJP special; a late teens middle infielder.

4) Filling out the roster

Padres sign RP Daniel Bard to a minor league deal
Padres sign RP Huston Street to a 1 year $3 million deal
Padres sign RP Fernando Rodney to a 1 year $3.5 million deal
Padres sign RP Craig Stanmen to a 2 year $3 million deal
Padres sign INF Trevor Plouffie to a 1 year $1 million deal

Combination of filling out needs and potential trade chips. Bringing back previously traded padre relievers at a pretty meh rate gives the team the opportunity to go with an older bullpen of players who could be traded or at the very least give some competition to the plethora of young bullpen talent currently at San Antonio and El Paso. Plouffie just fills the backup corner/2B infielder position with Sanchez spotting both Hedges and Myers.

Conclusion
This didn't go QUITE as I planned as I had alot of balls in the air that fell through but that's the way it is. I think at the very least I added some good young talent (including two Top 100 prospects in Bryan Reynolds and Corey Ray) at a number of spots in the system and cleared the decks for a bunch of other talent to come in next year.

Starters
C: Austin Hedges
1B: Wil Myers
2B: Carlos Asuaje
SS: Alcides Escobar
3B: Christian Villanueva
LF: Jose Pirela
CF: Manny Margot
RF: Hunter Renfroe

Backups
C/1B: Hector Sanchez
OF: Zach Granite
OF: Nick Buss
CI: Trevor Plouffe
MI: Adam Rosales

Starting Rotation (set)
Dinelson Lamet
Mark Appel
Matt Strahm
Travis Wood
Kyle Gibson

Bullpen
RP: Daniel Bard/Anyone from El Paso or San Antonio
RP/SU: Craig Stammen
RP/SU/CL: Phil Maton
RP/SU/CL: Huston Street
SU/CL: Fernando Rodney

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball staff or SB Nation.