Padres Black Friday News and Notes
By Jason Green
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco Giants have claimed AA pitcher Jose De Paula from the Padres. De Paula was DFA’ed at the same time as Brach, Mikolas and Decker.
A few notes from a chat between Corey Brock and Padres fans:
The Padres are still looking for lefty reliever help and a lefty bat. Brock mentions Nate McLouth as a possibility if the Friars go the Free Agent route.
Rymer Liriano may start in AAA but most likely AA. He most likely will not make it to San Diego this season, which is fine because he is still very young (22).
Brock thinks that Chase Headley will not be traded and will not receive a contract extensions. Both sides will probably take a “wait and see” approach in that regard.
A few notes from a chat between fans and Bill Center from the U-T San Diego:
Newly acquired OF Alex Dickerson will probably start out in AAA but could impress the bosses during his invite to Spring Training.
When asked about the distribution of prospects between AA and AAA, Center thinks that clubs would prefer to keep top prospects in AA. He says there is a bit of a culture clash at AAA between veteran’s who are bitter and up and coming youngsters. The goal apparently is to keep the two separated so that the prospects do not become bitter as well. I think that the club would rather have guys like Sampson and Erlin at El Paso rather than San Antonio because of the proximity to San Diego.
Center thinks the same thing as Brock as far as Headley is concerned… no trade, no new contract.
The Padres most likely protected the players they needed to from the Rule 5 draft. Cody Decker and Rico Noel have the best chances of being taken but, Center doesn’t seem to think that they will.
Grandal is the Catcher, despite how well Hundley plays… when he is healthy.
Center’s Breakout Players for 2014: Alonso (same as last season) and Cashner
Bat’s being targeted in trade by the front office: Dominic Brown is rumored but, it is most likely a smoke screen. Center thinks it could be Cespedes.
Center thinks Cashner is the Opening Day starter.
If Headley were traded, Center thinks that Gyorko will move to 3B with Forsythe and Spangenberg getting a shot at 2B. Center prefers Forsythe.
Center doesn’t think that the Friars need to take anyone in the Rule 5 draft.
Guzman and Blanks have no trade value.
Grandal will most likely be back in May.
Center thinks that Erlin or Burch Smith plus Keyvius Sampson is a good enough deal to get Cespedes.
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