Padres News Updates – 1/2/2014

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Happy New Year’s everyone! Here’s some Padres news for you!

Corey Brock lists his “Top 5” stories from last season. Surprise! Injuries is one of them.

There is a very interesting (maybe telling) clause in Joaquin Benoit’s contract. There is a $1.5 mil buyout for 2016 if the vesting option for 2015 doesn’t happen. If Benoit were to finish 55 games in 2015, the option would vest(?) and he would receive $8 mil for 2016. The only way he finishes 55 games is by being the Padres Closer. The Padres have a team option for Huston Street’s contract next season. The question is, if things are looking so even between Street and Benoit next season that the option is not going to be picked up on Street for 2015, would he be traded prior to the deadline? It would be a shame to just let him walk with Closers being in such high demand. Maybe we just keep Street and Benoit for 2015 and pay Benoit the $1.5 mil to leave in 2016. Regardless of what the plan is, this will be a very interesting story line to follow in 2014.

That being said, Josh Byrnes keeps reiterating that Street is our Closer. With the Padres tendency to get injured, it can’t hurt to have Benoit there to fill in as Closer, should he be called upon.

Be sure to check out the latest installments of Mark Whelan’s NL West Positional Preview and Bernie D’Amato’s Centerfield Depth Chart in our Organizational Depth Chart series.