Padres Rumors: What teams could want Carlos Quentin?

 The Tampa Bay Rays

Perhaps our wheeling and dealing might not be done with the Tampa Bay Rays. After already acquiring Wil Myers from the Rays, maybe they would be interested in a new designated hitter. The price tag would be affordable for the team from Tampa Bay. Right handed power is something everyone covets. John Jaso, the 31 year old journeyman catcher from Southwestern College (here in South San Diego) is listed as their current Designated Hitter.

Jaso was acquired this off-season from the Oakland Athletics with Boog Powell, Daniel Robertson and cash for Yunel Escobar and Ben Zobrist. He had a solid year last year and provided the Oakland Athletics with some big hits, that is a fact. He is however, not the kind of hitter you want everyday as your DH. Not a knock on the guy, he will give you quality at bats but he just isn’t an everyday player. He is a nice backup left-hand hitting catcher though.

That is why I propose Jaso for Quentin straight up. Jaso has a 2015 salary of 3.175-million. That would save the Padres 6.825-million and we get the left-handed backup catcher we need to team with Derek Norris.

Absolutely ideal situation. Replace a hometown guy, with another home town guy.

Jaso behind the place is average to below average, so don’t expect him to win any gold gloves. He would provide a nice left handed bat (when Norris is rested) in the Padres right handed predominant lineup. The invitation of Wil Nieves, an old classic Padres catcher to Spring Training shows me the team is not content with Tim Federowicz as a back-up to Norris. The team is obviously exploring back-up catcher options, so don’t be surprised if you see more old journeyman catchers playing in March for the Padres. At the very least, Federowicz is going to have to earn the job.