Padres Rumors: What teams could want Carlos Quentin?

It’s not a secret that the San Diego Padres would love to move their home town slugger, Carlos Quentin. The real questions are, how are Quentin’s balky knees doing and who could use this potential All-Star bat in their line-up? Early reports indicate he is doing well and ready for the season to start….so now about the potential trade partners.

I have already covered the Detroit Tigers as a possible suitor for Carlos Quentin. With the recent loss of their Designated Hitter, Victor Martinez to a knee injury, they seem like a very possible landing spot. This article will cover other teams possible interest in Carlos Quentin, in an effort to find the power hitter a home.

The asking price on Quentin is sure to be low, basically the Padres want the financial burden of Quentin’s 8-million dollar salary off their books for this year. If they were able to deal him for a prospect or two then they would be ecstatic. An extra 8-million dollars would come in handy, especially if they want to upgrade the team in another area or two.

The problem with Quentin is, as always, his health. I doubt any major league team will take his contract on, unless they are semi convinced he can participate in at least 3 or 4 games a week.

The list of suitors is minimal right now, but if he can show he is healthy, the Padres should have no problem moving him. Being In the correct lineup, with a manager that rests Quentin would do wonders for him.

He really should be an American League player. His days of roaming the outfield are most surely over. He could play the field if necessary, as he never really was a terrible defender on the field. Quentin just needs to limit the amount of time he spends on his arthritic knees. Less running around in the outfield should result in a healthier, more productive Carlos Quentin.

The potential teams are as followed. I did not rank the potential suitors as I believe all have little to some interest in Carlos Quentin. Right-handed power hitters are truly at a premium, and the Padres should eventually find a taker for him.

The Baltimore Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles are, and could be a likely landing spot for Carlos Quentin. The have yet to replace Nelson Cruz, who had an outstanding year last season for them. Replacing Cruz’s 40-homers will be no easy challenge, but a healthy Quentin would surely help solidify their lineup.

Steve Pearce is the current designated hitter for the Baltimore Orioles. Pearce hit .293 last year with 21 home runs, but at 31 years of age, he is NOT a blossoming young talent. The Orioles created a lot of excitement last year with their run into the playoffs. They need to do something.

They are the defending American League East Champions. In a division consisting the likes of, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, the Orioles were indeed surprise winners. This off-season, with rumors circling that their current G.M. Dan Duquete was about to be traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, they have essentially accomplished nothing.

That mess in the front office is said to be cleared up. Duquette is apparently staying with Baltimore, but the damage has already been done. Most key free agents have signed, and most teams looking to move reliable talent have done so. The San Diego Padres just happen to have a couple of Outfielders available for trade though.

The loss of crowd favorite and homegrown Oriole, Nick Markakis could prove to be huge. Combine that with loss of Nelson Cruz and the lack of offense is obviously there. They recently acquired Travis Snider from the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he is most likely not the long term solution.

The need is there for Baltimore, and I really believe a deal can be worked out eventually with them. Provided, again that Quentin does in fact have something left in the gas tank. I don’t think the Padres will be very picky. If the Padres can get a decent prospect in return, then stupendous, but its that salary they need out of town.

The Oakland Athletics

You would not traditionally think the Athletics would be interested in a slugger like Carlos Quentin, but he does do what they love most, he gets on base. With a Career .347 on base percentage, it’s just a matter of getting him in the batters box for him to contribute.

As always, its about his health, and getting him the at bats. The current Designated Hitter is Billy Butler. He signed a 3-year 30 million dollar free agent contract this off season, so I imagine his job is secure.

Butler, however can play first base too. Ike Davis, the current starter at first base is hardly a lock there. Even if he does hold onto the job, being left-handed, Butler could play first and Quentin can DH. Carlos Quentin can smash left handed pitching!

Billy Beane is an active General Manager and he is always looking for the competitive edge. If he can get the Padres to pay for some of Quentin’s salary, then I believe he would gamble on the proven American League slugger. The Padres shouldn’t have to pay much of the salary either, it would probably depend on the ilk of the prospect they would get in return.

The Athletics lost Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, Derek Norris, John Jaso  and Jed Lowrie from their everyday lineup. The additions of Ben Zobrist, Brett Lawrie, and  Butler help soften the loss, but they still lack a player or two on offense to make the playoffs again. Quentin as a healthy DH/Outfielder can deliver the punch they need.

Oakland and San Diego have paired up on a few deals over the years, this wouldn’t take much to facilitate. Again its the health of Quentin that is truly the key to making anything happen. Oakland is not the type of team to just throw away money.

 The Los Angeles Angels

With the injury to Josh Hamilton, the Angels could also benefit from Carlos Quentin. A week ago, the Designated Hitter looked to be Matt Joyce and C.J. Cron. With Hamilton going down to shoulder surgery, Cron could be in leftfield on opening day. Joyce can also play the outfield.

Matt Joyce has put up some decent numbers in his major league career, but doesn’t hit left-handed pitching very well. There will be a need for a right-handed hitter to platoon with Joyce, could Quentin be that man? Remember Quentin can also man the field when needed, just not at an every day basis.

The Angels definitely have the cash flow to take on Quentin’s salary, but his health dictates it all. They just can’t afford to throw money at a player who struggles to get on the field. Look for the Padres to get Quentin at bats early and often during the first weeks of Spring Training.

You do have to be careful not to overwork him. He is no good to the team injured. If he injures himself and the Padres are on the hook for the whole 8 million that is huge. Almost 10% of the teams projected payroll (Before Ron Fowler’s declaration that the payroll could exceed 100-million), would essentially be for nothing.

The Angels have been strangely quite during the off season. They had been rumored to be discussing deals with other teams for the services of  Hamilton. It appears they are not content with their team, and perhaps they are waiting for Spring Training to start to see where their needs are.

From the Angels, the Padres wouldn’t require much more than a prospect or two. Its fairly obvious to everyone in baseball that Carlos Quentin has no spot on the Padres roster. If someone is willing to gamble that he returns to form, then the Padres will move him in a heart beat.

 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.