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Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado

By Jerry Trotta

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 16, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 16: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 16, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The San Diego Padres are already one of the offseason’s biggest winners after landing Xander Bogaerts. AJ Preller could go the rest of the winter without making another move, and the offseason would still be regarded as a success.

Of course, fans should expect at least a handful of other moves, as the Padres are regularly linked with the top-remaining free agents. Another blockbuster splurge is likely out of the equation given the team’s payroll, but that didn’t stop the New York media from drumming up Fernando Tatis Jr. trade buzz.

On Monday, New York radio host Rick DiPietro claimed to hear rumblings of the Yankees pursuing a trade for Tatis amid rumors that the Bronx Bombers were readying “a big move.” That big move, as it turns out, was inking Carlos Rodon — the top starter left on the market — to a six-year contract.

As far as Tatis, FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray debunked the rumor on The Baseball Insiders podcast.

Wait, you mean the Padres don’t intend to offload their de facto face of the franchise with his trade value at rock-bottom? What a shocker!

More Padres News

  • The Padres are still looking for pitching reinforcements, and Mets free agent Seth Lego is still atop their wishlist. The Phillies would like Lugo as a reliever, but the Dodgers and Nationals are among the teams willing to fulfill his ambition to join a starting rotation alongside San Diego.
  • Per FanSided’s Robert Murray, San Diego is expected to hire former Tigers hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh to their coaching staff.
  • ESPN’s Enrique Rojas reported the Padres are expected to sign Venezuelan cacher Ethan Salas for a $5.6 million bonus. According to MLB.com, Salas, 16, is the No. 1 international prospect on the board for 2023. Having decimated the farm system with recent blockbuster trades, it’s nice to see Preller searching far and wide to rebuild the team’s prospect pool.
  • The Padres plan on re-signing Manny Machado if (when) he opts out after 2023, per Ryan Phillips of The Big Lead. What does that mean for Juan Soto? Absolutely nothing. The Friars want to keep both superstars.

MLB News

  • As we noted earlier, the Yankees signed Carlos Rodon to a six-year $162 million contract. This move gives New York one of the deepest rotations in baseball, and takes Rodon out of the NL West. The left-hander went 1-2 with a 3.79 ERA and 20 strikeouts in three starts vs the Padres in 2022.
  • The Dodgers signed former All-Star Noah Syndergaard to a one-year, $13 million contract. Syndergaard reportedly turned down two-year offers worth more than what he got from LA to join the NL West champs.
  • The Braves acquired Athletics catcher Sean Murphy — a former Padres target — in a three-way trade involving the Brewers. Atlanta sent catcher Manny Pina to Oakland, and catcher William Contreras to Milwaukee.
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