Offseason pickings slim for Padres
By: DAN HAYES - Staff Writer
Lack of quality free agents could hamper team | ∞
The Padres have a tough task ahead of them this offseason if they plan to fill their needs through the free-agent market.
This year's class, which became available at 9 p.m. Monday, is sorely lacking depth, and the Padres need two outfielders, two pitchers, potentially a second baseman and perhaps another relief pitcher.
While the Alex Rodriguezes of the world are available for a hefty price tag -- general manager Kevin Towers said the Padres can't afford him -- this year's free-agent class has few quality starting pitchers and only one or two big bats.
As it is, the Padres stand to lose center fielder Mike Cameron and left fielder Milton Bradley, both of whom are free agents. Their remaining outfield starter, Brian Giles, is coming off knee surgery.
The Padres do appear to be heavily interested in Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.
"We've been on him a long time," Towers said last month.
The 30-year-old Fukudome, who is coming off elbow surgery, is a two-time Central League hitting champion who Towers attempted to acquire out of high school in 1996. Fukudome held a press conference on Monday in which he said he wasn't sure if he would leave Japan.
But Fukudome would easily get a bigger deal in the United States than the reported $20-million, four-year deal that Yahoo! Japan reported he was offered to stay home. Unlike when the Boston Red Sox signed Daisuke Matsuzaka last offseason, major league teams won't have to pay a posting fee to negotiate with Fukudome.
The Padres might also offer a loaded one-year deal to Atlanta's Andruw Jones. The 30-year-old Jones saw his average slip to .222 in 2007 with 26 homers and 94 RBIs, and he might garner a bigger contract if he rebounded next season.
Another possibility, Philadelphia's Aaron Rowand is likely too expensive. Baltimore's Corey Patterson could provide an inexpensive alternative.
Other potential targets could include Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins, who would give the Padres the left-handed corner outfielder they desire. Or, assuming the stars aligned right, the Padres could take a run at Barry Bonds, whom they attempted to sign before 2007.
While the Padres already have Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Greg Maddux signed for next season, Towers said he's looking for two more proven arms.
The top yields of the free-agent class will likely be Minnesota's Carlos Silva (55-46, 4.19 lifetime ERA) and Philadelphia's Kyle Lohse (63-74, 4.82). But don't expect the Padres to compete for either, as both will likely earn $10 million a year over three to four years.
The club would rather take chances on Bartolo Colon and Matt Clement, both proven commodities who were injured in 2007.
Perhaps the most intriguing spot for the Padres is at second base. Towers and the club have said they are set to go with internal options, which include Matt Antonelli, waiver claim Luis Rodriguez and either Oscar Robles or Craig Stansberry.
However, the second base-class has several good options, including two players who would bring the Padres much-needed speed.
The Mets' Luis Castillo, who earned $5.75 million last year, would be the most expensive option, but he has a lifetime .368 on-base percentage and 325 steals. The Padres have also been rumored to be in the hunt for Colorado's Kaz Matsui (32 steals in 2007), Philadelphia's Tadahito Iguchi and former Padre Mark Loretta -- all of whom could provide the club with a solid No. 2 hitter and give Antonelli more time in the minors.
-- Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at dhayes@nctimes.com.
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Sickofit wrote on Nov 13, 2007 6:48 AM:What a surprise: the Padres are not going to go after any big name free agents. When was the last time the Padres signed a big name free agent who was in his prime? We were promised a competitive team when the new stadium was built. Instead, we have a team that has been barely better than .500. This next year the Padres will be lucky to win 75 games. Mediocrity reigns supreme at Petco.
Glad to see it wrote on Nov 13, 2007 9:04 AM:The Padres are doing what every other team in the majors is doing. They are trying to develope a good farm system that will provide them with talent long past this year. I am not concerned about signing a big bat, heck a big bat in Petco means he might hit 35 homers, Gonzalez and Green could get to those numbers. If you look at the farm system you will see two monster bats, Kyle Blanks and David Freese, coming in the next couple of years. Those guys can mash. Don't abonded ship just yet, the Padres are headed in the right direction. The World Series Ring will come to San Diego soon.
Jamie wrote on Nov 13, 2007 4:02 PM:SIckofit, have you even been paying attention? The Padres had one year in which they were barely over .500 - in 2004. Since then they have been trending up toward that 90-win plateau. They have also gone to great lenghts to get younger via the trade (Gonzalez, Young, Kouzmanoff, etc). As for this year, I'd like to see them push hard for Fukudome and Kaz Matsui. Matsui would make a great leadoff hitter and would add speed to the lineup; something we sorely miss. Fukudome would make an ideal #2 hitter, and would also add speed. If they can add them, I'd like to see them give Hairston the chance to start in the OF everyday. I've said it before and I'll say it again - they dont need a big bat, they need two or three more consistent bats. They need guys who make lots of contact, run well, and can manufacture runs with their legs. If they sign Fukudome and Matsui, the lineup would look like this: Matsui 2B Fukudome LF Kouzmanoff 3B Gnzalez 1B Greene SS Giles RF Hairston CF Bard C I would be happy with that lineup.
Adam wrote on Nov 13, 2007 10:53 PM:HECK NO STAY AWAY FROM KAZ MATSUI. Way overrated. I like to see antonelli or maybe going for luis castillo at 2b. We need to sign Andrew Jones or Tori Hunter. For pitching sign matt clement and prior. Then sign Fukudome. The lineup would look like this: Castillo 2B Fukudome LF Kooz 3B Gonzalez 1B Greene SS Giles RF Andrew Jones CF Bard C.......wooo thats good and it good happen. Starting 5 pitchers Peavy, Young, Maddux, Prior, Clement. WOOOOOOOO and there is a good chance that will happen.
Judge wrote on Nov 14, 2007 9:59 AM:I agree with Gladtoseeit. Big bats just won't remain big bats at Petco. We need doubles hitters, and to develop our rinning game more. I'd like to see them bring Cameron back. As far as Bonds, the day he wears a Padres jersey, I'm burning all of mine.
Mark wrote on Nov 14, 2007 5:50 PM:FYI: The Padres lost more games in 2005 than they won. 82-80 regular season and swept 0-3 in the NLDS. Management has no commitment to winning a World Series. The Padres are only interested in the balance between maximizing return, which in some cases means you can make more money by only being "competitive". They certainly aren't competitive in recent post seasons.
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