Padres Press Clips Tuesday, December 11, 2018
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Padres Press Clips Tuesday, December 11, 2018 Article Source Author Pg. Padres value Wil Myers more highly than some others SD Union Tribune Acee 2 Padres roster review: Robbie Erlin SD Union Tribune Sanders 4 Padres notes: Urias, Margot injury updates; Bauer not in plans SD Union Tribune Acee 6 Padres pitcher Jacob Nix feeling better after surgery SD Union Tribune Acee 8 DFA'd Carlos Asuaje claimed by Rangers SD Union Tribune Sanders 9 Padres seek long-term value in trade targets MLB.com Cassavell 11 Hoffman package highlights charity auction MLB.com Cassavell 13 General Manager A.J. Preller and the Padres Are Ready to Go for It While SI.com Apstein 14 Others Tank Cordero, Myers, Renfroe, Jankowski, Reyes, Pirela Prepared to Play Left in FriarWire Center 16 2019 Padres Ease Into Baseball Winter Meetings NBCSanDiego.com Togerson 20 Padres willingness to trade prospects is evolving SD Union Tribune Acee 21 With the most young talent in baseball, the Padres are the biggest mystery CBSSports.com Keri 23 of the hot stove season 1 Padres value Wil Myers more highly than some others Kevin Acee Wil Myers turned 28 on Monday. So perhaps it is especially nice for him to know on this day that his team values him as more than damaged goods. And so far, that assessment is pointing in the direction of Myers packing his glove for the trip to the Padres spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., in February. What seems more uncertain is whether that glove will be of the infielder’s or outfielder’s variety. While it is not known on which players the Padres are focusing their efforts, a source at the winter meetings here said Monday afternoon that finding a third baseman has emerged as the team’s chief aim this offseason. Later, General Manager A.J. Preller said the Padres’ third baseman in 2019 could be a player they acquire to primarily play that position, Myers, minor leaguer Ty France or a top-level utility infielder they sign and make their primary third baseman until Hudson Potts is ready. “It's definitely part of the deal here for the next week or so, to see if we have an option there for both the short- and long-term,” Preller said. “… I think we've talked about it, talked about different scenarios — acquire a player in the short term that can play third base and with the flexibility over the next few years, as maybe other guys internal in the system come up and stake a claim to that spot, can bounce around the field. I think that's a possibility for us.” Two sources confirmed the team’s interest in free agent Marwin Gonzalez, though the status of talks with his agent, Scott Boras, is unknown. Continued talk here that Myers is on the trade block is not necessarily untrue. It’s just that teams have been approaching the Padres with the idea that Myers is available as part of a swap for players/contracts those teams no longer want. That is not, according to those familiar with the team’s thinking, how the Padres view Myers. Their offseason reflection combined with the nibbles on Myers has left the Padres thinking their best course is probably to set their former All-Star first baseman in a position for ’19 and see whether he can return to the production (and health) that prompted them to sign him to a six- year, $83 million contract in January 2017. 2 They believe that 2018, wherein he started as an outfielder after two seasons as a first baseman and finished as a third baseman, was something of a throwaway for Myers, who was also sidelined for 73 games over three stays on the disabled list. He finished with a .763 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages), 11 home runs and 13 stolen bases. His .794 OPS and average of 29 homers and 24 steals in ’16 and ’17 is more along the lines of what they believe he can achieve if allowed to focus on one position. Where that position is will largely depend on whether the Padres move one of their corner outfielders and/or acquire a third baseman. As has been the case all offseason, Myers can be had. But it will take a package in which teams are not primarily trying to unload undesirable contracts. And despite indications from those inside the organization that the team is leaning toward letting Myers focus on one spot, Preller said it remains possible Myers could once again need both gloves. “The conversation with Wil over the next week is to try to give him some sense of direction,” Preller said. “I think all the possibilities, a set spot in the infield, a set spot in the outfield, or continued versatility around the field, those are all still in play. We'll be clear with Wil with what we feel is best for the club and sit down and talk about it. The ability to move positions, his athleticism, some of his versatility, those are all factors of him being here and signing a contract. “Wil's a great talent. He's had some really nice stretches for us over the course of the last few years. I think last year a lot of the season was because the injuries he had. It was a disjointed season. He didn't really get started. When you come back and play a little bit and get the bat going and then he went out with the injury. He's a guy that's got power, steals bases, he's an athlete. It's just hard to find position players that can beat you in multiple ways, and he can do that. He's a definite part of things. From a defensive standpoint, locking him into a spot or figuring out exactly what that role is, that's part of the questions, but I would anticipate him being part of things here in the future.” 3 Padres roster review: Robbie Erlin Jeff Sanders Sizing up the Padres’ 40-man roster, from A to Z, heading into the 2019 season: ROBBIE ERLIN • Position(s): Left-handed pitcher • 2019 Opening Day age: 28 • Bats/throws: R / L • Height/weight: 6-foot / 190 pounds • Acquired: From the Rangers in July 2011 trade • Contract status: Earned $650,000 in 2018 and projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to make $1.1 million in 2019 in his second year of arbitration eligibility. • Key stats: 4-7, 4.21 ERA, 0 saves, 88 strikeouts, 12 walks, 1.14 WHIP, .267 opponent average (39 games, 12 starts, 109 innings) STAT TO NOTE • 2.05 – Erlin’s ERA in 52 innings out of the bullpen in 2018, well below the 6.23 ERA he posted in 12 starts (56 1/3 innings). TRENDING • Up – Acquired in the Mike Adams trade, Erlin had spent parts of four seasons in the majors when elbow troubled derailed his opportunity to stick in the rotation in 2016. He underwent Tommy John surgery that May and missed all of 2017, although he was at least pitching against in instructs that fall. That development allowed Erlin to enjoy a regular offseason and hit the ground running in spring training. He appeared in his first post-surgery game on March 31, received his first spot-start in mid-April and established himself as a valuable swing-man by the end of May, which he closed with 5 2/3 shutout innings in a game in relief. Erlin’s effectiveness largely fell off during his spot starts (see above), but he had his moments, too. He beat the playoff-bound Cubs with five innings of one-run ball in Chicago in August, won again in Colorado with a solid start (5 IP, 3 ER) and tied his career-high with seven strikeouts in a no-decision (5 1/3 IP, 4 ER) against the Rockies on Sept. 1. 2019 OUTLOOK • Although Erlin’s return to the mound off his 2016 Tommy John surgery was the most successful in Padres’ recent history (condolences to Corey Luebke, Josh 4 Johnson, Casey Kelly and plenty more), he’s running out of time to lay claim to a starting role in an organization rich in rotation prospects. Several debuted last year and several more are on the way, likely relegating Erlin – the longest continuously tenured player in the organization (he was arrived via trade a couple weeks for Austin Hedges signed out of the draft) – to a few spot starts mixed in with valuable long-man innings out of the bullpen. PADRES POWER RANKINGS (Currently 40 players on the 40-man roster) 1. Franchy Cordero 2. Jose Castillo 3. Robbie Erlin 4. Miguel Diaz 5. Austin Allen 6. Pedro Avila --- Removed from the roster • Carlos Asuaje (claimed by the Rangers) 5 Padres notes: Urias, Margot injury updates; Bauer not in plans Kevin Acee Second baseman Luis Urias did not participate in the Dominican Winter League because the hamstring he pulled in September was not healing as quickly as expected. The prognosis for the Padres’ fourth-ranked prospect has improved, and he is working out in San Diego. “He's … ahead of schedule, starting baseball activity,” Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said Monday at the winter meetings. “Ahead of schedule after gearing up for winter ball and (feeling) that stretch. From that point forward, he's responded well.” The 21-year-old Urias was 10-for-48 with two home runs and three walks in 12 games following his Aug.