By Randy Miller
Has George Steinbrenner been reincarnated and running the San Diego Padres?
Looks that way.
Mimicking the late Yankees’ Boss circa 1970s and ’80s, the Padres are going all out trying to win a World Series, which would be a franchise first.
Coming off their first playoff season in 14 years, the Padres added two aces in blockbuster trades and signed a slugging free agent infielder in a span of about 20 hours from late Sunday night to Monday evening.
Padres fans woke up Monday to the news that their team added former Cy Young winner Blake Snell in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, and by night’s end San Diego had signed Korean star free agent Ha-Seong Kim and acquired Chicago Cubs ace Yu Darvish in another deal.
Two offseasons after the Padres signed free agent shortstop Manny Machado to a $300-million contract, they’re obviously not concerned about payroll like most other small-market clubs … or the Yankees’ this winter, as a matter of fact!
The Padres will be paying $10.5 million this season and $39 million from 2021-23 for Snell. Darvish still has three seasons and $59 million remaining on his contract. Kim’s signing details have yet to be revealed, but the New York Post reported that his deal likely is for four or five seasons at $6 million to $7million annually.
Other baseball news and rumors below include updates on free agents J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Kevin Kiermaier.
Here’s the latest:
YU DARVISH, RHP
Club: Chicago Cubs.
Age: 34 (35 on Aug 16, 2021).
2020 stats: Cubs, 8-3, 2.01 ERA, 12 starts, 76 IP, 59 hits, 18 runs, 17 ER, 5 HR, 14 BB, 93 K.
The latest: The Padres’ third headline-making move in a span of two days was acquiring Darvish in a seven-player trade with the Cubs. San Diego also is getting Luis Campusano, Darvish’s personal catcher, while the Cubs’ five-player return includes starting pitcher Zach Davies plus four prospects from ages 17-to-20 who were rated among San Diego’s top 16 by MLB Pipeline — shortstops Reginald Preciado (No. 11) and Yeison Santana (No. 16), and outfielders Owen Caissie (No. 13) and Ismael Mena (No. 15). The Padres’ 2021 projected rotation now has a big three consisting of Snell, Darvish and Dinelson Lamet, whose 2.01 ERA last season was third best in the NL. Chris Paddack also will be in the rotation along with one of three promising young lefties-handers — MacKenzie Gore (2017 first rounder, No. 1 prospect), Adrian Morejon (21-year-old Cuban) or Ryan Weathers (2018 first rounder). “Pretty, pretty good,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeted.
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HA-SEONG KIM, SS/3B
Club: San Diego Padres.
Age: 25 (26 on March 18, 2021).
Bats: Right.
2021 stats: Kiwoom Heroes (KBLO, .306 average, 533 AB. 111 runs, 163 hits, 24 doubles, 1 triple, 30 HR, 109 RBI, 23 SB, 2 CS, 75 BB, 68 K, .921 OPS, 138 games.
The latest: The Padres didn’t really need an infielder, but they added a potential game-changer with the signing of Kim. Where Kim plays next season is the question. He may become a regular at third base or perhaps be used all over the infield in a super-utility role. Kim reportedly had several five-year offers, one of which was from the Blue Jays. “Ha-Seong Kim is really going to help the Padres offensively,” MLB.com Padres beat writer A.J. Cassavell said on MLB Network’s MLB Tonight. “I think what you’re maybe looking at them following the Dodgers’ model a little bit. The Padres are set at all eight of their defensive positions, but this is a guy who is really good defensively, he’s really good offensively and he’s versatile. Those are guys that help you win. You saw the Dodgers do it in 2020 when they had so many guys that could play multiple positions to bounce around the diamond.”
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J.T. REALMUTO, C
Status: Free agent.
Age: 29 (30 on March 18, 2021).
Bats: Right.
2021 stats: Philadelphia Phillies, .266 average, 173 AB. 33 runs, 46 hits, 6 doubles, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 4 SB, 1 CS, 16 BB, 48 K, .840 OPS, 47 games.
The latest: The Phillies again are serious about re-signing Realmuto a month after a report last month cast serious doubt that the sides could work out a new deal. “Realmuto remains a/the priority for the Phillies,” MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported. “They have an offer out to him, but like with other big free agents, it might be a waiting game.” This is a change from late November when New York Daily News baseball columnist Bill Madden reported, “Phillies managing partner John Middleton told his baseball people that because of the massive losses the club suffered last year, they may not be in position to re-sign Realmuto or any other big-ticket free agents.” What changed? The Phillies hired Dave Dombrowski as president of baseball ops on Dec. 11. Also, the Phils may be thinking Realmuto’s high price ($120M for 5 years?) may be coming down due to the pandemic and the fact that the Mets won’t be bidders after signing free agent catcher James McCann.
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KYLE SCHWARBER, OF
Status: Free agent.
Age: 27 (28 on March 5, 2021).
Bats: Left.
2020 stats: Chicago Cubs, .188 average, 191 AB, 30 runs, 36 hits, 6 doubles, 11 HR, 24 RBI, 1 SB, 30 BB, 66 K, .701 OPS, 59 games.
The latest: The Nationals have money to spend this winter and their options include signing Schwarber, who was non-tendered by the Cubs in November. “Schwarber is a bat that they have tremendous familiarity with because (Nats manager) Dave Martinez was with him (as a bench coach from 2015-17) in Chicago,” Washington Post baseball writer Barry Svrluga said on MLB Network’s Hot Stove. “There’s an enormous amount of respect there.”
KEVIN KIERMAIER, CF
Club: Tampa Bay Rays.
Age: 30 (31 on April 22, 2021).
Bats: Left.
2020 stats: Rays, .217 average, 159 AB, 16 runs, 30 hits, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 8 SB, 1 CS, 20 BB, 42 K, .683 OPS, 49 games.
The latest: The Rays traded their ace to shed payroll and the next to go could be Kiermaier, the team’s highest-paid player. The three-time Gold Glove winner still is owed $24 million on a contract that runs through 2022 and he’s on the block, Nightengale tweeted. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, a former GM for two clubs, wrote “although Tampa Bay might have to wait for free agent (center fielder) Jackie Bradley Jr., to sign, there should be a solid trade market for Kiermaier — as long as the Rays are willing to eat around $5 million to $10 million.”
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JOE MUSGROVE, RHP
Club: Pittsburgh Pirates.
Age: 28 (29 on Dec. 4, 2021).
2020 stats: Pirates, 1-5, 3.86 ERA, 8 starts, 39.2 IP, 33 hits, 17 runs, 17 ER, 5 HR, 16 BB, 55 K.
The latest: The Pirates began the latest salary dumping in mid-December by trading 2019 All-Star first baseman Josh Bell, and according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “Several people tell me they think Musgrove is next” to go. Musgrove is a servable bottom-of-the-rotation starter who pitched to a 4.23 ERA since 2018 in 59 games, 58 as a starter. A potential landing spot for Musgrove is Toronto, which had interest last summer before the pitcher landed on the injured list with triceps inflammation.
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