
In less than two weeks, spring training camps will open across Arizona and Florida. There are still plenty of free agents waiting to sign and trade candidates waiting to move. There will be no shortage of activity between now and the start of camp. Here are Sunday’s hot stove happenings.
Padres hope to add multiple bats, pitchers
During the team’s FanFest event this weekend, Padres GM A.J. Preller acknowledged they “gotta add a bat or two, gotta add an arm or two” to compete for a championship (per MLB.com). San Diego has had a quiet offseason, with their only additions including catcher Elias Díaz, reliever Ron Marinaccio, and Rule 5 Draft pick Juan Nuñez.
The Padres are in need of a left fielder, a DH, a back-of-the-rotation starter, and bench help. There are indications of infighting at the ownership level, and it appears the clamps are being placed on payroll. Per FanGraphs, San Diego’s competitive balance tax payroll is currently estimated at $245 million, exceeding the $241 million threshold from last year’s $227 million CBT payroll.
Infielder Luis Arraez and righty Dylan Cease have been mentioned as trade candidates in recent weeks, along with ace Michael King. Trading any of these players would be the most straightforward way for Preller to decrease payroll and add cheaper talent.
Dodgers leaving door open for Hernández
The Dodgers have not closed the possibility of re-signing utility man Enrique Hernández, according to GM Brandon Gomes at DodgerFest this weekend (per The Athletic). Los Angeles could fit Hernández on the bench, though they would need to send Andy Pages to Triple-A to make room.
As of now, Hernández is still available as of February 27 last year, so there’s still time to finalize a deal. Now 33, Hernández had a disappointing .229/.281/.373 batting average last year but excelled defensively, playing every position except catcher and right field. He showed his value in the postseason with a strong performance (.294/.357/.451), showcasing his versatility and leadership qualities.