After a successful stint in the Arizona Fall League, Erlin continued to pitch well with the Tucson Padres to start the 2013 season.  Overall, Robbie logged a 2-0 record (over 3 starts and 13.1 innings), a 4.73 ERA, and 10 strikeouts.  Now healthy and pitching strong, I find it fantastic to see that the youngster is now getting his first crack at sticking and staying on the big league roster.

Erlin is now in the big leagues. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Although Erlin was called up on Wednesday, he did not pitch in San Diego’s series finale against Milwaukee that night.  Nevertheless, one important weekend storyline outside of Andrew Cashner receiving another start will be the question of when the 22 year old finally makes his major league debut.

I should also mention that we really did not get to see much of what Joe Wieland, the other prospect acquired for Mike Adams from Texas back in 2011, could do during his short big league stint last year.  So with that in mind, I am definitely intrigued to see how Erlin fares early on in his big league career.

Although Erlin projects to be a starter, simply getting his feet wet out of the bullpen and gaining experience should be very beneficial for both him and the Padres early in his career.  This in turn will allow him some chances to better himself against top competition in shorter relief work.  Plus, with Tyson Ross already sidelined, the team might need Erlin to help in the rotation if another player goes down and Bud Black elects to keep Anthony Bass in the bullpen.

So keep a close eye out this weekend, Friars fans.  Erlin could be a big part of this team’s starting rotation down the road, and he could see his first taste of major league action against the defending World Champions.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference

Stauffer might come back to the Padres this offseason. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

But with the new year rapidly approaching and still in need of some depth at the positional area, the Padres have recently found themselves trying to “hedge” the franchise’s 2013 “Starting Staff bets” by going in another direction for help.  As Kevin pointed out in a recent post which surrounded Bill Center of the Union-Tribune’s most recent Padres-themed chat, the Friars are reportedly interested in signing veterans Tim Stauffer and Dustin Moseley to Minor League contracts.

While the signing of either players would not be the most intriguing or exciting of offseason moves, it would definitely benefit the Padres to attempt to explore every avenue for Starting Pitching help.  As we found out last season Friars fans, things can go haywire for any Starting Rotation in terms of season-ending injuries destroying the seasons of multiple players.  When this happens, players from outside the organization like Jeff Suppan and Ross Ohlendorf sometimes need to be signed off of the veteran Free Agent scrap-heap to cobble together some sort of passable rotation if there is little MLB-ready depth left in the organization.

With Stauffer and Moseley, the Padres at least know what they will be able to get performance-wise out of both Pitchers.  While both hurlers come with injury-risks (Stauffer most recently elbow, Moseley most recently shoulder), they have a solid amount of professional experience under their belts’.  Plus, if they are needed to come up at mid-season or earlier and healthy, either one player can contribute in a pinch.

Remember readers, Stauffer was thought by many to be the Padres’ de-facto #1 starter entering last year, and was coming off of decent performances during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.  Overall, Stauffer went 15-17 over those two years and pitched in 63 Games, Started 38 (including a career-high 31 in 2011), threw 268.1 Innings (185.2 in 2011), and struck out 189 batters.  Moseley on the other hand did not have the best of records during the 2011 season (3-10), but still put up a respectable 3.30 ERA over 20 Starts and 120.0 Innings for the Friars before he went down with a left-shoulder dislocation.  Unfortunately for both Pitchers, their injuries limited them to one start apiece last year as they were the first of many Padres players to be bitten by the “injury bug.”

In my opinion, whichever proves he can not only be the most effective, but stay the most healthy through Spring Training and a Minor League stint should be signed and at least given a chance compete.  Of the two I would most like to see Stauffer signed back as he might be able to fill the same sort of role he did back in 2010 when he worked out of both the Bullpen and the Starting Rotation (7 Starts, 32 Relief Outings).  But if Moseley is indeed the better option (and healthy), I see no reason why he does not deserve a Spring Training tryout and a Minor League shot.

Final Thoughts

My issue with the Friars’ Starting Rotation has more to do with depth than it has to do with talent.  In another rebuilding year, I would be fine if San Diego trotted out a rotation of: Richard, Volquez, Marquis, Stults, Ross/Bass/Kelly, and had Luebke and Wieland waiting to make significant contributions in 2014.  My main worry would be if something happened to multiple members of the projected Starting Staff, and that is where a veteran stop-gap like a Stauffer or a Moseley could emerge as a viable option to turn to in a time of need.

The way the Free Agent/Trade Winds have blown to this point, it might be in Byrnes’ best interest to sign one of these guys as an insurance policy.  I would not mind seeing either one of these guys signed to a Minor League deal, especially with the Padres’ offseason efforts to bolster their Starting Rotation have gone.  If nothing works out with either Pitcher, then hey, the move did not set the franchise back in the least bit.  I would rather see them under-pay for a Moseley or a Stauffer as opposed to over-pay for a 1-year stop-gap like a Joe Saunders, Matsuzaka, or a Myers.

But that is just me.

Readers: Should the Padres attempt to sign either Stauffer or Moseley?  Or should they continue to test the Free Agent/Trade waters?

Stats & Contract Information Courtesy of: Baseball Reference

Therein lies a huge offseason question:  Would it benefit the Padres to pull the trigger on a deal to send Gregerson and/or Thatcher to acquire more Starting Pitching help like a Porcello?  Although the decision might be difficult, I actually believe that San Diego would be best served to see what/who they can acquire in a deal for one or both of their most effective and veteran Bullpen arms.

Thatcher might be a marketable player for the Padres to package in a deal for a Starting Pitcher. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Why a “Gregerson/Thatcher Trade for a Starter” Could Work for the Padres

As I alluded to in a past post, the Padres might actually be able to afford the losses of Gregerson and Thatcher because the franchise does have a number of young and talented Relief Pitchers within their organization.  Last season, Brad Boxberger, Tom Layne, Miles Mikolas, Nick Vincent, and Brad Brach each received an extensive amount of Big League expereince between them, and should be primed to compete for even more Innings at the professional level in 2013.  In addition to those players, San Diego will likely receive some contributions in Long Relief and out of the Bullpen from Anthony Bass and/or Tyson Ross if neither one is able to crack the Starting Rotation by the beginning of the regular season.

But not only does San Diego have a nice core of young Bullpen depth available on their roster right now, they also have some solid Relief Pitchers waiting in the wings at the Minor League level as well.  Both Kevin Quackenbush and Matt Stites capped off their efficient 2012 regular seasons’ with stellar performances during their stints in the Arizona Fall League two months ago also.

While the Padres have not dealt Gregerson or Thatcher this offseason, it could very well be an option they are mulling over as we speak.  Contending teams are always in the market for Bullpen depth, and veteran “LOOGY’s” (Left-Handed One Out Guy) like Thatcher and guys with Sliders like Gregerson could be just the players San Diego tries to lure these contenders to trade for this offseason.  A deal for Porcello might benefit both San Diego and Detroit as the Tigers are in need of Bullpen help, and the Padres could definitely use the services of a young and effective Starting Pitcher.

If the Padres had little to zero Bullpen depth, or no long-term options in the Minors, I would say that the Padres look in other directions to acquire Starting Pitching depth.  However, with what San Diego has behind Gregerson and Thatcher on their Roster and at the Double & Triple-A levels, parting ways with their veterans to acquire a promising Starter like Porcello might be a solid trade for the franchise to make.  I for one am intrigued to see what transpires over the next two to three months, and I hope that the Padres can find a way to further upgrade their Starting Rotation.  My only hope is that if the Friars do deal one or both of their veterans out of the Bullpen that the guys taking their places’ can step up and make the transition seamless.