Detroit might be willing to trade Rick Porcello. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Armed with a bevy of talented starting pitchers, the Tigers have tried to move Porcello over the last two months for bullpen help.  I for one cannot blame them.  They have a young, yet experienced 24 year old player at a premium position, a valuable trading piece to help improve their ballclub in other areas.

If the aforementioned reports were in fact true, and the Padres could have acquired Porcello for either Gregerson or Street, I for one am disappointed that the move was not made.

Look, I understand the argument that he Padres have some young and talented starters looking to contribute.  Nevertheless, a number of them are not what you would call “beacons of health” at the moment.  Remember readers, both Joe Wieland and Cory Luebke are rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and Casey Kelly appears to be heading down that same path right now.

Honestly, what is wrong with acquiring a little bit of insurance at the most important positional unit on the ball-club, especially someone with a solid mix of youth and experience like Porcello?

Plus, is there any real guarantee that the Padres will receive any sort of productive play from any of their injured starters?

As far as the bullpen is concerned, I will admit that the losses of Gregerson and/or Street might be tough to take for the Padres in 2013.  Gregerson enjoyed a terrific 2012 season (2-0, 2.39 ERA, 77 appearances, 72 K’s), while Street led the team in saves (23) and was the team’s only All-Star representative

But consider this Friars fans, what the team does have at the moment are a number of talented and young bullpen arms waiting behind both veteran relievers.  Brad Boxberger, Brad Brach, Nick Vincent, and Tom Layne all gained a solid amount of big league experience during the 2012 campaign.  Moreover, talented minor leaguers in the forms of Kevin Quackenbush and Matt Stites could reach the big league roster by season’s end as well.  And remember readers, do not count out Andrew Cashner either as a setup man again if he does not win a spot in the starting rotation.

Think about it, Gregerson will be a free agent after the 2014 season, and Street has been injury-prone throughout his career.  When was the last time that a 7th inning relief guy pitched his team to the World Series?  Furthermore, can the Padres truly count on a player like Street to stay healthy on a consistent basis?

Granted, none of the depth are as experienced as either veteran hurler, it might help the Padres to give some of their future contributors some chances to shine during a rebuilding season.  Plus, Porcello could be the #2 guy in San Diego’s rotation in the present, and still has plenty of innings and effective pitching left in him.

While Porcello is not an “Ace” by any means, he has been an effective pitcher for Detroit over his first four years in the league.  Overall, the 24 year-old has gone 48-42, posted a 4.55 ERA, started 120 games, thrown for over 162.2 inning in every season (176.1 last year), and posted a career high 107 strikeouts in 2012.  I should also add that the Tiger starter has performed well this Spring too.  Porcello has logged a 3-1 record (5 starts), thrown 18.0 innings, recorded 18 strikeouts, and posted an impressive 2.50 ERA.

Final Thoughts

Even though Detroit’s G.M. has denied the MLBTradeRumors report that the organization tried to deal Porcello, I would have to think that the Tigers would want to upgrade their bullpen at the moment.  Whether or not they are still interested in unloading their starter is still up for debate, but I would hope that the Padres would at least still be interested in trading for a pitcher like Porcello, even if it means giving up some bullpen depth.

As I alluded to before, a team can never have too much starting pitching.  I for one hope that Luebke, Wieland, and Kelly can come back stronger than ever, but they are not on the roster at the moment.  Furthermore, Jason Marquis and Eric Stults must also be up to the task of pitching consistent innings out of the rotation, and prove to be effective options in the #3 and #4 spots for San Diego this season too.

At least to me, a “Porcello for Gregerson” or a “Porcello for Street” deal would benefit both the Tigers and the Padres, and I hope that the Padres’ brass are trying to exercise a trade to bring him to San Diego.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference

Ross is in the mix to be the Padres’ 5th Starter. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Last week, Robert shared his thoughts on the current competition, and he believed that Anthony Bass was primed to win the job over the large field competing for the job against him in the forms of Tim Stauffer, Freddy Garcia, Sean O’Sullivan, Robbie Erlin, Casey Kelly, and Tyson Ross.

Although I believe that Bass has enjoyed a decent Spring, do not count out Ross in the race for the 5th spot over the next two weeks.  In fact, Ross has played well enough as of late to earn some consideration to win the final spot in San Diego’s Starting Rotation once Spring Training ends.

An unheralded trade acquisition this past Winter, Ross came to San Diego from Oakland coming off of a dreadful 2012 season with the Athletics.  The Right-Hander posted a 2-11 record, a 6.50 ERA, and only 46 Strikeouts over 73.1 Innings Pitched.  Although Tyson came back strong in Triple-A after he was demoted (6-2, 2.99 ERA, 64 K’s over 78.1 IP), the A’s believed that he was expendable and the soon to be 26 year-old Pitcher was sent to the Padres (along with A.J. Kirby Jones) in exchange for Left-Handed Starter Andrew Werner and Utility Infielder Andy Parrino.

Spring Training did not start off very well for Tyson though, and he was shelled in his first two outings with the Padres.  Overall, Ross went 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA, surrendered 5 Runs in only 5.0 Innings Pitched, and allowed hitters to bat .318 against him.  Since the month of March began though, Ross has really stepped up his game, and been nothing short of terrific for the Friars.

In fact, Ross has not allowed a single Run during his three outings in the month of March over a total of 11.1 Innings.  In 3 outings (2 Starts), Tyson threw 3.0 scoreless Innings versus Los Angeles, 3.0 scoreless Innings against his former team Oakland, and threw 5.1 Innings of shut-out ball against Arizona on Saturday afternoon!  Even more impressive has been the fact that Ross has held opposing hitters to a .162 Batting Average over said span.

Even after his dreadful February outings, Ross still ranks among the team leaders in numerous statistical categories this Spring.  Not only is Tyson leading the Friars in Wins (3), he is also leading all of San Diego’s Pitchers in Innings Pitched (16.1) and Strikeouts (13), and ranks third behind O’Sullivan and Jason Marquis amongst all Starters in E.R.A. (2.76).

After Ross’ last start, Friar Manager Bud Black had this to say to Padres.com Beat Writer Corey Brock about his improving Starter:

I thought he threw the ball well.  Again, I thought we saw his fastball command improve and a good slider,…He’s doing his part to forge his way onto our roster.

 

Whether Black and Pitching Coach Darren Balsley intend to use Ross as a Starter or in some type of Long Relief role should be an interesting thing to watch for over the next two weeks.  Ross was used in Long Relief last year with Oakland, so he could come in handy as an emergency 6th Starter/Long Relief specialist to help the Rotation if injuries or poor play occur.

As it stands now, I believe that Bass, O’Sullivan, and Ross are the three front-runners for the starting gig, and the race should come down to the final two weeks.  I for one will be definitely interested to see who emerges as the Friars’ 5th Starter by the time Opening Day rolls around, because the job is still probably up in the air right now after Ross’ strong push over his last three outings.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference

I hope I don’t get to the free agent market,…I’d like to stay a Padre. I think that they know that.  I love it here.  I see a future with the Padres and I like everything about San Diego, the food, the weather, the community.

 

Volquez will be counted on to help lead the Padres’ Starting Rotation again this year. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

After three years marred with injuries and a suspension in Cincinnati, Volquez found himself a fresh start in San Diego.  Thus, Edinson’s desire to stay in San Diego though makes sense when one considers that he enjoyed a “bounce-back season” of sorts with the Friars last year.  Although his 2012 numbers were not particularly stellar, Volquez still proved to be one of the Padres’ most effective and consistent Starters over the course of the regular season.

Overall, Edinson went 11-11 in 32 Starts, logged 182.2 Innings and a 4.14 ERA, and led the Padres in Strikeouts with 174 on the season.  Unfortunately for Volquez, his ridiculously high Walk total (105) led the National League, and in effect kept him from achieving any more success in 2012.

But with Volquez coming off of a bounce-back year, and pitching in a city, a spacious ballpark, and for a team he apparently likes, I have started to question the following:

• What will the Padres do in the event that their veteran Right-Hander pitches well in 2013?

• Will he be re-signed to a new deal?  If yes, how long will the potential deal be slated to last?

• Will San Diego’s brass simply allow him to walk and test the Free Agent market when the season ends?

In my opinion, as long as Volquez proves that he can stay healthy and improve his control, the Padres should definitely try to re-up him after the regular season ends.  Do not get me wrong, I understand that the Padres are sure to have plenty of young and talented Starters coming up to the Major League level over the next three years.  And yes, I understand that the Padres organization has a deserved reputation of being notoriously frugal over the last 40-plus years.

But San Diego’s Pitching Staff could really stand to benefit from a veteran presence like Volquez in the back-end of their Rotation.  Remember readers, Volquez will only turn 30 years of age this July, and still could have three to four productive years ahead of him if he can stay off of the Disabled List.  As long as he stays healthy, Edinson could very well assume the role of an “Innings Eater” for San Diego’s young Starting Rotation and Bullpen over the next two to three years.  This in turn could help the Padres and their young hurlers, because they will likely be restricted in terms of Innings and Pitches once they reach the Major League level.

What Volquez will inevitably cost San Diego, and how long his potential contract could last, will likely be determined by how well he pitches this year, and whether or not he can stay at full health.  This year, Volquez is set to earn $5.725 million, which is over twice what he made ($2.2375 million) during the 2012 season.  If in fact the Padre Starter can pitch effectively, I would not mind seeing him offered a 2 to 3 year extension to remain with the team.  He could begin his early 30′s with the Friars, and the investment could be short-term enough for San Diego and Volquez if the deal does not work out for either party.

What a potential new deal could cost or is projected to cost the always-frugal Padres for a solid-performance by Volquez this year is another matter altogether.  But as I stated previously, San Diego’s Starting Staff could stand to benefit from keeping a veteran or two around over the next few seasons, even with the youth movement likely to begin as early as this year.  Whether it will be Volquez or Clayton Richard (Free Agent in 2015) who is inevitably kept, I am sure is an unsettled matter at this point.  Just keep a close eye on Volquez as well as Richard as this year progresses, because both will likely begin their push to pitch for their own new deal in the near future.

Whether or not the Padres’ Front Office will reward Volquez financially, if he performs well, when the time comes to do so is a mystery though.

Let’s just hope that Edinson can be an even more productive Pitcher this year to warrant a future discussion on a contract extension for him to stay in town.

Stats Courtesy of: Baseball Reference