FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
SAN DIEGO PADRES 93-69 · 2ND IN NL WEST
93-69 · 2ND IN NL WEST
Padres notes: Rancho Bernardo's Cole Hamels agrees to minor-league deal; Ethan Salas to play in spring games Left-handed pitcher, a former World Series MVP, could add to pitching depth; young catching prospect to appear in Cactus League
Hamels counts himself among alienated Padres fans Back in spring training, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels was quoted as casting aspersions on Padres fans.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Goes on IL The Padres placed Rosario (ankle) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Impact The move frees up a 40-man roster spot while Rosario, aiming for a midseason return from a broken ankle, recovers. Rosario had only six plate appearances in his big-league debut last season and, considering San Diego's remarkable infield depth, it might take some injuries for him to find MLB playing time in 2023.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Dennis Lin: New Padres pitcher Michael Wacha said today... - The Athletic New Padres pitcher Michael Wacha said today that he chose San Diego because he wants to win a title. "The whole league has kind of been put...
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Agrees to minors deal with Padres Hamels (shoulder) signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Impact Presumably, he's getting an invitation to spring training as part of a deal which would be worth $2 million if he's in the majors, per Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The San Diego native made one start in 2020 and none the last two seasons, but he isn't ready to hang it up yet at 39 years of age. Hamels had shoulder surgery back in November of 2021 but reportedly looked good in an audition for teams in January. Obviously, he's a long shot to be a big contributor at this point, but on a minor-league deal there's little downside from the Padres' perspective.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Wacha chasing elusive WS ring with Padres PEORIA, Ariz. -- In Michael Wacha, the Padres found the man to solidify their six-man rotation. Wacha is all in. “I think it is a really goo...
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • MLB.COM
Says shoulder is 100 percent Tatis (shoulder/wrist/suspension) said Thursday that his surgically-repaired left shoulder feels 100 percent, Darnay Tripp of NBC 7 San Diego reports.
Impact "It's just locked in," Tatis said. "I feel like it's not going to come out anymore and it feels really secure. It just feels right." Tatis also had a pair of surgeries on his left wrist and must serve the final 20 games of a PED suspension at the beginning of the 2023 season. However, it sounds like he expects to be physically ready to go when eligible for game action on April 20. Tatis is expected to play right field for the Padres this season.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Padres, new starting pitcher Michael Wacha get creative with contract Veteran right-hander's one-year pact comes with three player options and a two-year team option for the future
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Wacha deal with Padres could be worth $26M for 4 years
Right-hander Michael Wacha and the San Diego Padres finalized a contract that guarantees $26 million over four seasons and could be worth $39 million over three yearsFEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Deal has three-year player option Wacha's one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Padres contains a two-year club option for 2024-25 and a three-year player option for 2024-26.
Impact If the Padres decline their two-year, $32 million club option after the 2023 season, then Wacha has the ability to exercise a three-year, $18.5 million player option. There's also a $500,000 incentive for both 20 and 25 games started and a $1 million incentive for games started for 2023 and all player option years. All told, the deal guarantees Wacha at least $26 million and could be worth up to $41.5 million.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Hometown hero Joe Musgrove prizes his role on Padres The hometown hero is here.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM
With Yu Darvish and Michael Wacha deals, Padres keep spending in surprising ways The Padres, and their payroll, continue to be an object of great curiosity around baseball.
FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
The Padres are outspending the Dodgers, but are they better?
The Padres' financial commitment is unprecedented for a small-market team and has them pushing the rival Dodgers. How long can San Diego kee...FEBRUARY 15, 2023
Can earn up to $24 million Wacha's new deal has the potential to be worth up to $24 million, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Impact Rosenthal calls the deal "complex," as it contains both player and team options and allows the Padres to protect themselves and lower his AAV for purposes to lower the luxury-tax hit. The right-hander should pitch near the bottom of the San Diego rotation to open the year, but the San Diego offense should give him plenty of chances to pick up wins when he is on the bump in 2023.
FEBRUARY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Padres add clarity: Michael Wacha agrees to terms, Juan Soto moves to left field Spring was back, along with the usual optimism. On Tuesday, the Padres added more of it in the form of another pitcher.
FEBRUARY 15, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Wants to play center field Tatis (shoulder, wrist, suspension) told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune on Tuesday that he wants to play center field this year for the Padres.
Impact "I mean, I feel like I'm a top-five athlete in this game," Tatis said. "And I feel like there I'm gonna use all my abilities." This all comes after the Padres officially announced that Juan Soto would be moving from right field to left field in 2023, and that Tatis would be the likely starter in right when he returns from his PED suspension in late April. There's still a good amount of time for the parties involved to sort out the best possible alignment.
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Verlander throws 1st bullpen with Mets; Padres' Tatis in OF
There were some familiar faces in new places as teams picked up the pace on the second day of spring trainingFEBRUARY 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP sources: Wacha, Padres in agreement on contract
Two people with knowledge of the deal say right-hander Michael Wacha has agreed in principle to a contract with the San Diego PadresFEBRUARY 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
To be part of six-man rotation Lugo is expected to open the season as part of the Padres' six-man rotation, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Impact Lugo signed with the Padres with the intent of joining the rotation and that evidently won't change even after the club added Michael Wacha. The former Met hasn't started a game since 2020 and hasn't been a full-time starter since 2017, so it makes sense to ease him into things as part of a six-man rotation. Nick Martinez -- who made 37 relief appearances and 10 starts last season -- will also open 2023 in the rotation. The Padres could eventually go back to a traditional five-man setup, but initially each starter will get extra rest in between outings.
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Will play left field this year Soto will play left field this season for the Padres, manager Bob Melvin told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com on Tuesday.
Impact Soto had previously expressed an openness to moving to the other side of the outfield, as long as he can stick in one spot on a game-to-game basis. This shift will clear out right field for Fernando Tatis Jr., who is eligible to return from his PED suspension April 20. Xander Bogaerts is the new mainstay at shortstop for San Diego.
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Former Red Sox pitcher following Xander Bogaerts to Padres Another Red Sox 2022 standout is headed west.
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 • MASSLIVE.COM
Padres add depth to rotation by agreeing on contract with Michael Wacha Team wanted another starter because of concerns their rotation could not fill enough innings
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Agrees to terms with Padres Wacha is in agreement on a contract with the Padres, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Impact Rosenthal reports the deal can earn him $24 million over four years, but that it's a complicated structure that includes player and teams options. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com notes that with the addition of Wacha, the Padres are likely to implement a six-man rotation at least at the beginning of the season. It would help to ease the burden on Nick Martinez -- who split time between starting and relieving in 2022 -- and Seth Lugo -- who hasn't been used as a regular starter since 2017. Wacha is coming off a nice 2022 season that saw him post a 3.32 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 104:31 K:BB in 127.1 innings across 23 starts.
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
