The Padres – Spring Training Rumors

Our late-fall hopes of Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter and Kosuke Fukudome will remain buried with the grand old man of a thread. This is the place for new speculation during spring training and the early season. It may get slow at times, but keep checking.

The rules are the same: Try to pitch in. Mention where you found the rumor if you can. Here we go.

Blocked Prospects: Reggie Willits

As a 26 year-old with roughly one full season worth of Major League experience, Reggie Willits may not technically be a prospect. But with Torii Hunter signed through 2012, Vladimir Guerrero through 2009 and likely to stay longer, and Gary Matthews Jr. through 2011, Willits certainly qualifies as blocked. Terry Evans and Nathan Haynes are similarly impeded, and the latter is out of options. But let's center on Willits.

I want to focus on Willits because he is capable of playing center field. In their 2007 handbook, Baseball America called him an "above-average center fielder with an average arm and plus speed." So he clearly won't embarrass himself with the glove.

Offensively, Willits profiles as the ideal leadoff hitter. In 576 big league plate appearances, he's drawn 80 walks. A walk rate near 14% and a .393 career OBP makes for a valuable center fielder, even with no power. Baseball Prospectus sees him dipping to .269/.353/.354 this year, a performance worth $5MM even if he plays only two-thirds of a season. He's also a switch-hitter with no discernible split. And for the next two seasons, Willits will earn less than a million bucks total.

I'll assume another team would look to maximize Willits' value by using him in center. He could help the Twins, A's, Braves, Marlins, Cubs, and Padres to various degrees. The first four teams do have more interesting long-term options in center though. The idea of Willits to San Diego has come up before; that's the best fit. The Angels are going with internal options at third base and shortstop as well as in the rotation. If any of those fail, Willits, Evans, and Haynes could become primary trading chips.

On the trade front, the Padres tried to make another buy-low acquisition, asking the Cardinals for right-hander Anthony Reyes, who had fallen out of favor with manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan.

But the Cardinals held on to Reyes, who won Game 1 of the 2006 World Series for them.

The Padres are still tracking Reyes, a USC alum who presumably would welcome a transfer to Southern California and Petco Park.

Smoove will stop by, eventually. He can give you a pretty good review of the ballpark, I imagine.

I have heard very few Padre rumors! But I do think with Jim Edmonds already dinged help is needed. Several names stick out, I selected them because knowing the Padres we will not have a huge payroll. here are some name I could see the Padres chasing: Austin Kearns, Coco Crisp, Corey Patterson, Josh Willingham, Marcus Thames, Raul Ibanez, also Tony Gywnn Jr, may not make the roster for the Brewers, he is not a starter now but why not see if we could get him the cheap?

Out of the group above, I would like to see Raul Ibanez or Coco Crisp in a Padres uniform, if Adam Dunn or Ken Griffey Jr. becomes avaliable later in the season I would not mind seeing the Padres take a run at either of them, both will not be on the Reds next season. The Padres could lock up Dunn because they lose Brian Giles, and Jim Edmonds Greg Maddox will not be around next season. I would like to see the Padres shake things up a little, and score some runs.

As far as Petco goes I think it gets a bad rap, it is a pitchers park but so what build your team around your park! The Rockies and the Giants (they used to) small parks and build their teams around that, Petco is a great park. Unless you are sitting third base side closer to the outfield upper deck the view sucks and you get lots of blind spots.

There's  a few guys competing for the few bench spots we have. I doubt the team will make any more moves in terms of trades.

Edgar Gonzalez 2nd baseman/ utility infielder is tearing up the cactus leauge hitting.  .636 with 6 RBI's in 11 at-bats

Calix Crabbe the super utility-man is hitting .389

Chase Headley is hitting .462

Paul McAnulty .364 with 6 RBI's

Luis Rodriguez utility-man from Minnesota .636. 6 RBI's

Jody Geurt .455 avg.

But I do think with Jim Edmonds already dinged help is needed.

When i read that, i almost fell out my seat! I can see Ibanez but Coco, i dont see it. That would be monsterous! And what type of loot is Mr. Griffey looking for before he ventures into the retirement housing? Sorry Padre fans. I have tons of questions... Looking forward to another incredible season...

As far as Petco goes I think it gets a bad rap, it is a pitchers park but so what build your team around your park!

I agree.....

The first season at Petco I had season tickets in left field. That year they didn't have the small diamond vision screen in right center field, so we had to turn around to see the replays and stuff.

Also any ball hit to left field within 50 feet of the wall we lost track of. I definitely wouldn't recommend sitting there. Even a private box behind home plate had not so great views. Thats my only issue with Petco really.

As for the rest of the park, the atmosphere the amenities...it is second to none. You really can't beat it.

Oh, and as for the team...I dont see any more moves unless one of the outfielders goes down for a real significant amount of time. Then we might see a trade. As long as Edmonds is out I think Hairston will be the guy out there. Which is good because I'd like to see Headley in left.

I really hope Edgar Gonzalez makes the club, not because of the brother connection but because he has done well at every level and never really got a shot. He has been snubbed a few times. And being 29, a journeyman and living in the shadow of his LITTLE brother, you can't help but root for him to do well.

Bud Black on Jim Edmonds' chances of returning by Opening Day: “I wish I had a crystal ball. I don't know. There is a chance.”

If the Padres decide they need to trade for a center fielder, the group of candidates likely will include Mariners reserve Jeremy Reed, who can be optioned to Triple-A, and Rangers left fielder Marlon Byrd, a former Phillies center fielder.

That was from a Union-Tribune article, which Chase Headley and Paul McAnulty, whose chances for a 25-man roster spot are rising.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com said Headley is one of six Cactus League phenoms.

Baseball America rated the top 100 prospects a couple of weeks ago. Headley was No. 32. Matt Antonelli was No. 50 and, ouch, that's it.

By the way, a lot of us at these message boards tend to hand of five star ratings, but a lot of people I know have really taken a hit on the "value" part of their reputation. I want to remain a super star so I'll try the following as an anti-venom.

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