TODAY: Joe will earn $1MM in assured cash, Acee stories, and one other $1.25MM is accessible in incentive bonuses.
FEBRUARY 7, 9:45pm: The edges have an settlement on a one-year deal, writes Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
5:20pm: The Padres are nearing a take care of infielder/outfielder Connor Joe, stories Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Financials for the John Boggs & Associates shopper aren’t publicly recognized presently. The Padres have a number of 40-man vacancies, so no corresponding transfer shall be required.
Joe, 32, has been roughly a league common bat in his profession however first rate in a platoon capability. In his 1,582 plate appearances, he has hit .242/.337/.391 for a wRC+ of 97, indicating he’s simply been 3% under par. A right-handed hitter, Joe has a .254/.350/.415 slash and 107 wRC+ towards lefties, in comparison with a .235/.329/.377 line and 91 wRC+ towards righties.
Defensively, he’s able to enjoying at first base or in an outfield nook. He has 5 Defensive Runs Saved as an outfielder in his profession. Outs Above Common is a little more pessimistic, giving him a -7 rating. Nonetheless, each metrics contemplate him above common as a primary baseman.
The Pirates might have retained Joe for 2025 through arbitration, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting him for a $3.2MM wage, however the Bucs determined to non-tender him as an alternative. That despatched him into free company with out being uncovered to waivers.
Although the financials of this deal haven’t been reported but, it’s certainly a reasonably modest assure by MLB requirements. That’s clearly enticing for the Padres, because the finances is clearly a serious concern, because it has been for some time. Final winter, the payroll crunch was tight sufficient that they dealt Juan Soto to the Yankees. This winter, they’ve been pretty quiet, however rumors have swirled round gamers like Dylan Stop, Michael King, Luis Arráez, Robert Suarez and others.
The tight payroll state of affairs is awkward as a result of they’ve just a few clear holes on the roster. Jurickson Profar hit free company and signed with Atlanta, leaving a gap in left discipline. The primary base/designated hitter state of affairs can also be considerably open. Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim hit free company and signed with the Rays. The Padres are going to maneuver Xander Bogaerts from second base, his major place final 12 months, again to brief. That may seemingly permit Jake Cronenworth to maneuver from first base to second base frequently. Arráez, who served because the designated hitter lots final 12 months, could possibly be the common first baseman. Helpful part-time gamers like David Peralta and Donovan Solano additionally hit free company on the finish of final season, subtracting from the bench/depth space.
Having Joe within the combine offers the Padres some choices. He might see time at first base, pushing Arráez again into the DH spot. In left discipline, Tirso Ornelas initiatives as the highest possibility for the time being regardless of having no main league expertise. Bringing Joe aboard will push Ornelas down the depth chart, although he might nonetheless push for and earn enjoying time, with depth choices like Eguy Rosario and Brandon Lockridge additionally potentialities to earn at-bats. Ornelas is a lefty bat, so maybe a platoon with Joe is feasible.
The marketplace for part-time outfielders has been shifting steadily in latest days. Up to now two weeks, Austin Hays, Adam Frazier, Ramón Laureano, Randal Grichuk and Harrison Bader have signed one-year offers starting from $1.5MM to $6.25MM. Joe’s particulars haven’t been reported but but it surely’s attainable he’s in there as nicely. For golf equipment nonetheless on the lookout for outfield assist, gamers like Alex Verdugo, Jason Heyward and Peralta are a number of the unsigned choices.
RosterResource at the moment places the Padres at a payroll of $205MM and a aggressive stability tax variety of $245MM. It’s unclear precisely how a lot wiggle room they’ve by way of the pure payroll. So far as the CBT goes, they’re at the moment simply $4MM over the $241MM base threshold. It’s presumed that they might wish to be under that line, which is comprehensible, given how shut they’re.
They didn’t pay the tax in 2024, so they might be a “first-time” payor in the event that they did so in 2025, which might result in a modest 20% base tax price for his or her overages. Nonetheless, paying the tax additionally results in lesser compensation on the subject of gamers rejecting a qualifying provide and signing elsewhere. Stop, King and Arráez are all impending free brokers and candidates for a QO in the event that they stick to the membership via the tip of the 12 months, which might incentivize the Padres to duck below the tax line by season’s finish in the event that they’re in any respect shut.
