This morning’s news comes with a dose of good and a dose of bad. The good news is that the Padres have a new veteran reliever signed for the 2019 season. The bad news is that a promising young reliever won’t be on the mound any time soon. The Padres signed Adam Warren to a one-year deal. Club option for a second season as well. He’s been a very effective reliever in the past. But there’s some unfortunate news to go along with it. LHR Jose Castillo (flexor strain) is headed to the 60-day IL. — AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) March 1, 2019 Adam Warren is a 31-year-old righty who has seven years of MLB experience under his belt. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2009 draft and made his MLB debut in pinstripes in 2012. A reliever for most of his MLB career, he did make 17 starts for the Yankees in 2015 in a swingman role. He was traded to the Cubs after the 2015 season, only to be traded back to the Yankees in the middle of the 2016 season. He was traded again to the Mariners last year in the midst of a season where he logged a 3.14 ERA and 1.316 WHIP through 51.2 innings across 47 appearances. While he used a curveball and a changeup fairly often earlier in his career, he’s shifted to a repertoire heavy with an even mix of fastballs and sliders, mixing the change & curve in less than 10% of the time last year. Like most righties, he’s most effective against same-handed hitters, but he doesn’t have a strong platoon split. He worked more than one inning a dozen times last year. Expect him to be deployed in a similar manner to Craig Stammen or Robert Stock from last season. Jon Heyman has reported that Warren’s deal is for $2.5MM guaranteed, with a $2MM salary for 2019 and a $500K buyout on a $2.5MM team option for 2020. Jose Castillo to 60-day Injured List One of the most promising relievers coming into camp this year, Jose Castillo was shut down on February 25th with reported tightness in his forearm. He appeared in 37 games as a rookie last year, posting an impressive 3.29 ERA and 0.913 WHIP in 38.1 innings of work. His high-90’s fastball and devastating changeup made him a tough matchup for anyone, and some were expecting him to be the dominant lefty in the Padres bullpen for 2019. Placement on the 60-day Injured List suggests that this injury, reported as noted above as a “flexor strain”, is clearly a significant injury that will sideline him through the first month of the MLB season or more. Castillo’s injury makes the signing of Aaron Loup much more timely. Signed on February 14th to a one-year, major league deal with a team option for 2020 and plenty of incentives, Loup now joins Brad Wieck as the two left-handed pure relievers on the team’s 40-man roster. Robbie Erlin and Matt Strahm are solid contenders for starting rotation roles. The team has three lefty relief non-roster invitees in camp who could earn their way onto the roster as well in Dietrich Enns, Kyle McGrath, and Eric Stout. With scores of MLB-experienced free agents still looking for work, don’t be surprised if the team brings more veteran talent on board.<doc-sep>Machado batted second and started at third base against the Giants. For the first time in 2019, Manny Machado took the field as a member of the San Diego Padres on Saturday. Machado made his highly anticipated Cactus League debut for the Padres against the Giants, starting at third base and batting second during the matchup. Manager Andy Green determined Machado was ready for game action after Friday's workout in Peoria. “We just wanted to be able to build a progression that worked well for him, make sure that he was moving around the field well,” Green told MLB.com on Friday. “He feels strong. We kept communicating with him every day, tried to plot his course. I feel good about him playing a little bit tomorrow, getting his feet wet in Cactus League play and then moving forward.” Ahead of Saturday's debut, Machado only needed one swing to hit a bomb during the last round of batting practice. Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with San Diego on Feb. 19. The four-time All-Star spent the first six and a half seasons of his major league career with the Orioles but was traded from Baltimore to Los Angeles just ahead of the July trade deadline. Machado hit .297 with 37 home runs and 107 RBIs for the Orioles and Dodgers last season.<doc-sep>If you just arose from a coma, we have some big news for you. Manny Machado is a member of the San Diego Padres as of two weeks ago. He’ll be there for the next 10 years and the NL West is a lot more interesting, both in the short term and the long term. The Padres had a promising group of prospects before they landed Machado. Now with Machado in the mix, they’re one of the more fascinating teams in MLB — both from a real on-the-field-results perspective and as it pertains to your fantasy livelihood. Machado is joined by veterans Eric Hosmer, Wil Myers and Ian Kinsler in San Diego’s lineup, but where things get really interesting is when you start to wonder what youngsters Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Urias are capable of. On the flip side, San Diego’s pitching is about as troubling as its lineup is interesting. If some things go really really right in the rotation, the Padres could challenge for a wild-card. Otherwise, they’re a couple years away from contending. Until then, they’ll be fun to watch — both in the NL West standings and on your fantasy roster. - Mike Oz Manny Machado signing with the San Diego Padres has changed the trajectory for the organization. (AP Photo/Matt York) Padres offseason grade You could make the argument that the Padres needed to do more if they really wanted to challenge the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies. And you wouldn’t be wrong necessarily. Just look at the starting rotation below. But here’s the really important thing: The Padres signed Manny Machado! It doesn’t matter what else happened (they did add Kinsler and an injured Garrett Richards), they surpassed everyone’s expectations. Points in our book for going for it. Our grade: A- — The minus is only because they could really use a pitcher. - Mike Oz [Batter up: Join or create a 2019 Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for free today] San Diego’s projected lineup and pitching staff The projected starting lineup for the 2019 San Diego Padres. (Amber Matsumoto / Yahoo Sports) Who will be the Padres’ fantasy breakout? Franmil Reyes doesn’t enter the year with a starting spot in the outfield locked down, but his bat carries too much potential for him not to be a regular in the lineup one way or the other. He strikes out a lot but possesses legit power, and his average exit velocity last year (92.3 mph) ranked top-15 in MLB. Reyes hit .315/.383/.537 with 10 homers over 162 at-bats after the All-Star break, and he enters 2019 with a bunch of fantasy appeal and with an affordable price tag thanks to his unsettled role. Petco Park is also playing more neutral for right-handed power these days. - Dalton Del Don Story continues [Positional Rankings: Top 300 Overall | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | P] What is San Diego’s biggest fantasy question? While Manny Machado loses fantasy value with his move to a pitcher’s park, is there a sleeper on the staff who can take advantage of Petco? Joey Lucchesi is the trendy pick but the arm with the most 2019 upside on San Diego’s staff belongs to rookie Chris Paddack, who won’t immediately start the season in their rotation but will ultimately reward patient fantasy owners (and those in keeper leagues). The big right hander looked strong in his return from TJ surgery last year, recording a 2.10 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with a 120:8 K:BB ratio over 90.0 innings across the minors. Among the many intriguing young fantasy prospects on the Padres, don’t be surprised when it’s Paddack who emerges as most valuable in 2019. - Dalton Del Don Prospect to watch You probably already know the name because you might remember his dad, or because you’re already drooling over yet another second-generation star in baseball’s prospect ranks. San Diego’s star-to-be is Fernando Tatis Jr., a well-built shortstop with an impressive bat and a Carlos Correa-like frame. He’s the top prospect in the NL. And just look at this. Tatis doesn’t figure to start the year in the big leagues. He hasn’t played above Double-A yet, but he’ll be in the bigs soon enough and he’s worth closely monitoring until then. - Mike Oz Things that MUST go right 1. Manny Machado has MVP season: Signing Machado is obviously great news for the Padres long-term outlook. For them to be any kind of factor in 2019 though, they'll need Manny to carry a big load. The Padres are still in rebuilding mode despite the deals they've given Machado and Eric Hosmer the last two winters, meaning any significant surge will have to be authored by their money players. 2. Tatis Jr. contributes: He’s poised to form a dominant infield duo with Machado. The only question is when it will come to fruition. The Padres will likely be patient with Tatis Jr., but if there's any chance for them to make noise in 2019 they will need their shortstop of the future to be a contributor. 3. Rotation starts to develop: No disrespect to Joey Lucchesi, but when he's the ace of your pitching staff you're obviously thin on proven talent. The good news is the Padres have some strong talent waiting in the wings. Left-hander MacKenzie Gore and right-handers Chris Paddack and Luis Patino will be fixtures in the future. But 2019 might be another bottom five finish for the rotation without some immediate help. - Mark Townsend If this team had a walk-up song, what would it be? With all the talk in the past six months about Manny Machado’s make-up as a player, we’re imaging a full troll move here. When you sign the guy who famously made headlines for saying he’s not “Johnny Hustle,” there’s only one choice for your 2019 walk-up song. As for the Padres, they’re trying to hustle their way up the NL West standings. - Mike Oz More 2019 MLB Previews From Yahoo Sports Baltimore | Miami | Kansas City | Detroit | Texas | Toronto | San Diego Chicago (AL) | Minnesota | San Francisco | Pittsburgh | Arizona | Seattle Cincinnati | Los Angeles (AL) | Oakland | Tampa Bay | Colorado | Cleveland New York (NL) | St. Louis | Atlanta | Philadelphia | Milwaukee | Chicago Washington | Los Angeles (NL) | Houston | New York (AL) | Boston<doc-sep>
The San Diego Padres, led by free agent signing Manny Machado, face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, March 1, 2019 (3/1/19) at 8 p.m. eastern time. Machado led the Dodgers to the World Series last year before signing with the Padres for 10-years, 300 million dollars this week. Here’s what you need to know: What: Major League Baseball Spring Training Who: San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers When: Friday, March 1, 2019 Where: Camelback Ranch Time: 8 p.m. Eastern TV: Sportsnet LA Channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish Live stream: ESPN+ (free trial) Odds: TBA (via FanDuel) *** The Padres are getting closer to getting Manny Machado in uniform and on the field. San Diego announced its $300 million, 10-year contract with the All-Star infielder on Thursday, more than two days after the deal was agreed to. Machado will be introduced Friday morning at spring training in Peoria, Arizona. Manager Andy Green said he hopes to get the 26-year-old superstar on the field for an afternoon workout. The agreement, the largest for a free agent in big league history, allows Machado to opt out after the 2023 season, a point at which he will have received $150 million and be 31 years old. "Manny Machado is a generational talent, and we're ecstatic that he's chosen to spend his prime years in a San Diego Padres uniform," Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler and general partner Peter Seidler said in a joint statement. "This momentous agreement speaks volumes to the direction of our organization, as well as our commitment to bringing a World Series championship to the Friar Faithful and the City of San Diego." Machado gets a $20 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the deal's approval by the commissioner's office, $10 million this season and $30 million in each of the remaining seasons. Machado is a Florida resident, and the signing bonus will not be subject to income tax in California, which has a top rate of 12.3 percent. Machado can pick six teams annually he can't be traded to without his consent. He gets a hotel suite on road trips and has the right to purchase premium tickets at Petco Park. His deal is the second-largest in baseball history behind the $325 million, 13-year contract outfielder Giancarlo Stanton agreed to with Miami before the 2015 season. To make room for Machado on the 40-man roster, the Padres transferred right-hander Dinelson Lamet to the 60-day injured list. General manager A.J. Preller said Machado "is one of the truly elite players in baseball and impacts the game on both sides of the ball. The resume that Manny has built at such a young age puts him in an exclusive club of big-league talent, and we feel fortunate to have the support of Ron, Peter and the entire ownership group to make this deal possible." The GM called it "a landmark signing" and added that the organization believes Machado "is the right player at the right time for us. His combination of youth, experience and ability makes him a perfect fit for the Padres both now and in the future as we work to build a perennial contender at the major league level." Machado is expected to fill the team's gaping need at third base. He began last year with Baltimore, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers after the All-Star break and struck out to end the World Series loss to Boston. Machado hit .297 last year and set career bests with 37 homers and 107 RBIs. A four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, he has a .282 career average with 175 homers and 513 RBIs in seven big league seasons. He caused a stir during the NL Championship Series last October when he failed to run out a grounder and later said: "Obviously I'm not going to change, I'm not the type of player that's going to be 'Johnny Hustle' and run down the line and slide to first base." (The AP contributed to this report.)