My guess is it will be infielder Luis Rodriguez, who would give the Padres something that they haven’t had all season — a true backup infielder with defense on the brain.
I would expect in the coming days that Rodriguez will be recalled from Triple-A Portland. Really, he would have been here by now had he not broken the hamate bone in his right hand earlier this season, an injury that caused him to miss 45 games.
Had Rodriguez not broken the bone in his hand you might have seen him in San Diego and not Edgar Gonzalez. At any rate, they both have spots on this team. And remember, this is a guy who nearly made the team out of Spring Training.
Rodriguez was hitting .333 for the Beavers through Wednesday, though he’s been slow to regain his swing since returning from the disabled list.
Rodriguez, formerly of the Twins’ organization, can play second base, shortstop and third base. He would give the Padres a legitimate defensive option at shortstop should the Padres decide to give Khalil Greene a day off.
Anyway, we’ll see what happens but I expect we’ll see LRod — as manager Bud Black likes to call him — before too long.

Cheers, Corey

Hey, we’re back. Considering neither of my first two deals have come to fruition — not that I ever envisioned they might, and that’s not really the point of this exercise — I’ve decided to press on, proposing another deal I think the Padres should consider.
Here’s what I’m thinking: The Florida Marlins are looking for a veteran catcher, having optioned Mike Rabelo back to Triple-A on Tuesday. This is a legitimate playoff contender that’s currently leaning on Matt Treanor as its starting catcher.
Hello, Michael Barrett.
Sure, Barrett isn’t playing especially well right now. But he’s a veteran catcher who could help the Marlins in their push toward the postseason. Plus, he’ll be a free agent after the season so there’s no long-term contractual ties there.
Given that Josh Bard is about the come off the disabled list, the Padres could afford to part with Barrett. The Marlins have prospects they can move in the right deal, which makes this potential deal enticing.
Well, for me at least.
I say the Padres ship Barrett to the Marlins for shortstop Robert Andino, who is playing at the Triple-A level in the Marlins system. Andino is 24, has a cannon for an arm and nowhere to go with Hanley Ramirez setting up shop in Florida for, say, the next decade or until the next fire sale.
Anyway, Andino hit .278 at the Triple-A level last season with 13 home runs, 50 RBI and 21 stolen bases. He only walked 40 times, which isn’t the Padre way, but the guy can swing it and, from what I’ve read, pick it as well.
This trade would allow the Padres to move Khalil Greene in the offseason, possibly to an American League team where he would certainly have more value.

Cheers, Corey

So, it turns out, this isn’t as easy as I thought it would be, this pretend GM stuff. The pay isn’t great, there are little perks. I’m quickly realizing that I better stick to writing.
Actually, I thought that picking up left-handed pitcher Jeremy Sowers from the Indians was a good move, even if it means trading away one of the nicest guys in baseball in Tony Clark.
Hey, even being a pretend GM means making tough decisions.
Anyway, I’ve got another move to consider. Chew on this, Padres fans:

The trade:
San Diego sends RHP Clay Hensley and RHP Matt Buschmann to Texas for 2B German Duran.

The skinny:
The Rangers need pitching and if there’s anything the Padres have right now in the Minors is something of a pitching surplus (not a lot, but there’s some pieces you can move in a trade). At any rate, the Padres can pick up an offensive-minded second baseman in Duran, who is already in the Major Leagues at 23. Duran has played some second base and third base and hit .300 with 22 home runs in Double-A last season. He’s young, he would be under club control for a while and would be a Major League ready second baseman to step in for Tad Iguchi and be a viable piece there for the future. Maybe he can even play some shortstop if you choose to move Khalil Greene. Hensley has shown he’s healthy and could certainly help the Rangers bullpen. Buschmann is off to a nice start at Double-A San Antonio but wasn’t a high pick originally, which doesn’t mean much (Jake Peavy, 15th round). Duran isn’t going anywhere with Kinsler ahead of him and with fellow prospect Chris Davis coming up at third base.

Cheers, Corey

The Padres recent five-game winning streak has essentially quieted (just a little) the public push for Chase Headley to join the team and take what many feel is his right place in left field.
If it were only that simple.
I do think we’ll see Headley soon and my instinct is screaming it will happen Friday in Cleveland where the Padres can either stick him in left field or, most likely, pencil him into the lineup as a designated hitter for that series and the following three games against the New York Yankees.
That’s just my guess.
The bigger question isn’t so much if Headley comes or even when now but who goes when he arrives? Huber? McAnulty? It will be interesting to see.

Cheers, Corey

Well, to amuse myself in this trying season (not for me, mind you, but for the team), I’m going to occasionally submit posts about roster moves I would make if I were the general manager of the Padres.
Don’t confuse this for open letter to Kevin Towers as to how he should run the team. I think that it’s safe to say that he’s done quite well without my help so far.
Really, I think trades are one of God’s gifts to baseball. There aren’t nearly enough of them as far as I’m concerned.
Anyway, let’s get started, yes?

The trade:
San Diego sends 1B Tony Clark and C Luke Carlin to Cleveland for LHP Jeremy Sowers.
Also, promote 1B Brian Myrow from Portland and C Colt Morton from San Antonio.

The skinny:
Sure, the Indians are probably in no position to be giving away pitchers with Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona on the disabled list. But the Indians need some offensive pop in a bad way (sound familiar). I think you send Clark, who could DH and play some first base for the Indians. Carlin is a good catch-and-throw guy who doesn’t project as a starter at the Major League level but has a decent bat and with Victor Martinez’s battling health issues, he’s more than just a throw-in. Now as for Sowers … there’s a lot to loke about this guy. He just turned 25 and has already made 29 Major League starts. I saw him in 2006 when he won seven games. Sowers has good control (the Padres love that) and would be a nice fit in the rotation moving forward to 2009. Remember: Greg Maddux and Randy Wolf will be free agents after this season and, other than Chris Young and Jake Peavy, there could be as many as five openings in the starting rotation. Sowers has had success at Triple-A Buffalo (4-3, 2.08) this season and his Minor League numbers are off the charts. You’re talking a guy with command of several pitches. I think he could prosper in a new organization and in the National League.
 
Cheers, Corey