:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52891509/611855158.0.jpg)
Listen, we know it’s tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and videos of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn’t easy. It’s OK, though. We’re going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network, as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
* * *
Unless you’re a Padres fan — and honestly, maybe even then at this point — you probably don’t know who is in San Diego’s projected rotation. Given that, you probably also don’t know who they’ve lined up behind the current starting five in case slash when some of them falter. As a baseball fan, though, you probably do know who all of these dudes are, you just don’t know how or when they ended up trying to pitch for the Padres. It’s a real mess that says pretty clearly that San Diego isn’t serious about 2017, and none of the names they’re still trying to get change that perception whatsoever.
Roster Resource tells us the current starting five is Jhoulys Chacin (85 ERA+ from 2014-2016), Clayton Richard (split 2016 between the Cubs’ bullpen and the Padres’ rotation), Trevor Cahill (another Cubs’ reliever whose last unquestionably good season as a starter was 2012), Christian Friedrich (81 ERA+ in nearly 300 MLB innings), and Paul Clemens (a waiver pickup from 2016 who gave up way more homers than his ERA suggests). The pitchers backing this group up are similarly limited: Robbie Erlin and Colin Rea are both recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Rea is expected to miss all 2017. Their minor-league depth is a mix of purchased contracts and failed prospects that won’t put much pressure on the starting five.
They tried getting Jered Weaver to lead their rotation in 2017, according to Jon Heyman, and are interested in bringing Jake Peavy back to fill that role as well. Weaver is in the midst of a three-year slide and can’t exceed the speed limit with his fastball, while Peavy is 35 and coming off two shortened seasons that added up to an 87 ERA+ and 229 innings. This isn’t even a list of pitchers the Padres could maybe flip in July to get prospects — San Diego is real serious about this being a rebuilding year where they focus entirely on what Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe, and Austin Hedges can do with big-league time. That’s fine, but you think they would have tried to get maybe one pitcher they could flip in July. How have they not signed Jason Hammel for this purpose?
- The Rays traded Logan Forsythe to the Dodgers, ending Los Angeles’ attempts to pry Brian Dozier from the Twins.
- Jose De Leon (who would have been the centerpiece of a Dozier deal) was a high price for Forsythe, but one the Dodgers could afford.
- Los Angeles had pitching prospect depth and a clear need at second, and Forsythe should fill that for them.
- The Cubs added to their rotation depth, signing Brett Anderson to a one-year deal.
- The Good Phight is asking Phillies’ legend Chase Utley not to sign with the Braves.
- Wrestling with Curt Schilling’s on-field vs. off-field behavior is difficult for some, but this Over the Monster writer seems to have it figured out.
- David Freese has been a reliable defensive presence at third, writes Beyond the Boxscore.
- This isn’t quite a Best Shape of His Life piece, but Yasiel Puig is working hard to get back to being a starting outfielder.
- The Giants added Korean star Jae-gyun Hwang on a split deal that will pay him more if he makes the big-league team.
- Why do the Dodgers keep wanting to trade with the Phillies?
- These are unconfirmed reports, but it’s the story in Dominican newspapers: Looters may have left Yordano Ventura to die rather than helping him following his car crash on Sunday.