Monday, April 26, 2010

Final Nail in the Coffin?

Monday April 26, 2010


The Twins signing of Joe Mauer earlier this year to an 8 year, $23 million per season extension was one major nail in the coffin of the Padres chances of retaining Adrian Gonzalez beyond 2010.

The final nail may have been struck today with the Philadelphia Phillies signing of Ryan Howard to a 5 year, $125 million extension.

The low budget Padres (even the team record $73 million payroll in 2008 would still rank the Padres 19th or 20th in baseball in 2010) simply cannot afford to sign Gonzalez to an extension that according to media and GM's around baseball would fall somewhere between Mark Teixeira's $21 million per season and Howard's $25 million per season.

From a scouts perspective Gonzalez is the most intriguing player that may come available in the NL. He hits for what amounts to a high average and exceptional power in any other park while playing TRUE Gold Glove caliber defense at 1B.

Gonzalez plays his home games in Petco, so you really only need to look at his road numbers, .301/.370/.572/.943 for his career, when making comparisons to other players around the league.  Overall, only Pujols and Fielders number compare favorably to Gonzalez at 1B, which puts him in very elite company.

So unless Gonzalez is willing to take an enormous San Diego discount, think something like $4-8 million per season discount on a deal like Holiday's 7yr/$120 million contract to stay a Padre, chances are the signing of Mauer, a catcher, to $23 million per year and now Howard to $25 million per year has ended any chances the Padres have of signing him to an extension.

Enjoy him while you can Padres fans. Regardless of how well the Padres play in 2010, and so far they have played pretty well, Gonzalez will not be a Padre in 2011.

 - Vic Power

The next discussion? Which of 8 or 9 teams can afford to sign Adrian Gonzalez long term?

Big Changes coming at Websoulsurfer

Monday April 26, 2010

There are some big changes coming at Websoulsurfer.com

1st the Good News:

In the coming days you will have the pleasure of reading two and possibly several more new writers.

Our first new writer, Vic, has been around professional baseball for more than 30 years as a player, coach, and scout. Baseball's loss in his retirement for health reasons, is our gain. He will bring a unique viewpoint to the articles he posts. If we can figure out the logistics, you will see his first article today.

Our second new writer is a well known fan and I will let him introduce himself when he begins his posts with the next home stand. All I can say is these will the only articles of their kind in Padredom.

The new look for the site is coming. I got great comments about the preview we posted, although we may make a move to WordPress to make multiple authors easier.

Now for the Bad News:

I will not be writing articles for Websoulsurfer in the near future. Well, some of you may take that as a good news. LOL

The reason? One Padres blogger took it upon himself to reveal my identity to one of my company's clients, who asked me not to post on this blog to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.

I have been very careful about keeping any knowledge gained from my professional interactions separate from the things I have posted about, but I have to make our clients view of this situation my primary consideration and stop posting about baseball and the Padres in particular. 

My thanks goes out to Geoff at Ducksnorts, Steve at Friarhood, and Daniel at Friar Forecast, who despite my sometimes contrarian viewpoint, have encouraged me to write.

Don't think this means you are getting rid of me for good though, in my best Terminator impersonation, I'll be back.

Go Padres!

- Web