December 3, 2024 • 11 mins
Are the San Diego Padres poised to become the next World Series champions? With a combination of strategic trades and standout performances, we dissect how the Padres crafted their best season since 2010 with an impressive 93-69 record. Discover the game-changing acquisitions of pitcher Dylan Cease and Japanese reliever Yuki Matsui, who fortified the pitching lineup, while the addition of veteran starter Michael King and batting champion Luis Arraez added depth to the team. Join us as we explore how key players like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Dylan Cease put forth notable efforts to bring the Padres back into postseason contention.
As we look into the future, we analyze the critical offseason moves needed to turn the Padres into serious World Series contenders. With GM AJ Preller's aggressive leadership, we discuss the importance of acquiring top-tier talent to solidify their starting rotation and enhance their offensive lineup, aiming for a deeper playoff run. We close this episode with a sneak peek at our next discussion, where we'll turn our attention to the Baltimore Orioles' 2024 season and their strategies for success in 2025. Tune in for insights and predictions that could define the Padres' path to glory.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Major League Baseball fans, get ready for a close-up
look from the top step of thedugout.
Welcome to the BaseballClassics Podcast.
Covering any season from 1901to the present, We'll explore
exciting pennant races, diveheadfirst, analyzing and even
doing some comparisons that arebound to settle an argument or
(00:24):
start one up.
And now here's your host, DeanPitino.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello again, everybody.
Thanks so much for tuning in tothis Baseball Classics
Diamondcast.
It's always great to be withyou and today we had more
updates to put in to BaseballClassics Real-Time Diamond View
than ever before.
With the winter meetings rightaround the corner, now is the
time to dive intoBaseballClassicscom slash
(00:56):
Diamond View no login, free, themost comprehensive I promise
you it's the most comprehensiveupdates you will find anywhere,
including MLBcom anywhere else.
Now again, there's many greatbaseball sites out there, but if
you're looking to geteverything all in one place and
easy to find, it's in BaseballClassics Real-Time Diamond View.
(01:19):
So again, do yourself a favor,tell your baseball buds about it
.
Baseballclassicscom slashdiamondview.
All right, let's get started.
We're going to talk again aboutthe 2024 San Diego Padres
season, do a quick recap on thatand then we're going to look
ahead to what could possibly beup in San Diego during this
(01:40):
offseason.
So as the sun set on the 2024Major League Baseball season,
the Padres found themselvesreflecting on a remarkable
journey that saw them return topostseason glory and come so
close to a World Series berth.
The Padres' record in 2024 was93-69.
(02:02):
It marked their best regularseason performance since 2010, a
testament to the shrewd movesmade by the front office and the
exceptional play on the field.
The foundation for San Diego'ssuccess was laid during the 2023
and 2024 offseason.
Gm AJ Preller, known for hisaggressive approach, made
(02:24):
several key acquisitions thatwould prove pivotal.
The most significant move wasthe trade for right-handed
pitcher Dylan Cease from theChicago White Sox Boy.
Just about every team wanted toget Cease away from the White
Sox and the Sox were looking forthe right deal, and the Padres
swept in and claimed cease withtheir trade.
(02:47):
So he was coming off a Cy Youngcaliber season, and that
immediately bolstered thePadres' rotation.
The Padres made a significantaddition to their bullpen by
signing Japanese reliever YukiMatsui to a five-year contract.
Matsui, a left-hander, had animpressive career in the Nippon
(03:07):
Professional Baseball Leaguewith the Golden Eagles,
recording a 2.40 ERA for them,and had 236 saves over 10
seasons.
So this move aimed tostrengthen the Padres' bullpen,
especially with the departure ofcloser Josh Hader.
Matsui's track record as areliable closer in Japan
(03:29):
positioned him as a key assetfor San Diego's late-inning
relief.
The contract, valued at $28million, and includes opt-out
clauses after the third andfourth seasons.
It was a five-year deal and itprovided both flexibility for
the player and team.
(03:49):
So the Padres 2024 campaign itbegan with a unique twist, as
they opened the season with atwo-game series against the
Dodgers in Seoul Korea Seoul,south Korea, that is, as part of
Major League Baseball's worldtour.
After splitting those games,the team found its footing and
never looked back.
They had some great individualachievements Fernando Tatis Jr
(04:14):
returned to form, earning anall-star honor and finishing in
the top five of NL MVP voting.
Dylan Cease he lived up to hisexpectations, posting a 14-11
record with a 3.47 ERA andstriking out an impressive 224
batters in only 189 1⁄3 innings.
And closer, robert Suarez hewas the rock at the back of the
(04:39):
bullpen, notching 27 saves whichearned him his first All-Star
selection.
Now the team milestones for thePadres.
They had some significant ones.
On September 13th, they securedtheir 83rd win, surpassing
their 2023 season total.
On September 22nd, as the teamsachieved their first 91 season
(05:03):
since 2010,.
And in dramatic fashion, thePadres clinched a wildcard spot
on September 24th with a 4-2victory over of all teams, the
Dodgers sealing it with ahistoric game-ending triple play
.
As the trade deadline approached, the Padres found themselves in
a strong position, but stilllooking to improve.
(05:26):
Preller, again, their GM workedhis magic and he acquired
veteran starter Michael Kingfrom the New York Yankees.
And King proved to be a crucialaddition, going 13-9 with a
2.95 ERA, providing stability tothe rotation alongside Dylan
Cease.
And one of the boldest moves,though, of the 2024 season by
(05:49):
any team the Padres acquiredreigning batting champion Luis
Arias, and he bolstered theiralready potent lineup.
Immediately Known for hisexceptional contact hitting and
disciplined approach at theplate, rice brings a unique
skill set to the Padres' offense.
Traditionally, it was driven bypower, but with his knack for
(06:12):
getting on base and putting theball in play, he filled a
crucial role at the top of thelineup, providing consistent
opportunities for the Padres'big bats to drive in runs.
His acquisition demonstratedSan Diego's commitment to
assembling a balanced teamcapable of competing at the
highest level.
Adding a player of his calibercomplemented the strengths of
(06:35):
their established stars.
Arias was an immediate impactagain to the team.
He clinched the National Leaguebatting title with a .343
batting average, underscoringhis standing as one of the most
reliable hitters in baseball.
His ability to handle highpressure at bats and contribute
consistently throughout theseason made him invaluable.
(06:57):
Especially as the Padresembarked on their postseason
journey, adding a player of hiscaliber signifies the Padres'
determination to construct alineup that can succeed in any
environment, setting them up asa formidable opponent with eyes
on a deeper playoff run in 2025.
Now, despite a valiant effortfrom Hugh Darvish, who allowed
(07:19):
just two runs over six andtwo-thirds innings, the Padres'
offense could not solve theDodgers' bullpen in the playoffs
and the season ended withheartbreaking losses of 8-0 and
2-0, but the team had proventhey could compete with the
best.
Now let's look ahead to 2025.
They look to address severalareas.
(07:42):
Starting pitching With DylanCease and King.
They form a formidable top ofthe rotation staff.
Adding another frontlinestarter could put San Diego over
the top.
Keep an eye on potential freeagents like Corbin Burns.
Now, meanwhile, the Dodgers, aswe know of course, already
signed Blake Snell, so really itforces the hand of the Padres.
(08:05):
They're going to have to go outand get a frontline pitcher to
have an opportunity to stay inthe same realm as the
Dodgers.
Now the bullpen reinforcementsdespite Suarez's strong season,
the Padres still could benefitfrom adding another late inning
arm.
A reunion with Padre KirbyYates might make sense.
(08:25):
An offensive firepower of thelineup perform well in 24.
But adding a left-handed powerbat could provide balance.
A pursuit of Matt Olsen via atrade or Cody Bellinger, who the
Cubs are listening to offersfor, could be in the cards
Now.
What about shortstop?
(08:46):
With Ha-Song Kim hitting freeagency?
The Padres need to secure theirlong-term solution at shortstop
.
How about picking up WillieAdamas, formerly of the Brewers?
That could really solidify theshortstop position.
For years tocome.
The impact of these potentialmoves could be really
significant.
Another top-tier starter wouldgive San Diego one of the best
(09:09):
rotations in baseball, whileoffensive additions could help
prevent the scoring droughtsthat plague the team in the
National League Division Series.
Shoring up the bullpen wouldprovide manager Mike Schilt with
more late-game options,potentially turning close losses
into wins.
So as we look back on thePadres' 2024 season, it's clear
(09:31):
that this team has thefoundation to be a perennial
contender.
With a few strategic additionsand continued development from
their young core, san Diego fanshave every reason to believe
that 2025 could be the year theybring a World Series title to
PetcoPark.
The journey of the 2024 SanDiego Padres was one of
(09:52):
resilience, excitement and,ultimately, promise
unfulfilled.
But as the offseason begins andthe hot stove starts to heat up
, the Friar, faithful can takesolace in knowing that their
team is knocking on the door ofgreatness.
The question now is not if thePadres will break through, but
(10:14):
when.
All right, padres, it's all onyou.
You need to have another bigoffseason here and pick up
another Dylan Cease caliber typepitcher to add to your starting
rotation and make some moves onthe offensive side as well to
avoid these shutouts that happento you in the postseason.
(10:36):
And the Padres, again withtheir sharp GM, they can do it.
They can make these moves to beonce again another team that's
going to threaten to not onlyget in the World Series but win
the World Series.
So with that, it's a wrap forthis Baseball Classics
Diamondcast.
Tomorrow we'll be back andwe'll take a look at what
(10:58):
happened to the baltimoreorioles in 2024 and all their
great promise, and, of course,we'll look ahead to the moves
that they could be making in2025 to finally get over the
hump.
So until then, hope you have aterrific day.
Thanks again for tuning in solong, everybody.
Major League Baseball fans, get ready for a close-up
look from the top step of thedugout.
Welcome to the BaseballClassics Podcast.
Covering any season from 1901to the present, We'll explore
exciting pennant races, diveheadfirst, analyzing and even
doing some comparisons that arebound to settle an argument or
(00:24):
start one up.
And now here's your host, DeanPitino.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Hello again, everybody.
Thanks so much for tuning in tothis Baseball Classics
Diamondcast.
It's always great to be withyou and today we had more
updates to put in to BaseballClassics Real-Time Diamond View
than ever before.
With the winter meetings rightaround the corner, now is the
time to dive intoBaseballClassicscom slash
(00:56):
Diamond View no login, free, themost comprehensive I promise
you it's the most comprehensiveupdates you will find anywhere,
including MLBcom anywhere else.
Now again, there's many greatbaseball sites out there, but if
you're looking to geteverything all in one place and
easy to find, it's in BaseballClassics Real-Time Diamond View.
(01:19):
So again, do yourself a favor,tell your baseball buds about it
.
Baseballclassicscom slashdiamondview.
All right, let's get started.
We're going to talk again aboutthe 2024 San Diego Padres
season, do a quick recap on thatand then we're going to look
ahead to what could possibly beup in San Diego during this
(01:40):
offseason.
So as the sun set on the 2024Major League Baseball season,
the Padres found themselvesreflecting on a remarkable
journey that saw them return topostseason glory and come so
close to a World Series berth.
The Padres' record in 2024 was93-69.
(02:02):
It marked their best regularseason performance since 2010, a
testament to the shrewd movesmade by the front office and the
exceptional play on the field.
The foundation for San Diego'ssuccess was laid during the 2023
and 2024 offseason.
Gm AJ Preller, known for hisaggressive approach, made
(02:24):
several key acquisitions thatwould prove pivotal.
The most significant move wasthe trade for right-handed
pitcher Dylan Cease from theChicago White Sox Boy.
Just about every team wanted toget Cease away from the White
Sox and the Sox were looking forthe right deal, and the Padres
swept in and claimed cease withtheir trade.
(02:47):
So he was coming off a Cy Youngcaliber season, and that
immediately bolstered thePadres' rotation.
The Padres made a significantaddition to their bullpen by
signing Japanese reliever YukiMatsui to a five-year contract.
Matsui, a left-hander, had animpressive career in the Nippon
(03:07):
Professional Baseball Leaguewith the Golden Eagles,
recording a 2.40 ERA for them,and had 236 saves over 10
seasons.
So this move aimed tostrengthen the Padres' bullpen,
especially with the departure ofcloser Josh Hader.
Matsui's track record as areliable closer in Japan
(03:29):
positioned him as a key assetfor San Diego's late-inning
relief.
The contract, valued at $28million, and includes opt-out
clauses after the third andfourth seasons.
It was a five-year deal and itprovided both flexibility for
the player and team.
(03:49):
So the Padres 2024 campaign itbegan with a unique twist, as
they opened the season with atwo-game series against the
Dodgers in Seoul Korea Seoul,south Korea, that is, as part of
Major League Baseball's worldtour.
After splitting those games,the team found its footing and
never looked back.
They had some great individualachievements Fernando Tatis Jr
(04:14):
returned to form, earning anall-star honor and finishing in
the top five of NL MVP voting.
Dylan Cease he lived up to hisexpectations, posting a 14-11
record with a 3.47 ERA andstriking out an impressive 224
batters in only 189 1⁄3 innings.
And closer, robert Suarez hewas the rock at the back of the
(04:39):
bullpen, notching 27 saves whichearned him his first All-Star
selection.
Now the team milestones for thePadres.
They had some significant ones.
On September 13th, they securedtheir 83rd win, surpassing
their 2023 season total.
On September 22nd, as the teamsachieved their first 91 season
(05:03):
since 2010,.
And in dramatic fashion, thePadres clinched a wildcard spot
on September 24th with a 4-2victory over of all teams, the
Dodgers sealing it with ahistoric game-ending triple play
.
As the trade deadline approached, the Padres found themselves in
a strong position, but stilllooking to improve.
(05:26):
Preller, again, their GM workedhis magic and he acquired
veteran starter Michael Kingfrom the New York Yankees.
And King proved to be a crucialaddition, going 13-9 with a
2.95 ERA, providing stability tothe rotation alongside Dylan
Cease.
And one of the boldest moves,though, of the 2024 season by
(05:49):
any team the Padres acquiredreigning batting champion Luis
Arias, and he bolstered theiralready potent lineup.
Immediately Known for hisexceptional contact hitting and
disciplined approach at theplate, rice brings a unique
skill set to the Padres' offense.
Traditionally, it was driven bypower, but with his knack for
(06:12):
getting on base and putting theball in play, he filled a
crucial role at the top of thelineup, providing consistent
opportunities for the Padres'big bats to drive in runs.
His acquisition demonstratedSan Diego's commitment to
assembling a balanced teamcapable of competing at the
highest level.
Adding a player of his calibercomplemented the strengths of
(06:35):
their established stars.
Arias was an immediate impactagain to the team.
He clinched the National Leaguebatting title with a .343
batting average, underscoringhis standing as one of the most
reliable hitters in baseball.
His ability to handle highpressure at bats and contribute
consistently throughout theseason made him invaluable.
(06:57):
Especially as the Padresembarked on their postseason
journey, adding a player of hiscaliber signifies the Padres'
determination to construct alineup that can succeed in any
environment, setting them up asa formidable opponent with eyes
on a deeper playoff run in 2025.
Now, despite a valiant effortfrom Hugh Darvish, who allowed
(07:19):
just two runs over six andtwo-thirds innings, the Padres'
offense could not solve theDodgers' bullpen in the playoffs
and the season ended withheartbreaking losses of 8-0 and
2-0, but the team had proventhey could compete with the
best.
Now let's look ahead to 2025.
They look to address severalareas.
(07:42):
Starting pitching With DylanCease and King.
They form a formidable top ofthe rotation staff.
Adding another frontlinestarter could put San Diego over
the top.
Keep an eye on potential freeagents like Corbin Burns.
Now, meanwhile, the Dodgers, aswe know of course, already
signed Blake Snell, so really itforces the hand of the Padres.
(08:05):
They're going to have to go outand get a frontline pitcher to
have an opportunity to stay inthe same realm as the
Dodgers.
Now the bullpen reinforcementsdespite Suarez's strong season,
the Padres still could benefitfrom adding another late inning
arm.
A reunion with Padre KirbyYates might make sense.
(08:25):
An offensive firepower of thelineup perform well in 24.
But adding a left-handed powerbat could provide balance.
A pursuit of Matt Olsen via atrade or Cody Bellinger, who the
Cubs are listening to offersfor, could be in the cards
Now.
What about shortstop?
(08:46):
With Ha-Song Kim hitting freeagency?
The Padres need to secure theirlong-term solution at shortstop
.
How about picking up WillieAdamas, formerly of the Brewers?
That could really solidify theshortstop position.
For years tocome.
The impact of these potentialmoves could be really
significant.
Another top-tier starter wouldgive San Diego one of the best
(09:09):
rotations in baseball, whileoffensive additions could help
prevent the scoring droughtsthat plague the team in the
National League Division Series.
Shoring up the bullpen wouldprovide manager Mike Schilt with
more late-game options,potentially turning close losses
into wins.
So as we look back on thePadres' 2024 season, it's clear
(09:31):
that this team has thefoundation to be a perennial
contender.
With a few strategic additionsand continued development from
their young core, san Diego fanshave every reason to believe
that 2025 could be the year theybring a World Series title to
PetcoPark.
The journey of the 2024 SanDiego Padres was one of
(09:52):
resilience, excitement and,ultimately, promise
unfulfilled.
But as the offseason begins andthe hot stove starts to heat up
, the Friar, faithful can takesolace in knowing that their
team is knocking on the door ofgreatness.
The question now is not if thePadres will break through, but
(10:14):
when.
All right, padres, it's all onyou.
You need to have another bigoffseason here and pick up
another Dylan Cease caliber typepitcher to add to your starting
rotation and make some moves onthe offensive side as well to
avoid these shutouts that happento you in the postseason.
(10:36):
And the Padres, again withtheir sharp GM, they can do it.
They can make these moves to beonce again another team that's
going to threaten to not onlyget in the World Series but win
the World Series.
So with that, it's a wrap forthis Baseball Classics
Diamondcast.
Tomorrow we'll be back andwe'll take a look at what
(10:58):
happened to the baltimoreorioles in 2024 and all their
great promise, and, of course,we'll look ahead to the moves
that they could be making in2025 to finally get over the
hump.
So until then, hope you have aterrific day.
Thanks again for tuning in solong, everybody.
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