[Old Hoss]

From ESPN...

Feb. 26 - The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Padres want to acquire Todd Jones from Colorado to fill the void left by Trevor Hoffman's surgery. Jones has been displaced by Jose Jimenez as the Rockies' closer, and his $3 million salary makes him a candidate to be traded. Jones saved 42 games for the Tigers in 2000, and his GM in Detroit was Randy Smith, now a consultant with the Padres.

Does SD do this, or do they stick with what they have or go elsewhere?

Hoss

[HellToupee]

I think it depends on the cost to acquire him Hoss

[TS Garp]

I read that blurb in the paper today. I think the Padres would be better off trying to make do with the guys that they have, rather than picking up Jones' salary. He has closed before, but he's also very hittable, and I'm not at all convinced that he'd be better than the committee that the Padres would likely use.

[harmon]

Things don't look good for either Hoffman or other current Padre relievers to pick up saves. Keep hearing Towers say that they are scouring the bushes looking for a closer with some kind of track record.

He's not showing a lot of faith in his guys.

Now he's talking about paying for a closer with the insurance money from Hoffman. Todd Jones fits what he's been talking about. Who are some other possibles?

Aside from the guys that have signed with new teams like Gordon and Hernandez, I guess there's Dejean, Fetters, Looper, Strickland from the NL.

[GwynnInTheHall]

You are the Padres GM and everyone in the media is asking "What are you going to do now that Hoffman is gone?" You've already stated that Wright has closer's stuff when you signed him. You've said Witasik can close. You've said you were going to give guys like Walker and Villafuerte a shot. But STILL they ask you, WHO is going to CLOSE? So you say--We are looking for options IF things don't work out with what we have here. Then the Media guys run out and speculate on who he can go get to close.

The Padres are NOT going to go get anyone and bring them in. Let alone a guy who isn't worth the jack.

What you've heard--Witasik, Walker, Wright, and Villafuerte all have a chance. One of them will get the job and do it well.

I still think Jaret Wright will be the man--JMO though.

[GwynnInTheHall]

Just got an answer from an e-mail sent to Kevin Towers regarding Jones:

"We are not going to run out and do something stupid for a quick fix"............."Don't believe everything you read, especially if it's in the UT (Union Tribune)"

[Old Hoss]

Thanks, GitH. Nice to have inside guys like you to clear up some of the "noise"...

Hoss

[Sam]

Wow. Doig has the inside knowledge. Do you know KT on a personal basis?

Anyways, back to the point. Just to reitterate what everyone else was saying, the Pads wont do this. They have several young pitchers that have potential at being a good closer. They will give them the opportunities to save the games.

damn...why didn't I read this BEFORE I just selected Jones in the NL-league?? Well, I also took Wright...ugh

:mad: :mad:

[Chaz]

Just got an answer from an e-mail sent to Kevin Towers regarding Jones:

"We are not going to run out and do something stupid for a quick fix"............."Don't believe everything you read, especially if it's in the UT

The quote is accurate and from KT, however, I don't believe it came in an email sent to GITH. It was posted on a Padre message board.

[GwynnInTheHall]

Originally posted by Chaz
The quote is accurate and from KT, however, I don't believe it came in an email sent to GITH. It was posted on a Padre message board.

Chaz is correct, which is why I didn't say sent BY me to KT. Had I sent the e-mail, I surely would have claimind to. BTW, Welcome to the Pen I think you will enjoy it immensly.

[Tuna]

Cap, Jones is still a decent reserve pick; if he doesn't go to SD, he probably closes in Denver when the Rocks trade Jimenez (who's only signed thru the end of the year). See no other reason why they would pay him 3 mil.

[goat]

Now he's talking about paying for a closer with the insurance money from Hoffman. Todd Jones fits what he's been talking about. Who are some other possibles?

I've also heard Leskanic's name thrown around.

Goat

[GwynnInTheHall]

By Leskanic's Agent right

[harmon]

Originally posted by GwynnInTheHall
Just got an answer from an e-mail sent to Kevin Towers regarding Jones:

"We are not going to run out and do something stupid for a quick fix"............."Don't believe everything you read, especially if it's in the UT (Union Tribune)"

I'll bow to your inside knowledge, but this response from Towers doesn't preclude them from possibly going outside the organization for a closer.

What it says is a) they're not going to rush into doing something stupid and b) don't believe what you read in the Tribune.

How does that confirm that Jones and everyone from other teams is out of the question and they're absolutely going with one of their own guys?

Towers has also been directly quoted as saying that he's combing through the rosters of all the Grapefruit and Cactus league teams to see if there's a fit. Are we not to believe that either? How about if it wasn't in the Tribune?

[GwynnInTheHall]

I agree that GMs sometimes blow smoke out their bu++s, but think about it logically.

The Padres are deepest in pitching. The have several arms that are not even going to make the team who are better than Jones. Why would the take on ANY salary when they have options under contract? All these spares from other teams would only end up being traded at the break, so whyy deal for them now? The orginization has made no secret that 2004 is the year they will pull out all the stops to win. If you just think about it you will come to the conclusion that the Padres are NOT going to go outside for a closer. Again, JMO.

[harmon]

Well, I just thought about it, and of course it doesn't make much sense, but since when did that ever make any difference?

Why do most teams have a pre-occupation with "proven" closers? We all know how overrated closers are and how they're misused and miscast, but that's how it is.

Maybe there is strong concern that Hoffman will be out or at least ineffective well beyond this year's all star break. Maybe there's a chance he's done as a bonafide closer. I don't think anyone can guess at that at this point, but there has to be some level of possibility about it.

Yes the Padres are aiming for 2004 and maybe, just maybe, they may want to go into 2004 with a carryover closer from 2003.

The bottom line, IMHO, is that they are probably open to exploring all options at this time and no decision has yet been made. Maybe some unforseen developments or opportunities will arise over the next couple of weeks that will decide their fate.

I just think it is premature to cut off any speculation that they're going outside.

[Teenwolf]

I had heard that the Padres were talking to the Yankees about acquiring either Juan Acevedo, who has an option that grants him FA if he doesn't make the major league team, or Ben Rivera, a 35 year old closer from Mexico (I think), whom Towers had been scouting before the Yankees picked him up.

These guys seem like they would be ideal because both of them have experience closing, which Towers stated that he was looking for, and both of them make the major league minimum salary and wouldn't take a lot to acquire.

Wish I could remember where I heard this, but I can't.

[Captain CrAsh]

From what I read, Sterling Hitchcock and part of his salary would also be included in this deal, for minor leaguers.

[Daniel@RJ]

Do you know KT on a personal basis?

The restraining order only allows GITH to come within 500 feet of Kevin Towers.