All major league teams have two more players available to them for the last month of the season, starting today. They must have a balance of 14 pitchers and 14 position players on their new 28-man roster.
With the loss of switch-hitting Luis Rengifo for the season due to a torn ACL, the Padres are lacking one available lefty bat for the lineup. Losing Rengifo hurts the lineup’s flexibility and the team’s ability to deploy a utility infielder and outfielder. His bat has been especially effective for the Friars.
The Padres called up the recently demoted Sung-Mun Song to cover infield defensive needs but his bat is not a substitute for Rengifo.
Outfielder Samad Taylor also rejoined the team when 1B/OF Gavin Sheets went on the injured list with plantar fasciitis the same day as Rengifo, an ailment he has battled for weeks.
Taylor was a spark plug for the offense in his debut with the club, similar to Rengifo, before his oblique injury put him on the IL in July. The promotion of Song and Taylor will cover the defensive needs, but the left-handed bat is a different issue.
Pitching promotion questions
With the bullpen taxed during the early part of the season and the team playing a lot of close games, another bullpen arm would be an ideal short-term promotion.
Adding a starter soon will be a given. Both Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta are on rehab assignments, with Musgrove being closest to joining the team.
What the organization does when Musgrove comes off the IL should tell us if they decide to stay with a five-man rotation or revert to a six-man rotation for September. They could end up with five starters and nine relievers or six starters and eight relievers.
What happens today isn’t a permanent decision and can be adjusted as player options allow. The short-term bullpen help would be optioned when Musgrove is activated.
All signs point to Musgrove making one more rehab start before being called back up to the Friars. There will be another decision to be made if and when Nick Pivetta is ready to help the team.
What about another lefty bat
That leaves the decision for the offensive option. Should the Padres want another left-handed bat, one that could be more effective than Song’s .198/.304/.259 batting line, infielder Gage Workman could be the option and he is currently on the 40-man roster.
Could catcher Ethan Salas be a good fit for this roster?
The Padres evaluators and decision-makers will have to make that call. Salas could be a big addition with his skill behind the plate. Even if he doesn’t hit a lot, his abilities at catcher could make a difference. If he hits, that would be icing on the cake.
Bringing a rookie into a playoff race might not be ideal but Salas is noted for his maturity beyond his years and his advanced approach at all phases of the game.
The signing and promotion of outfielder Dustin Harris has given the Padres a lefty platoon option in left field, making Salas a good option for behind the plate or as the DH.
The best roster for the stretch run
There are 24 games left in the regular season as of September 1. The Padres are fighting for a Wild Card berth and need to play their best baseball over the next four weeks to achieve that. Logic might dictate that bringing a rookie into that environment might not be in the best interest of the team or the player. As we all know, A.J. Preller often makes surprising and unexpected decisions. This could be the latest example.
There is no debate about the need for Musgrove to rejoin the team. Starting pitching has been a problem for this organization for much of the season. His leadership and the respect he carries from his teammates can also bring a big boost.
If not Salas, then the added offensive player could be Workman or an infield bat on the 40-man, considering how thin the infield depth is after losing both Rengifo and Sheets. DH and utility man Miguel Andujar is still only working on basic skills in his rehab work in Arizona. He is likely to still be a ways away.
There are many different ways the Padres can go with this important roster expansion.
Predicting a Preller roster move is a fun exercise; bringing Salas up would be the biggest surprise considering the situation.
Editor’s Note: The Padres announced today they have added catcher Ethan Salas and pitcher Jhony Brito.
