PEORIA, Ariz. — The San Diego Padres were something of a epitome for players union criticism. How could they possibly have a bigger payroll than the New York Yankees?
The small-market Padres, who had the second-largest payroll in baseball last year, just may double down.
The Padres have jumped into the bidding war for free-agent All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman, a person with direct knowledge of the talks told USA TODAY Sports.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about negotiations.
It may be a defensive mechanism considering the rival Los Angeles Dodgers are heavily involved in the talks, offering what is believed to be a four-year deal with a high average salary, but the Padres are quite serious in their intentions.
They still would like to trade first baseman Eric Hosmer, who has four years and $59 million remaining on his contact, but considering that the National League is adopting the DH, there is room for both players.
Besides, considering this is a team who already has two $300 million players in their infield, what’s another big contract?
“I love our roster as it’s constructed,’’ owner Peter Seidler said. “We’re constantly looking to improve, and that’s exactly what’s going on right now.’’
Most teams might be compelled to take a step back after spending a franchise-record $216 million and not even finishing .500, with an epic collapse that saw them lose 24 of their last 36, but not the Padres.
“If you’re going to fall off a cliff the way we did last year,’’ Seidler said, “you might as well make it dramatic. And we did.’’
The Padres fired manager Jayce Tingler, grabbed Bob Melvin from the Oakland A’s, gave him a three-year, $11.5 million contract, and believe the collapse was a once-in-a-century nightmare, producing baseball’s worst record after Aug. 11.
Certainly, Seidler and CEO Erik Greupner said, they are buoyed by the fans not giving up on them, and still showing up for games. They have already sold a franchise-record 19,000 season tickets for this year.
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“It’s not, ‘Oh my goodness, we must win now,'” Seidler said. “That’s completely not my personal attitude, and not the attitude of the organization. It’s a fresh year. We got a very, very good team. And we expect to be a force, in the race for the World Series trophy this year.’’
Certainly, it would have made life easier if All-Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. didn’t fracture his wrist in a motorcycle accident in the Dominican Republic during the winter, sidelining him for at least three months – but they refuse to let it torpedo their chances.
The Padres not only are trying to sign Freeman, but are in heavy negotiations with Japanese free-agent outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who is being pursued by about a half-dozen teams.
“We want to win, man, and we feel like we got the guys to do it,’’ Padres starter Joe Musgrove says. “The fact that they’re putting the money out there to add the few pieces that we need, and giving guys the money they need to make them want to stay here, is important.
“As a player, it’s feels good to know you’re on a team that wants to compete and have the talent to win it all.’’
The Padres’ aggressiveness, luxury tax be damned, certainly has caught the attention of players throughout the game, and was used by the union in the labor negotiations.
“We look at the competitive balance as a breakaway spending mechanism,’’ Scherzer said during the labor talks. “That’s how this thing was originally negotiated. And we’re not seeing that function as breakaway spending. We’re seeing it as a salary cap.
“No other way can be shown, point-blank, plain and simple, than the San Diego Padres having a higher payroll than the New York Yankees.’’
Seidler, when asked about Scherzer’s comment, said: “I’ve never met Max, I’m going to take it as complement.’’
Said Melvin, who managed Scherzer in Arizona: “Well, I do know Max, and it is a compliment.’’
Meanwhile, the Padres had lengthy talks with Tatis, who is forbidden from riding motorcyles in his standard contract. They have insurance on Tatis if he misses the entire season, but have no plans to dock pay for Tatis, who’s in the second year of a 14-year, $340 million contract.
They believe he’ll be just fine, perfectly healthy for the second half of the season, but explicitly let him know that his motorcycle days are over.
“He’s 22 years old, you have fun,’’ Melvin said, “and I don’t think anything was intentional here. But I think you learn from experiences.
“And I think this is one to learn from.’’
The Padres learned from their 2021 disastrous experience too, believing it will never happen again.
A certain free-agent first baseman, who lives in nearby Corona Del Mar, Calif., may guarantee just that.
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