Thank You John

With news of the probable (possible?) sale of the Padres, we at FF would like to thank John Moores for doing the right thing. Once again, we appreciate what Moores has done for the club in his tenure and wish him the best. Hell, if Tom Werner can build a championship team after his questionable reign over the Friars, Moores is looking great at his next stop in the ownership circuit.

Movement Expected As Winter Meetings Come To A Close

The San Diego Padres are expected to make a move Thursday involving a pitcher; however that move will be in the annual rule five draft. In case you haven't heard the Padres are trying to work out a deal with the Chicago Cubs involving Jake Peavy. These talks have gathered steam and been ruled clinically dead multiple times in the last 72 hours, and finally an end may be in sight. The Friars have roped 2 or 3 other (Twins, Phillies) franchises in on the talks and have made Thursday a deadline day. While a deal is not expected to be announced Thursday the Padres have stated that they will need to have the framework of any Peavy deal by the time KT leaves Sin City. FF expects the Peavy exile to happen before the start of Spring Training and until we see the actual return of players we will reserve judgement. FF does expect the Friars to turn around and deal some names involved for more young pitching. No where in the list of players does FF see a replacement for jettisoned SS Khalil Greene. A quick list of players rumored to be San Diego bound include; Jason Marquis, Felix Pie, JoshVitters, JA Happ, Kevin Hart.

Greene A Redbird

The Padres and St Louis Cardinals are moving quickly towards a deal that would send Khalil Greene to the Cards in exchange for two unknown relief pitchers. The Padres became disenchanted with their former first round (13th overall) pick in 2008, watching the long haired shortstop struggle at the plate with a myriad of batting stances. The Friars are (stop me if you've heard this before) trying to shave payroll and Khalil's $6.5M won't fit into their shrinking budget. The slick fielding Greene quickly became a fan favorite with his remarkable defensive flare and his uncommon power from a middle infielder. Those same fans began to grow tired of the countless strikeouts and poor at bats. Greene's season-long frustration boiled over after his 100th K compelled the most non emotional player FF can recall to pick a losing fight with an inanimate object . Greene broke his hand and was done for the year and finished with the Friars.

By trading Khalil Greene, the Padres will be without a proven player at shortstop (Luis Rodriguez is much more suitable for 2nd). A move involving Greene most likely would have happened even if the Padres were not trimming every possible loose end, this is a classic "change of scenery" move.

FF will miss what Khalil was supposed to be; a home grown prospect that grew into a super star. This trade will be complete by the time MLB General Managers hit the casino floors in Vegas to wheel and deal at their annual Winter Meetings. We at FF wish the former Golden Spikes award winner all the luck in the future and am sure he will put up solid power numbers outside of the spacious Petco Park.