A signing is not imminent, though the Padres appear to be the favorite.

Free-agent starter Josh Johnson is leaning towards re-signing with the Padres, though a decision does not appear to be imminent, according to a major-league source.

Johnson has been in talks with five or six clubs this winter, as Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported last month, though the identities of those clubs are not yet known. San Diego has shown interest in retaining the right-hander after declining a $4 million option on him in October, and appear to be the frontrunner for his services at this time.

Johnson, who will turn 31 in January, missed the entire 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery but was said to be a positive influence on the Padres' organization during his rehab process. He never threw a single pitch for the club, who signed him to an incentive-laden deal last winter after he posted a 6.20 ERA in sixteen starts with the Blue Jays in 2013.

It would likely involve trading Alex Avila, if you're into that sort of thing.

For the past few years, San Diego Padres fans have eagerly anticipated the arrival of their newest star: catching prospect Austin Hedges. Ranking among Baseball Prospectus' top 20 prospects for each of the past two seasons, the 22-year-old backstop is arguably the best catcher in the minor leagues right now.

With Hedges' MLB debut right around the corner -- he spent all of 2014 at Double-A San Antonio -- the Padres have "gotten more aggressive" in shopping current starter Yasmani Grandal for a trade. MLB Trade Rumors opines that the Padres are comfortable with Rene Rivera shouldering the load until Hedges is ready to take over, making the 26-year-old Grandal expendable.

Normally, this would not raise any eyebrows. However, Grandal is under club control for four more seasons, while Alex Avila is in his final year of arbitration. The Tigers have already explored other catching options, including a call to Houston earlier this offseason. With the Padres seemingly intent on moving Grandal, could they team up with the Tigers for a deal?

*2015 Steamer projection

Who is he?

Grandal is a Cuban-born switch-hitting catcher who attended the University of Miami (FL). He was drafted with the 12th overall pick of the 2010 draft by the Cincinnati Reds, but was flipped to the Padres just over a year later in the Mat Latos deal. Grandal burst onto the scene in 2012, hitting .297/.394/.469 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 226 plate appearances at the MLB level. Shortly after the season, he was hit with a 50 game suspension for PED use. The suspension and an ACL tear limited him to just 108 plate appearances in 2013. He finally got a full season's worth of at-bats in 2014, hitting .225/.327/.401 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI.

Why should we care?

While his success in 2012 may be clouded by the PED suspension, Grandal was excellent in the second-half of 2014. He hit .250/.360/.440 with nine home runs and 32 RBI in 261 plate appearances from July 1 to the end of the season. This improved his season-long OPS by a full 100 points. Grandal's 111 wRC+ ranked eighth among all MLB catchers with at least 400 plate appearances, while his 13.1 percent walk-rate was second only to Alex Avila.

The most impressive thing about these offensive numbers are that Grandal was able to achieve them while playing his home games in Petco Park. Like Chase Headley before him, Grandal's numbers have been suppressed by Petco's expansive dimensions. Grandal hit .239/.327/.431 away from home in 2014, and has hit .260/.358/.443 outside of Petco for his career. He has also shown favorable splits against right-handed hitters in his career, hitting for a .780 OPS. If we combine these two splits, we see that Grandal is a .272/.365/.473 hitter against righties outside of Petco Park. It's a sample of just 282 plate appearances, but wow.

Why should we stay away?

The biggest knock on Grandal is that he doesn't look to be a very good defender, no matter the metric used. Fangraphs gave him a negative defensive rating in 2014. He only threw out 13 percent of base-stealers. He led the National League with 12 passed balls. Need we say more? The Tigers have prided themselves on employing good defensive backstops over the years, and Grandal looks to be a major step down in that regard. Even if his bat plays up, there is nowhere else to put him with Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez entrenched at first base and designated hitter, respectively.

Cost will also be a factor in any potential deal. The Padres may be shopping him aggressively, but that doesn't mean that they will trade him at a discounted rate. Grandal's bat is his biggest asset, and his combination of youth, splits, and contract should drive his price up in an offense-starved market. The Padres themselves would be wise to continue experimenting with him at first base if a suitable trade offer isn't found.

Will he end up in Detroit?

As tempting as it is to point at non-tender candidate Everth Cabrera and throw Eugenio Suarez's name into this discussion, the Padres already have Cabrera's replacement in place. Shortstop prospect Jace Peterson eliminates just about any trade value Suarez has in this scenario, making it even more difficult to envision any way that Grandal becomes a Tiger. It's possible that Dave Dombrowski works some magic, but with the Padres "aggressively looking for hitters" while toting Grandal as their biggest trade chip, it doesn't seem like the two sides would be a match.

Everth Cabrera's time in San Diego has come to an end.

Everth Cabrera, the Padres All-Star shortstop, has not been given a contract tonight while the remainder of the players on the 40-man roster were either tendered contracts or are already signed through 2015.

This is quite the fall.

The precipitous fall of shortstop Everth Cabrera; An All-Star in 2013 to being non-tendered today by the #Padres.

— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) December 3, 2014

Precipitous. Quick and sudden. Like rain. The rain that is falling throughout San Diego as I type and you read. That's Everth's fall. What once was in the sky above us all has now fallen to the ground.

Thank you @Padres and fans for my first years in the big leagues. I am going to keep working hard to be a better person and player.

— Everth Cabrera (@CabreraEverth) December 3, 2014

Cabrera spent his 6 seasons since making his debut in 2009 with the Padres. His speed on the basepaths led to a MLB-leading 44 SBs in 2012 and another 27 SBs before his season was cut short by the suspension.

The last two years for Everth have been a whirlwind. From being charged with domestic abuse in March of 2012 to being named an All-Star in 2013 to the PED suspension from the Biogenesis scandal that ended his 2013 season. His return in 2014 would only result in 90 games for the shortstop who recently turned 28. But, on September 3rd of this year, his DUI citation would be what looks to be the final strike for Cabrera as a San Diego Padre.

And it's unfortunate. But, if ever there was a time to break ties with Cabrera, it's now.

The Padres are not pursuing a new deal with Everth Cabrera. GM AJ Preller: "We're looking at going in a different direction."

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) December 3, 2014

Just spoke w/Everth Cabrera: "I love the Padres organization. I made a lot of mistakes, and I know it's a business." http://t.co/jgxIKp6pFk

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) December 3, 2014

Spots on the 40 man roster are at a premium in the first Padres offseason for GM A.J. Preller. Space is needed to make changes and Cabrera's former spot now opens the door for an addition whether it be in-house or on the free agent market.

Decision to non-tender Cabrera, Preller said, was made easier by Amarista's play the last six weeks. He'll be given a chance to win job.

— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) December 3, 2014

Pitchers Joaquin Benoit, Cory Luebke, second baseman Jedd Gyorko and outfielders Cameron Maybin, Carlos Quentin, Seth Smith and Will Venable are under contract for 2015. The remaining players, 32 in all, were tendered a contract.

The Padres' arb-eligible players should cost about $27 million, according to @mlbtraderumors. Looking at roughly $68 million in commitments.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) December 3, 2014

With 39 players currently on the roster, a move will soon be made to take over the spot left by Cabrera not only on the 40-man roster, but on the Opening Day roster as well.

The Cubs declined to offer contracts to Wesley Wright and John Baker. The two players are now free agents.

Today was the deadline to offer arbitration-eligible players a contract for 2015 and the Cubs declined to offer a contract to two players, catcher John Baker and left-handed reliever Wesley Wright. Eight other players, Travis Wood, Jake Arrieta, Chris Coghlan, Luis Valbuena, Pedro Strop, Justin Ruggiano, Felix Doubront and Welington Castillo were offered deals and will presumably head to arbitration, although the Cubs will likely agree to a deal with those players well before the teams go before an arbitrator.

Baker and Wright are now free agents.

To keep the rights to an arbitration-eligible player, a team must offer a contract of at least 80% of what the player made the season before. Wright made $1.4 million last season and was looking at a raise to around $2 million if his case went to arbitration. The Cubs decided that was too much for Wright and declined to offer a deal.

Last season, the left-handed Wright threw 48.1 innings of relief and had an ERA of 3.17. He struck out 37 batters and walked 19.

John Baker made $875,000 last year and would likewise have gotten a raise to over a million dollars had his case gone to arbitration. For all Baker was praised for his receiving skills (and his relief pitching!), he didn't hit much at all last year and he turns 34 in January. The Cubs have reportedly been looking for new catching all winter.

Baker hit .198/.273/.231 in 208 plate appearances. Also, he was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one relief appearance.

Both Wright and Baker are eligible to re-sign with the Cubs for a lower amount. However, at this point we don't know if either they or the Cubs are interested in a reunion.

While the other seven players were considered easy decisions, there had been a lot of talk that the Cubs might decide to non-tender Travis Wood after a rough season. Wood made $3.9 million last season and is in line for a raise over $5 million next year. That seems like a lot for a pitcher who pitched as poorly as Wood did last year. But it would be a bargain for a pitcher who pitched as well as Wood did the year before, so the Cubs decided to take a gamble that Wood would return to his 2013 form.

The Cubs 40-man roster now stands at 37.

There have been some other well-known names that were non-tendered tonight. The Braves made the biggest waves by declining to offer contracts to Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy. Both pitchers missed all of 2014 with Tommy John surgery and their salaries were considered too much for pitchers with an uncertain future.

The Padres non-tendered shortstop Everth Cabrera, who was an all-star in 2013. But he was terrible in 2014, had a PED suspension and off-the-field issues.

The Mets declined to offer a contract to Eric Young Jr. The Athletics non-tendered Kyle Blanks and Andrew Brown.

The Red Sox did not offer a contract to Juan Francisco, who they had just picked up on waivers last month.

His once-promising career was derailed on and off the field in 2014, but the Mets should still be interested in the 2013 All-Star.

The San Diego Padres have non-tendered 28-year-old shortstop Everth Cabrera, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com. An All-Star in 2013, Cabrera suffered through a season of turmoil before the Padres decided not to pay the roughly $3 million he was projected to make in arbitration for 2015.

In 2012, Cabrera impressed by stealing 44 bases in 48 attempts, but struggled to establish himself at the plate. It wasn't until 2013 that the Nicaraguan broke out; his .291/.373/.396 first-half line, coupled with 34 steals in 42 attempts, was enough to earn him his first All-Star selection. But Cabrera's breakout season came to a halt in August, when he was suspended 50 games for using performance-enhancing drugs.

Cabrera's troubles extended into his 2014 season, in which he battled injuries—he played in only 90 games—and hit an ugly .232/.272/.300. In September, his nightmare season reached its nadir when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of marijuana. The now-former Padre was charged with resisting arrest.

Despite his troubles both on and off the field, Cabrera is an intriguing target for the Mets. His ability to play above-average defense makes him an upgrade at shortstop, while his propensity to take a walk and his blazing speed make him a potential fix atop the batting order. There is a very real chance he never comes close to repeating his 2013 season, but his 7.8% career walk rate and his 136 stolen bases in 174 attempts make him worth looking into. With the dearth of quality shortstops around the league, Cabrera should not have trouble finding suitors.

Injuries and off-field troubles contributed to a few clubs' decisions to let talented players become free agents on Tuesday.

Braves starter Kris Medlen and Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera were among several notable players who became free agents upon being non-tendered by their clubs on Tuesday.

Medlen, 29, missed the entire 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but owns a 2.95 ERA in more than 500 big-league innings. The right-hander will have the opportunity to return to the mound and begin rebuilding his value as soon as June, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Brandon Beachy, like Medlen, was also non-tendered after missing all of last season. Beachy has been limited to 46 starts in parts of four big league seasons, but he's struck out more than a batter per inning and owns a 3.23 ERA during that time.

Cabrera's departure from San Diego might have more to do with his off-field troubles than his on-field production. Though he had a down year in 2014, Cabrera is a year removed from posting a 113 OPS+ and stealing 37 bases in his age-26 season. The speedy infielder has dealt with major issues in each of the last two years, starting with a suspension for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal in 2013 and an arrest for driving under the influence of marijuana three months ago.

Thank you @Padres and fans for my first years in the big leagues. I am going to keep working hard to be a better person and player.

— Everth Cabrera (@CabreraEverth) December 3, 2014

Alexi Ogando is another intriguing player not offered a contract by his team. The 31-year-old righty has dealt with injury issues recently, but on the whole, has been pretty good when given a stable role by the Rangers. Ogando was at his best in 2012 as a reliever, striking out a batter per inning while posting a 3.27 ERA in 66 frames.

Former Pittsburgh Pirate Clint Barmes is the newest San Diego Padre. According to Ken Rosenthal, Barmes has signed a one-year contract with the Friars. Jon Heyman confirmed and added that the contract includes an option for a second year.

After yesterday's announcement that Everth Cabrera would not be tendered, everyone was posturing Alexi Amarista's role as the possible starting shortstop in 2015. AJ Preller noted that Amarista would be given the chance to win that job, but the addition of Barmes gives the team some much needed depth at short.

The veteran hit .245/.328/.294 Last season for the Bucs. Not exactly the. BIG BAT that so many Padre fans are clamoring for, but his glove could be a solid addition to the club.

Barmes' contact is pending a physical, which is likely to take place this week.

Source: #Padres in agreement with IF Clint Barmes on one-year deal with club option. Pending physical.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 3, 2014

barmes actually got 1 year and an option in padres deal. good defender in for everth. logical.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 3, 2014

Wherein the word "best" is thrown around loosely.

When Russell Martin went off the market following a five-year, $82 million deal with the Blue Jays, the free-agent market for catchers went from slim to just about none. Martin was easily the class of a group that includes mostly aging former starters and once-promising players who have lost their way.

A.J. Pierzynski and David Ross fall into the former category. Pierzynski has been a negative-WAR player for two years running. His skills behind the plate are beginning to deteriorate with his bat, which managed an OPS+ of just 75 in 2014. Pierzynski hasn't received much interest thus far, but it would be hard to imagine a team not at least offering him a minor league deal at some point this offseason assuming he wants to continue playing.

Ross, meanwhile, has drawn interest from the Cubs, who are attempting to sign top free-agent hurler Jon Lester. Ross served as Lester's primary catcher for 29 games in Boston in 2013 and 2014. Like Pierzynski, Ross is 37 years old and has been steadily declining at the plate since a strong 2012 campaign. However, that's something the Cubs would likely put up with if it gives them a better chance of landing Lester.

Geovany Soto and Nick Hundley both had career-best performances at the plate in their age-27 seasons, but neither backstop has done much since then. Soto has failed to eclipse 200 plate appearances in a season since 2012, when he finished with a career-worst 63 OPS+. He was slightly above average in limited duty for Oakland last season, and because of a strong stretch earlier in his career during which he hit .254/.347/.452 with the Cubs, Soto still owns a decent career OPS+ of 102.

Hundley has fallen completely off the map since posting a 132 OPS+ for the Padres in 2011. He was close to league average while receiving a career-high 408 plate appearances two years later, but Hundley regressed down to a 79 OPS+ with the Padres and Orioles in 2014. Hundley is reportedly drawing interest from the Rockies, who are trying to trade incumbent catcher Wilin Rosario to an AL club that would be less affected by his poor defense.

John Buck, Gerald Laird and J.P. Arencibia are among several other uninspiring available catchers. None are likely to command much attention from teams with a need at the position due to either age, sustained ineffectiveness or both.

The 26-year-old backstop could be a part of the return package heading back to Los Angeles in the event that a deal for Kemp is struck with San Diego.

After initial discussions earlier this week, the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers remain engaged in trade talks involving Dodgers' outfielder Matt Kemp, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. Per Rosenthal, the clubs have discussed a possible deal that would involve catcher Yasmani Grandal (and presumably more) heading to Los Angeles, with Kemp and additional cash on the move to San Diego. However, Rosenthal stresses that there is nothing imminent at the moment, as the Dodgers are still talking with other clubs, who very well may be in more advanced talks than the Padres are in.

With the Dodgers' glut of outfielders, and Kemp's rather pricy contract, Los Angeles has been oft-reported to be shopping the 30-year-old. Meanwhile, the Padres have been in search of a middle-of-the order hitter, making failed runs at Yasmany Tomas and Adam LaRoche, while also reportedly offering a nine-digit deal to Pablo Sandoval, indicating that the club could perhaps take on Kemp's contract, which has five years and $107 million remaining. Kemp would seemingly fit that elite hitter mold, as he has hit for a 147 OPS+ over the past four seasons.

For the Dodgers, Grandal would likely slot in as Los Angeles' starting catcher, supplanting the incumbent A.J. Ellis, who would probably be better used in a more limited role. Injuries and an HGH suspension have thus far hampered Grandal's ability to stay on the field, but he has been quite good when playing. Through 777 career plate appearances, the 2010 first rounder has hit .245/.350/.412 with a 120 OPS+ and 4.3 WAR. The Padres appear to have shopped Grandal "aggressively" so far this offseason, as San Diego is seemingly more interested in retaining Rene Rivera, with top backstop prospect Austin Hedges waiting in the wings. The 26-year-old Grandal is under club control through the 2018 season.

Kemp is coming off his first full season since 2011, and was quite good in his return, hitting .287/.346/.506 for a 140 OPS+ and .369 wOBA. However, he failed to top the 2.0 WAR mark by both Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference, due to some atrocious play in the field. The two-time Gold Glove award winner was worth -23 runs according to defensive runs saved (DRS), and his -25.8 UZR/150 was similarly terrible. Granted, Kemp has been a fairly sub-par outfielder for much of his career, with an astoundingly bad DRS total of -84 over the past five years. Of course, the Padres would be acquiring Kemp for his offense, which he has consistently demonstrated to be elite.

As Rosenthal notes, numerous other clubs are currently in trade talks with the Dodgers regarding Kemp. The Orioles and Mariners have been among the teams to express interest, but talks with Baltimore went "nowhere", and Seattle may not have the payroll space to take on Kemp's contract.

Oh, hey, it's December. That means a lot of things to a lot of people, but to me it mostly just means not being able to go 30 seconds without hearing a song with bells in it or seeing a themed list. Since I have no musical (or any other discernible) talent, my seasonal contributions are limited to the latter. Hence this.

I went through the list of all 887 guys who have played for the Padres, and plucked out all the names that are even remotely Christmasy. I thought it would be a list of Chrises with a handful of other dudes sprinkled in, but the ratio shifted the other way. Here are all the Padres with even slightly seasonal names, broken into categories:

White Christmas

Henry Blanco
Wade LeBlanc
Rondell White
Matt Whiteside
Wally Whitehurst

Foodstuffs

Aaron Cunningham
Atlee Hammaker
Erik Hamren
Justin Hampson
Goose Gossage
Adam Eaton
Johnny Grubb
Candy Sierra
Rick Sweet
Glenn Dishman

Reppin' the colors

Gary Green
Khalil Greene
Tim Redding

Christmas bells

Derek Bell
Heath Bell
Mark Bellhorn (bonus instrument!)
Brian Boehringer

Decorations

Mike Ivie
Jon Garland
(and you'll need one or two of these if you want boughs of holly in your halls)
Jaff Decker
Marty Decker

Presents

Milton Bradley
Dave Cash
Rob Bowen
Brad Boxberger
Randy Byers

Saints

Nick Hundley
Nick Vincent

Uncategorized

Angel Bravo
- tree-topper

Storm Davis
- like, a snowstorm

Rob Deer
- the rein- variety, of course

Leon Everitt
- "Leon" is "Noel" backward. Thanks, Ellen Raskin.

Irving Falu
- because of Washington Irving

Wiki Gonzalez
- because I used Wikipedia to double-check that Washington Irving is who I was thinking of

Jesus Guzman
- shares a name with the marquee newborn

Drew Carpenter
- because of the occupation the baby took when he grew up

Dirk Hayhurst
Ray Hayward
- manger padding

Gaylord Perry
- don we now our Gaylord Perry

Iffy ones

Jerry Manuel
- Jerr-Emmanuel

Al Santorini
- the closest name to 'Santa'

Dick Sharon
- sharin' is carin'

Mark Wasinger
- wassailing/singer

Pete LaForest
- where you get la tree

Jason Bartlett
- partridge in a pear tree

Rick Wise
- just need two more wise men...

Actually, that gives me another, better idea.

Three wise men

Chris Young
Craig Breslow
Ross Ohlendorf

Lastly, the Chrises

Chris Brown
Chris Burke
Chris Cannizzaro
Chris Denorfia
Chris Gomez
Chris Gwynn
Chris Hammond
Chris James
Chris Jones
Chris Krug
Chris Nelson
Chris Oxspring
Chris Robinson
Chris Stewart
Chris Welsh
Chris Young

The deal includes a club option for 2016.

The Padres have officially announced the signing of shortstop Clint Barmes to a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2016. The deal, which was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com on Wednesday, will guarantee Barmes $1.5 million in 2015, with the option being worth between $2 and $4 million, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

Barmes, 35, will provide middle infield depth for a Padres' club that is likely to rely on Alexi Amarista at shortstop in the wake of the decision to non-tender ex-starter Everth Cabrera. Barmes has the ability to play second base, and will likely serve as protection behind Jedd Gyorko next season.

In 48 games for the Pirates last season, Barmes hit .245/.328/.294 with seven RBI, while providing solid defense in his third and final season in Pittsburgh. The veteran has been known as a defense-first player for his entire career, putting together a lifetime .246/.295/.380 line with 86 home runs and 399 RBI in twelve major league seasons with the Rockies (2003-2010), Astros (2011) and Pirates (2012-2014).

Would the Padres be wise to bring the talented, but injury prone outfielder into the fold?

The hot stove season can often make for strange rumors, and even stranger bedfellows. That's been the case this week with speculation of a possible blockbuster trade between the Padres and the hated Dodgers, with outfielder Matt Kemp as the centerpiece. With the rumor picking up steam in recent days it's worth looking deeper into what it could mean for the Friars.

What would the Padres get in Kemp, and is it worth the haul it would take to bring him down the 5 freeway? The potential and skill set on Kemp is undeniable. He has all the abilities of your prototypical "five tool" player, and has put up MVP quality numbers to back it up at times. However, since finishing as runner-up to Ryan Braun in the National League MVP voting in 2011 the focus on Kemp has shifted from the time he has missed from the diamond, not what he has done on it.

From 2008-11 Kemp missed a total of 11 games. In the three season that followed Kemp has missed a total of 157 games, due to a multitude of injuries. Kemp did have a bit of a resurgence in 2014, batting .287, with 25 home runs and 89 runs batted in over 150 games. But are those numbers worth giving up what the Dodgers would likely seek if a deal was made?

Catcher Yasmani Grandal would almost certainly have to be included, as would one of the Padres young arms. Kemp has always had a potential upside that makes general managers salivate, but at 30 -ears old has his ceiling been reached? He has hit 30 or more home runs only once in his nine year career, surpassed 100 RBIs twice, and batted .300 or better only three times.

Would the Padres simply be buying into the potential in Kemp that seems to have never quite been realized? There is no doubt Kemp embodies what the Padres and their fans have been clamoring for. He would give the team, in desperate need of offense, a shot in the arm. And the fans would likely relish having the household name they have been hoping for. Although whether or not he would be enough to help the Padres climb the ranks of the NL West remains to be seen.

The belief is that the Dodgers would likely demand the 26-year old Grandal to head to Los Angeles in the deal. While the young Cuban has obviously struggled with issues off the field, moving him out of San Diego wouldn't be seen as a positive by everyone. The Dodgers likely paying a portion of the remaining $105 million on his contract might make the trade more palatable to all, however.

Kemp for Grandal? NL West foes may make the best trade partners: http://t.co/EwciEi6TRT#HotStovepic.twitter.com/59W2LR5Cqc

— MLB (@MLB) December 5, 2014

Dealing for Matt Kemp would likely end in one of two ways for the Padres; Kemp is emboldened by a change of scenery and returns to his MVP caliber form, or he remains an effective, but injury plagued player. For a team and a fan base desperate for excitement around Petco Park, however, rolling the dice on Kemp might be worth the potential for the right price. Kemp and potential...words that seem to be forever intertwined.

Don't start buying custom Kennedy Red Sox shirts just yet. There is still work to be done, and maybe not even with the Padres.

The Jon Lester negotiations have received all the attention, but even if the Red Sox manage to bring him back to Boston, they still need to bring in a second quality starting pitcher. Ian Kennedy could end up being that guy, as the Red Sox and Padres are discussing a swap of Yoenis Cespedes for Kennedy with the Padres, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. The Red Sox aren't necessarily pushing hard for a deal just yet, though,as, per Rosenthal, they believe they can get a better pitcher than Kennedy for Cespedes.

Just in case Kennedy ends up being the top arm they can bring in for Cespedes, though, let's give you some background on why that isn't necessarily a negative. Kennedy's 2014 ERA+ was just 92, but that's a bit misleading. He struck out 9.3 batters per nine, punched out three times as many batters as he walked, and posted a 3.21 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching). While FIP certainly isn't the be-all pitching statistic, it's probably accurate in Kennedy's case, as his batting average on balls in play was an inflated .320. That's high to begin with, but for someone who pitched about half of their games at pitcher-friendly -- and BABIP-killing -- Petco Park, it's absurd. Kennedy's career BABIP, even with 2014 involved, is a much more normal .289. He might lose a couple of whiffs coming to the AL East from the NL West, but the BABIP is likely to drop even with Fenway Park as his home.

Kennedy has averaged 201 innings per year since 2010, posted a 115 ERA+ from 2010 through 2012 before a down 2013, and would arguably be Boston's best pitcher were he to join them this very second. He's a free agent at season's end, much like Cespedes, which is why the Padres wouldn't mind giving him up in order to bring some much-needed offense to their lineup. It's true that the Red Sox might be able to find someone better than Ian Kennedy as a Cespedes return, but if not, Kennedy is more than a consolation prize.

With that being said, I'm 100 percent in agreement with the Sox that they should keep shopping Cespedes to see if anyone will give up a better arm. It's only Sunday, and the winter meetings haven't even begun yet. Another day or two of conversations with other teams is a solid plan.

It's looking more an more likely that that the Padres are going to trade one of their three catchers and Yasmani Grandal is at the forefront of all the swirling rumors, most recently in an exchange for Matt Kemp. He's young and controllable and drawing the most interest from opposing ball clubs.  To bolster their backstop crew, if and when a trade happens, the Padres are looking to sign 37 year old free agent David Ross

Padres enter Winter Meetings with long list of needs | UTSanDiego.com

The Padres’ interest in Ross, who would serve as a veteran backup and clubhouse leader, further indicates their intention to move one of three catchers -- Yasmani Grandal, Rene Rivera or top defensive prospect Austin Hedges -- all of whom have received significant interest amid a lean market for backstops

The UT's Dennis Lin in the same article gives us a peek at the team's Christmas wish list.  They want and impact bat (or two), a first basemen, a third basemen, a shortstop and hell a young controllable offense.  Basically they want a new team and I don't blame them.  Names he mentioned as potential targets are Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Yoenis Cespedes, Jay Bruce, Allen Craig, Michael Morse and Brandon Moss.

Ken Rosenthal is hearing from an unidentified source that the Padres are discussing a trade of starting pitcher Ian Kennedy for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, but Boston expects better quality than Kennedy.

Source: #RedSox, #Padres have discussed Cespedes for Kennedy. BOS believes that Cespedes can bring them even better pitcher.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2014

While he's at it Rosenthal is making up his own possible trades, seeing that the Padres need an everyday shortstop not two utility players like Clint Barmes and Alexi Amarista.  A possible match he says is with the Rangers since Pads GM Preller have a past.

One possible match: #Padres need SS. #Rangers have surplus - and SD's Preller knows their players well. Profar possibility?

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2014

As the Winter Meetings officially kick-off tomorrow baseball executives will be milling about and the media will be trying to get information from them.  So far Preller has been mute.

Just tried to talk to Pads GM AJ Preller about Cespedes to SD rumors. He was silent, motionless, unwilling to comment pic.twitter.com/QWKj2k4tfC

— Cespedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) December 7, 2014

Just as we suspected.

If you're a huge Matt Kemp fan, which I know you are, then you're going to love this news.  He's likely to end up a San Diego Padre.  Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal is considered the main trade chip in this probable move along with another unnamed player.  The deal is starting to take shape as the Winter Meetings kick-off.  It's only a matter of time before huge Matt Kemp banners are draped over Petco Park.

The San Diego #Padres looming as the most likely destination for #Dodgers Matt Kemp, offering Yasmany Grandal and one other player to LA

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 8, 2014

The Union-Tribune's Jeff Sanders thinks it'd be even better if they kept Grandal and send the Dodgers pitcher Matt Wisler and one-time can't miss prospect Austin Hedges.

Kemp to the Padres? Sounds good | UTSanDiego.com

Better yet, find a way to do it while keeping Yasmani Grandal because pairing his re-emerging power in the middle of a lineup with Kemp is enticing.

Maybe it costs Austin Hedges. Fine. Matt Wisler, too? OK, tell the Dodgers to keep most of their money if it means you can keep the current rotation together.

I'd hate to lose Hedges because I feel like I've invested so much hope in him and even though the hype has dropped off dramatically, I just can't let go.  Not yet.

The Indians are interested in Braves outfielder Justin Upton, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who tweets that the Braves still haven't been given an offer they like, but have been in contact with the Tribe, along with the Royals, Rangers, and Padres. Sherman also notes that the Braves are looking for starting pitching and/or a second baseman.

Upton has not quite made good on the promise he showed as a 24-year-old MVP candidate in 2011, but he has continued to be a very good player, worth 3.9 WAR (FanGraphs) in 2014, when he posted a batting line of .270.342/.491, with 29 home runs and a wRC+ of 133.

Upton is 27 years old, and about to enter the final year of his current contract. He'll make $14.5 million in 2014. That's pretty close to the amount of money the Indians have available for 2015, if they're going to operate with the same sort of payroll they had this season.

The Braves recently traded Jason Heyward (another talented outfielder who is also a year away from free agency) to St. Louis for Shelby Miller (with some prospects also changing hands). The Braves have said Upton should have more value than Heyward, but Heyward has been the better player over the last couple years. In any case, a trade for Upton shouldn't look dramatically different than the one for Heyward. The closest match to Miller on the Indians is probably Trevor Bauer, another highly-touted prospect who had a modest 2014 season. Otherwise, Jose Ramirez could fill their second base need (they'd have pretty awesome defense up the middle with Ramirez and Andrelton Simmons), perhaps with a lower-level prospect also involved.

It should be noted that the Indians are on Upton's no-trade list, but that only means he would have to approve of a trade. There's no way of knowing right now if he would do that or not, but the Indians seem better positioned to contend in 2015, and Francona is a manger most players have probably heard good things about.

I would love to see the Indians acquire Upton, whom I've long been a fan of. In considering a fair offer, keep in mind that Upton till almost certainly receive and turn down a qualifying offer next offseason, so he brings a compensation pick for 2016 with him as well.

Texas is looking to add a controllable starting pitcher and doesn't want to acquire a starter who will be eligible for free agency after 2015.

Texas has been looking for pitching this offseason, and has the payroll flexibility to add names such as Jordan Zimmermann or Doug Fister. But the fact that both are set to become free agents after 2015 may turn the Rangers away, and according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers have shifted their attention to the Padres' Andrew Cashner.

Cashner, 28, posted a 2.55 ERA and 3.09 FIP in 123.1 innings (19 starts) with San Diego last season. He is expected to make between $3 and $4 million in 2015, and as a result, would give the Rangers the payroll flexibility necessary to make other moves. Cashner is a TCU product and is Texas-born, making him attractive.

Grant notes that Cashner has also told friends that he would like to return to Texas, which could facilitate the process.

San Diego would most likely seek prospects in return for Cashner, who is under team control for two more seasons. Texas General Manager Jon Daniels has reportedly consistently communicated with Padres General Manager A.J. Preller, who is his former assistant. Yasmani Grandal, Rene Rivera, and Tyson Ross are all names that the Padres could deal this offseason while the Rangers seek a balanced deal that would improve their roster instead of adding a big-name free agent.

Although the Padres would be losing one of their better experienced arms, the package of prospects they could receive might make sense. Preller is familiar with Texas' minor league system, and should be able to find prospects that he likes.

Before the Rangers make any major deals, they are also looking to get a feel for Jurickson Profar, who is returning from a shoulder injury and should be ready to contribute. As Grant notes, if Profar proves he is healthy, he can become a big piece in a trade or give the Rangers the opportunity to trade Rougned Odor.

Despite the fact that they are not close to acquiring Cashner, a small deal that involves a starter is more likely than a blockbuster for Texas this offseason.

There are a lot of trade rumors surrounding the Padres, including the Rangers sniffing around at Andrew Cashner, but the majority of the buzz centers on San Diego's potential acquisition of Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. The thought of Kemp relocating to America's Finest City has led to much debate among Friar fans, faithful and fairweather alike. While Kemp comes with a bevy of questions including "Who and how much would they have to give up?", "Can he stay in one piece?", and "How many runs is his glove going to cost if he does stay intact?", the sentiment I see most frequently is "Can I somehow bring myself to not hate that guy?"

It's a valid question, and for the purpose of this post, the only one I'll be attempting to answer. Setting aside all other concerns, it's tricky business to be expected to do a full 180 in the blink of an eye regarding your rooting interests in a player. That is amplified exponentially when the player in question has spent the entirety of his career -- nearly a decade -- wearing the uniform of your most hated team. Add on a few more degree-of-difficulty points for him being the rival team's marquee player part of that time, and it makes recalibrating one's rooting meter all that more difficult.

When Kemp's name comes up amongst a gaggle of Padres fans, his character will inevitably come into question. This is one of those things that some fans feel the need to do regarding any opposing player, and it takes form in many ways. In his case, people are especially fond of bringing up his parking garage altercation with Carlos Quentin and Clayton Richard following the Greinke-Quentin incident. To some, this is all the evidence they need to call him a hothead and other radio buzzwords, saying he needed to mind his own business, all while lauding Clayton Richard for being a great teammate sticking up for his foxhole brother.

Although I have never rooted for Matt Kemp to have success on the field, absolutely none of that has anything to do with Matt Kemp the human being. It's like Jerry Seinfeld's famous bit about rooting interests, except in this case I'm just rooting against laundry. I rooted against Todd Zeile when he wore a red 27 on the front of his jersey and I'll root against the next guy who does when Kemp leaves. The fact that someone is wearing a Dodgers uniform is enough for me; I don't need to grasp at straws to demonize the individuals when the only thing I truly dislike about them is wadded up in a hamper at day's end. There are enough Josh Luekes in the world to legitimately hate without manufacturing animus for guys who wear the wrong letters on their polyester shirts.

In my eyes, Matt Kemp is a Dodger until he ceases to wear a Dodgers uniform, and then he isn't. That simple. If he had spent these past nine years playing for the Orioles I wouldn't be sitting here wondering how to root for him if he became a Padre. Just because I don't care at all about the Orioles doesn't mean that I could never care about a player who had been an Oriole, so just because I hate the Dodgers doesn't mean I perma-hate everyone who has ever had anything to do with their organization.

So, no, I would not have a problem rooting for a Padres uniform with Matt Kemp inside it. Not that my opinion counts for anything in the big picture, but it's one less question for me to mull around while the professionals sort out the answers to the ones that matter.

Chase Headley will reportedly sign with a new team by the end of the week.

Free-agent third baseman Chase Headley is expected to make a decision on his next destination by the end of this week's Winter Meetings, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Headley is garnering interest from the Giants and Yankees, who are believed to be the frontrunners for the third baseman's signature, as well as the Marlins. Last week, reports surfaced that some team had already offered Headley a four-year, $65 million contract, though the eight-year veteran is still waiting to make his decision.

The 30-year-old Headley batted .243/.328/.372 in 135 games for the Padres and Yankees last season. After arriving in New York prior to July's trade deadline, he hit .262/.371/.398 with six home runs in 224 plate appearances. His defense at third base has long drawn rave reviews, and Headley is just two years removed from batting .286/.376/.498 with 35 home runs for San Diego in 2012.

While that breakout campaign stands out as an outlier in Headley's career, it's clear his bat likely has more to give away from the pitcher's paradise of Petco Park. Add in his stellar defense and consistent health, and Headley looks to be solid value compared to the lucrative contract that Boston gave Pablo Sandoval.

The Giants, then, could be in a good position to land Headley and fill the void Sandoval left at the hot corner. Whether their pursuit of Jon Lester changes the club's plans on Headley remains to be seen, however.

Although the Yankees expect Alex Rodriguez back in 2015, they might give him some time at first base and DH, making Headley an option for them as well. How much Yankees GM Brian Cashman is willing to pay Headley is a bigger question, with the Yanks already showing signs this offseason that four years for the third basemen might be too big of a commitment in their eyes.

Headley's market seems to be limited, but the Giants and Yankees are in hot pursuit of the third baseman.

Free agent third baseman Chase Headley is nearing a decision and is expected to sign by the end of the Winter Meetings, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman adds that three to four teams are in the bidding for Headley, including the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, who appear to be the likely front-runners at this point. The Miami Marlinshave also been recently linked to the 30-year-old.

Last week, reports indicated that Headley had a four-year offer worth roughly $65 million on the table, however, that is now in dispute, as the industry is rather skeptical of its existence, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.

With Pablo Sandoval now in Boston, the Giants appear to be an optimal destination for Headley. The club has reportedly been "aggressively pursuing" Headley to fill its hot corner vacancy, but it appears that the Giants are currently awaiting the results of their bid for Jon Lester before gauging the amount of money they will have available for a third baseman. Per ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, San Francisco doesn't seem to be inclined to offer a deal in the range of four years at $11-12 million per annum. If a club such as the Yankees were too make an offer in that range, the Giants would likely have to drop out. Of course, a $44-48 million deal seems right in the range of what Headley will get, with a deal in excess of $50 million quite feasible. If the Giants don't land Headley, Crasnick adds that the club could explore signing Jed Lowrie.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that the Houston Astros have also "kicked the tires" on Headley, though the team has shown more interest in Lowrie.

Headley is coming off a season in which he hit .243/.328/.372 (102 OPS+) with superb defense for the Padres and Yankees. He has averaged a 4.0 WAR over the past five seasons, including an MVP-caliber 2012 season in which he hit .286/.376/.498 with a 145 OPS+ and league-leading 115 RBI. He is generally regarded as one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball, and coupled with an above-average bat, he has the potential to be one of the best value signings of the winter.