My notes from Mike Dee's interview on the Mighty 1090
Padres President Mike Dee interview with Dan Sileo (MP3)
- Mike Dee says the team knew that Kemp's physical review would take time for their doctors. In the end everyone was comfortable moving forward with the trade. The media over dramatized the trade process and added a lot of speculation.
"From our point of view it was very ordinary course. We had the time to take and we took that time. We did all of our homework. We think we've got a great player in the middle of our lineup for the next 5 years. No discomfort whatsoever."
- Dee says they made the GM change in the middle of the season last year so that A.J. Preller would have the advantage of getting to know the organization in the second half of the season. Preller's assessment of the team was that the pitching staff was good but they needed offense. Their first priority was to be competitive in 2015. The trick was keeping the top of the rotation intact while also keeping their best prospects in Hunter Renfroe, Matt Wisler and Austin Hedges. Preller has done an outstanding job.
- Other teams were very interested acquiring the top of the Padres rotation, but Preller held fast and was patient. The work he has to do is not complete, but he has added key offensive elements to the team.
- Josh Johnson was an outstanding member of the clubhouse last season. They're hoping for a bounce back year for him on the field. "We're just happy to have him back here in San Diego." When he's healthy he can really help the ball club.
- The acquisition of Justin Upton with one year left on his contract shows that the Padres want to win in 2015. Dee points to a similar trade that brought Ken Caminiti and Steve Finley to San Diego with one year contracts in 1995, but stayed on to win two NL West championships. If they are unable to sign Upton long time then they'll get a draft pick.
- Dee wants players like Matt Kemp, Will Myers and Justin Upton to be Padres for the long haul. Fans deserve this kind of team.
- Derek Norris is a good catcher but Rene Rivera was probably one of the three best in baseball. The Padres had to give up value to get value in the Myers trade.