My take.

[Rufio181]

Douggie's starting in Boston?

Maybe we should offer another rediculous trade to Boston. Kotteras for Mike Lowell or some very top prospect.

[FmrFresnan]

Am I among the minority of people who wouldn't trade Kottaras? This guy has a lot of talent and a pretty good bat. He'll be a big part of the Padres for quite awhile. Not to mention Lowell got hurt yesterday and there's not telling how long he'll be out of the lineup.

[Rufio181]

We have Piazza with Bowen and Bard going to take the helm soon. Who do you think is the odd man out?

[FmrFresnan]

1) There's no guaruntee that the Padres are going to re-sign Piazza or Bowen for that matter.

2) If they don't re-sign either of those guys, who do you think is next in line to backup Bard?

[HollywoodLeo]

I wouldn't trade Kotteras unless it was for the right price.

But, when you take into account Bard's recent success, and add it to the fact that the Padres are actually pretty deep at catcher in the farm system, you come to the conclusion that Kotteras isn't untouchable.

[HollywoodLeo]

1) There's no guaruntee that the Padres are going to re-sign Piazza or Bowen for that matter.

2) If they don't re-sign either of those guys, who do you think is next in line to backup Bard?

there's no guarantee Kotteras will take his success to the major league level, either.

I offer Ben Davis as exhibit A

[Rufio181]

there's no guarantee Kotteras will take his success to the major league level, either.

I offer Ben Davis as exhibit A

That's why we sell high.

[FmrFresnan]

there's no guarantee Kotteras will take his success to the major league level, either.

I offer Ben Davis as exhibit A

You can't compare Kottaras to Ben Davis, he hasn't had the opportunity to show what he can do in the bigs. You mention the Padres are deep at catcher in the farm system, isn't Kottaras the #1 prospect as far as catcher goes?

[HollywoodLeo]

Don't misread my post. I wasn't comparing him to Ben Davis stating that he WILL follow the same path. I was simply using Ben Davis as a prime example to show that there's no guarantee that a #1 prospect will succeed at the major league level.

[HollywoodLeo]

and, according to Baseball America, the #1 catching prospect in the major leagues is Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (Braves, ranked #18 overall)

Jeff Clement of the Mariners is 2nd (33rd overall)

3rd is Russel Martin (Dodgers...already in the bigs now...42 overall)

Neil Walker is right behind Russel (Pirates)

Then it's Jeff Mathis (60. Angels)

then Kenji Johjima is on the list at 66, but I don't understand why...he's not exactly a prospect.

Anyways, Kotteras isn't even in the top 100.... he should be on next year's top 100, I would imagine.

[FmrFresnan]

and, according to Baseball America, the #1 catching prospect in the major leagues is Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (Braves, ranked #18 overall)

Jeff Clement of the Mariners is 2nd (33rd overall)

3rd is Russel Martin (Dodgers...already in the bigs now...42 overall)

Neil Walker is right behind Russel (Pirates)

Then it's Jeff Mathis (60. Angels)

then Kenji Johjima is on the list at 66, but I don't understand why...he's not exactly a prospect.

Anyways, Kotteras isn't even in the top 100.... he should be on next year's top 100, I would imagine.

Sorry, I meant the Padres #1 catching prospect....

[HollywoodLeo]

Yeah, he's our #1 guy right now (as was Ben Davis at one point..) but, (and i'm going off the word of a trusted poster on another forum who follows the minors frivelantly...as I don't really follow it at all) we have a few younger guys in A ball right now who could very well be just as good with more development.

As I understand it, Colt Morton is the guy that'd rank as our #1 if we trade Kotteras.

My main point is, for the right price, Kotteras is not untouchable....although that has more to do with Josh Bard than it does with the other minor leaguers behind him.

[FmrFresnan]

I think the Padres need to re-sign Piazza to at least a 2 year deal as well as lock up Bard to a multi-year deal.

[Rufio181]

A good team to trade Kotteras to is the Houston Astros, more specifically OF Luke Scott. The guy has been doing good at AAA Round Rock and decent in the major league level.

[Providence A's]

Klesko was advised that it was in his best interest to waive should a deal come calling.......he said he wouldn't be opposed to going to a situation where he would get playing time shortly after being told. He'd waive in otherwords......and he'd waive quickly if being delt to a contending top notch AL team.....

Yes, but as I said, why would he waive it to go to another team if he was going to benched? That was my point...that he'd only waive it if he would be sent to a team that planned on playing him...unlike SD.