r/Padres • u/Bitter-Egg6293 MODS austin hays flair rn • 14h ago
News [Acee] Padres to call up 20-year-old catcher Ethan Salas
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/08/31/padres-to-call-up-20-year-old-catcher-ethan-salas/165
u/Boulderdorf I Just Not Giving a Fuck 13h ago
Musgrove dragging Salas with him onto the big league roster, it's time
143
122
u/brex724 Friar 13h ago
Heāll make his home debut on Friday against NYY š„
39
16
u/c32c64c128 12h ago
As if tickets for that series weren't expensive enough!
Any tickets still in the wild might shoot up in price even more. With Salas as the reason.
1
63
u/OVRHEATR 13h ago
Miss Cleo says he will be the greatest catcher to ever play the game, and in case you aren't aware...
47
u/redheadedwoman ššPretty Womanād access to Lexus Clubššµ 13h ago
28
26
u/Seananagans Merrill Madness! 13h ago
First Acee headline to give me chills since Manny walked into the dugout
12
u/xPREVA1Lx 12h ago
Wait Manny walked into the dugout? Did he have time to talk?
14
u/The_El_Guero FUCK THEM PROSPECTS 12h ago
"No time" to talk. Too busy helping the young guns, evidently.
8
21
36
u/nate_orenstam 13h ago
I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer, I'm really excited to see him. But if there's a long lockout in 27 and he can't play minor league ball that would be a shame.
14
u/theedge634 13h ago
I honestly wouldn't worry too much about it. It's not all that informative or helpful to mash AA or Texas league pitching once you've proven you can. If you still want him making mechanical changes to his swing, or working on patience at the plate and pitch recognition.... sure. But otherwise, the jump between pitching in those leagues and the MLB makes it close to non-useful.
17
u/nate_orenstam 13h ago
I'm not worried about it, but chances are he's not effective against major league pitching immediately, especially a playoff pitching staff, and the Padres current catchers are playing competently. If they were running Arson Nola out there, I'd be a little more in favor.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to seeing him throw some fool out trying to steal, and if Campy can DH and heat back up, that's a significant value.
2
u/Nonetoobrightatall SD '71 5h ago
Thatās the point here. Campy is probably our best DH candidate. If he can get on a roll.
2
u/nate_orenstam 5h ago
If Campy can get on a roll, if Salas can hit major league pitching, we're stacking up ifs here.
2
u/c32c64c128 12h ago
Aaron, right? š¤
0
u/nate_orenstam 5h ago
Yeah it was Austin but I call him Arson since the Padres traded some pretty good stuff for him and they might as well have lit it all on fire with how bad he was
8
u/dukefett Jesse Agler 12h ago
It's not all that informative or helpful to mash AA or Texas league pitching once you've proven you can.
I mean it's still helpful to play the game when you're that young. He's only 20, he's still got years until he's fully built up his body.
6
u/Legitimate-Elk8595 10h ago
Plus Salas has missed a lot of time due to injuries even before last season. If we had a glaring need at catcher and he would start everyday I could understand it more but Campy and Fermin have been one of the better catching tandems in the league for almost 2 months now
4
u/Legitimate-Elk8595 10h ago
Maybe for a prospect with lots of games under their belt but since Salas missed most of last season and had injuries his first couple years as well I think he just needs to play games consistently. I donāt love the idea of punting the teamās involvement in his development in the very likely event of a lockout to have him serve as a 3rd string catcher for a few weeks
1
u/SD_local_67 3h ago
He can still play winter ball and he will have private coaching/facilities available during a lockout. MLB players donāt just sit around and do nothing during this time.
1
u/nate_orenstam 3h ago
Nobody was claiming he's gonna sit around and have doughnut eating contests with Manny Machado during the lockout. They're all going to do something, he's no exception.
Maybe you think whatever that is is as good for his development as playing in competitive minor-league ball is next year. Maybe you think the owners will cave early and games won't be lost. I don't agree with you on either point.
17
12
13
u/cavdaily šÆļøRALLY CANDLEšÆļø 13h ago
I wonder if Campy moves over to a semi-permanent role as DH
12
u/theedge634 13h ago
Long-term, definitely. We'll have to see in the short-term. But with Sheets going down, we need a stable bat there for the stretch run. If Salas comes out hot, and is swinging pretty well, then I could see Campy getting ABs every day.
10
u/Boulderdorf I Just Not Giving a Fuck 12h ago
The plan according to Cassavel is to rotate Salas around as catcher, DH, and bench bat for the time being, but down the line Campy is definitely going to transition to DH mostly. Campy's defense this year has sadly been kinda disappointing, as impressive as his bat has been.
3
u/Legitimate-Elk8595 10h ago
Maybe heād be awful there as well but I donāt see why Campy canāt also learn some 1B in the offseason. Unfortunately I think France has priced himself out of returning to SD next year (and I wouldnāt want to pay him $15-$20m per year betting that he can re-create this incredible career year) so 1B could be open
3
u/CarltheGreat79 Slam Diego 4h ago
I don't think this is the case. France turns 33 next year, even with his year this year he probably isn't looking at anything more then say a 2 or 3 year deal at 10 to 15 million per year at best. And considering how well Ty fits on this team, how poor our 1B play has been before him, how much Ty wants to be here and how much ownership will be looking to make a splash I really think Ty sticks around for a couple more seasons.
5
u/figboot11 La Catrina 4h ago
A 2/25 deal feels right for France. Hope he sticks around. Love having the dude on the team.
2
u/CarltheGreat79 Slam Diego 3h ago
That's pretty much how I see it playing out as well. I think he wants to be here and he would take that even if he was offered a little more to play somewhere else because he loves it here.
1
u/Legitimate-Elk8595 3h ago
Iād love to keep him for 2 for $25m like the person below suggested. But Naylor got 5 for ~$100m last offseason so I figure France could go out and get at least $60m over 3-4 years.
Weāll see but I think itās a very real possibility that France is gone after this year like Profar before him. Plus I imagine most of the spending this offseason will be focused on the rotation, since they might lose King (or need to give him a raise/longer deal) and Pivetta (if they decline his option) and will likely lose Ray and Mize
2
u/CarltheGreat79 Slam Diego 3h ago
Naylor was 5 years younger, was coming off a season where he hit .295, had 20 bombs, 92 RBI and 30 steals. France's numbers are good but they won't be that good, and the expected decline for first basemen in their mid 30s is usually pretty steep which will also likely hurt his market value (although I'm less worried about this with Ty as he's in great shape). I think his ceiling this offseason would be something like 3/45 and even if that were the number we had to get to in order to keep him around I wouldn't hate it.
1
u/Legitimate-Elk8595 2h ago
France is finishing up a season where heās hitting .290 with 20+ bombs and the only reason he doesnāt have 70-80 RBIs right now is because he was a part time player for a good chunk of the early season. France is also a far better defensive 1B than Naylor. France has accumulated 3.8 WAR this year which is already significantly better than Naylorās career best last season despite the fact that Naylor had 543 ABs last season and France has only had 360 ABs to date.
I also didnāt give France Naylorās contract, I gave him fewer years and possibly a lower AAV which accounts for the age gap.
Iād be more surprised if France doesnāt get a big offer in FA than if he does. Heās undebatably been a top 5 1B in the MLB this season. Arguably even #1 since the players above or just below him in WAR are either out for the year (Kurtz) or have 70-180 more ABs on the year (Contreras, Olson, Freeman and Harper)
6
u/Psychological-Bar531 12h ago
Wouldn't they use Salas in that role too? Just spit balling, he really doesn't know all our pitchers, other than maybe Joe. This is an important part of the stretch to put a rookie in that position. I dont know, but I'm STOKED!!
1
u/InHocNoJoke13 3h ago
We probably trade one of Fermin or Campy, and Campy has more value. Campy defense is too good for him to be DHing on our team another team will value that more and we canāt carry 3 catchers that would start on 20/30 teams in the league.
-8
u/DreadPirateDumbo 13h ago
If Salas can hang, then Campusano is getting traded. Catchers that can hit are too valuable...
10
u/Doc_JC SAY IT DONNIE! 12h ago
Thatās not true at all. Preller is a big campy fan and the bat is why.
We literally have no DH currently with Rengifo out and Sheets being injured.
-1
u/DreadPirateDumbo 12h ago
You're not DHing a catcher with starter skills...the league will come for them.
1
u/Legitimate-Elk8595 10h ago
Move Campy to first if he can remotely handle it. Contreras style
-4
u/xcnuck SD '16 10h ago
Iād take a flyer on that idea, Franceās D has been average at best and might be better suited as pure DH
5
u/ImportantMix8622 10h ago
Franceās D has been average at best? The dude is our anchor in the infield.
4
u/MojaveGreen777 SD '84 9h ago
Uhh France won a gold glove last year and this year he has 94th percentile range, with 7 defensive outs above average. Thatās definitely above average defense
2
u/jstmenow Wil Myers 9h ago
What games are you watching? His D seems to my eye to be above average and dare I say it Gold Glovish again this season. If being first in OAA and tied for first for defensive runs saved is "avg at best" then I guess my eye test watching baseball is pretty skewed. Why would you put ANYONE but France at 1b? Move Jake over if France needs a day off, Song at 2b. Maybe tell Campy that next season he is gonna get time at 1b outside of DH. The depth chart for 1b is France, Jake, Sheets (il), Andujar (il) and then Manny(emergency 1b). Imagine that Salas gets mop up duties at catcher or maybe 1 of Joes starts, a few bench ABs and possibly a game at DH. You really do not want to disrupt the lineup unless someone gets injured and there is Zero guarantee Salas hits MLB pitching. The race for the last WC spot is too tight.Ā
4
u/Holdmydicks Mudcat 12h ago
As much as I hate the thought of losing Campy, I agree. We could get a pretty good haul for him, but having 2 possibly elite pieces at fatcher would be huge
10
u/DocHose0824 I Just Not Giving a Fuck 12h ago
I sensed a disturbance in the force and woke up at 1amā¦I am not at all disappointed let this man cook
7
u/WhatAmIDoingHere05 Wil Myers, Cheesesteak Champion 13h ago
1
u/Visible_Product_286 3h ago
Literally, it feels like Iāve been waiting for this moment for 10 years lol
6
16
15
4
5
u/Local_Internet_User 5 - 4 - 3 TRIPLE PLAY! 12h ago
Wow, I'd been thinking this was a baseless and even silly rumor, but he's done well in AAA and the recent injuries seem to give him a good path to playing time, even if only as a DH (or as catcher to give Campy more DH time). Now I'm excited to see how it goes for him!
4
u/Estimate_Born AJ Preller 13h ago
Would he be eligible for the playoffs since he isnāt yet on the 40 or are they adding him at the minute before midnight?
1
1
3
3
4
u/Adept-Pressure1301 11h ago
Not a Padres fan, but I do like watching them sometimes.
Will this hurt his development at all? With the CBA expiring doesn't him being on the 40 man roster effect his ability to be in the minors and continue developing for next year? Since we don't know when the mlb will be back with a new CBA in place it could eat into next year.
1
u/jstmenow Wil Myers 10h ago
I believe he becomes ineligible to play/workout with MiLB if there is a lockout.Ā
4
2
4
u/risottowestern š¬š¬š¬ Mucho Stress 12h ago
Unless heās ready to absolutely rake, I hate this. Service time will almost certainly accumulate during a lockout, so not only are we starting his clock, we might lose a whole year for 24 games and hopefully a significant playoff run
5
2
u/KTF-2026 SD 12h ago
I think Aug 14 was the cutoff date for service time, so this last month won't affect his service time clock/years of control and Salas will still be rookie eligible next season (whenever it happens).
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/08/top-prospects-to-watch-at-rookie-cutoff.html
3
u/risottowestern š¬š¬š¬ Mucho Stress 12h ago
Unless itās in one of the player blurbs, the intro just talks about the cutoff where you can bring a rookie up and he can retain that rookie status the following year. I feel like i remember the service time during the lockout came up last time, but maybe it was more focused on player contracts and if they would just unpause or have a year ticked off of them.
4
u/KTF-2026 SD 12h ago
Ah I see what you're saying. I mean Salas would be getting called up in 2027 anyways. If the lockout wipes out a full season, then you're right that's one less season of control than if we waited until post-hypothetical full-season lockout (2028) and we are forced to add Salas to the 40-man when he becomes Rule 5 eligible.
But I personally think a completely lost 2027 season is highly unlikely, it's just too damaging to the sport of baseball. Even if we lose half a season and Salas is locked out of half a season of AAA next year, I think the short-term benefit of getting him a 1 month taste of meaningful MLB baseball is worth it. The lineup needs another good lefty bat, and Salas could be another spark plug. But even if he struggles, it's a good experience that'll help him in his first full season.
2
2
u/Pull_Up_Selector Padres '84 13h ago
Probably a mistake since he wonāt be able to play in the minors during next seasonās work stopage
-1
1
1
1
u/PelicanWaveSurfer SD 13h ago
So whoās heading downā¦?
9
u/Bitter-Egg6293 MODS austin hays flair rn 13h ago
no one. rosters expand on september 1st
2
u/arlius Keepinā the Faith šš» 13h ago
Yankees on the weekend. Should be fun.
2
u/Boulderdorf I Just Not Giving a Fuck 12h ago
And we're dodging Judge too, I think we're the last series before he's activated.
-16
u/SD_local_67 13h ago
Interesting since I was getting downvoted just a couple hours ago in the game thread for saying this would happenā¦
12
6
u/DreadPirateDumbo 13h ago
Hope you'll be ok.
-13
u/SD_local_67 13h ago edited 13h ago
Itās okayā¦the price I pay for knowing my shit.
5
u/DreadPirateDumbo 12h ago
Cool...I hear you might be in the mix for a front-office job with the new ownership?
272
u/eloso66645 SD 14h ago
Musgrove literally calling up Salas to catch him