Outside The Confines: Family drama for the Padres

Ownership dramas are casting a dark cloud over San Diego

Happy Monday, friends. While the hot stove hasn’t been too steamy this past week, there’s definitely some news to keep us busy.

Drama continues to develop in San Diego as an ownership lawsuit takes shape and is forcing some unwelcome attention on the team thanks to a lawsuit from the deceased owner’s widow.

The Hall of Fame announcements are coming, and with them a lot of discussion about who voted for who, who gets another shot in the future, and more questions about the vote.

A big point of discussion is whether or not some of the bigger-name free agents left on the board might start looking at signing shorter term deals of a higher average value.

So let’s jump into today’s links!

• Jay Jaffe makes a Hall of Fame case for Carlos Gonzalez.
• Speaking of the Hall of Fame, Manny Randhawa answers some big looming questions ahead of the January 21st announcement.
• Tyler Kepner explains why Felix Hernandez didn’t make his Hall of Fame ballot, but why he’s grateful the pitcher has another shot. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Mark Sheldon recalls the story of a baseball player who raced a cheetah and won.
• Josh Wilson looks at the points raised by a columnist who ripped into the A’s owner for his failings.
• What the current Padres ownership scuffle says about team operations. Story by Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal. (The Athletic subscription.)
• Huh, interesting.

• Keegan Matheson shares that the Jays agreed to an arbitration deal with Vlad Jr, at $28.5 million.
• Jim Bowden grades each team’s offseason so far. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Each team’s top international prospect. (MLB)
• David Adler does his best to predict the breakout stars of the 2025 season.
• Madison Williams explains why Pete Alonso’s delayed signing might be inspiring other players to sign shorter deals.
• The Jays have signed reliever Jeff Hoffman. Story by Patrick Andres.
• A Milwaukee great has passed.

• Which free agents could sign high-value, short-term deals? (MLB)
• Maria Guardado tries to determine where Justin Verlander fits into the Giants rotation.
• Paul Goldschmidt shared a lovely goodbye to Cardinals fans. Story by Josh Wilson.
• Freddie Freeman and his wife have donated to help relief efforts for the Los Angeles fires. Story by Tim Capurso.
• Good. (read more of the story below here)

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.