SPECULATOR: National League spring camp questions
Feb 6 2014
Welcome back! Let's kick off our 2014 speculations with a look at some spring questions from the National League.
Why did the Padres want Seth Smith so badly?
There were some head-scratching moves out of San Diego this winter. Follow this thread: the Padres traded an arbitration-eligible RHP Luke Gregerson to Oakland in exchange for journeyman OF Seth Smith. Then they turned around and replaced Gregerson by signing Joaquín Benoit to a 2-year, $15.5MM contract. At the time, the theory behind the trade seemed to be that the Padres didn't want to pay Gregerson, but the Benoit contract invalidates that theory.
So, what was really going on here? The Padres might have really wanted Seth Smith, and the reason may be found on our park...
Almost!
You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
More From Speculator
A smattering of "best hits" from our Playing Time Tomorrow series, as well as some schedule-based speculations the rest of the way.
Aug 26 2026 3:07am
Aug 26 2026 3:07am
After a horrific start, Jacob Lopez has turned things around this summer. We dive into how, along with several other risers/fallers this summer.
Aug 19 2026 3:06am
Aug 19 2026 3:06am
CJ Abrams has always had the speed, and now both his frequency and quality of contact have taken steps forward.
Aug 5 2026 3:07am
Aug 5 2026 3:07am
We continue the rookie class check-in outside the Top 25 in this year's HQ100.
Jul 29 2026 3:09am
Jul 29 2026 3:09am
We check in on the Top 25 preseason prospects who have made their MLB debut so far, and speculate on their outlooks moving forward.
Jul 22 2026 3:06am
Jul 22 2026 3:06am
