There’s been suggestion the Padres may scale back after failing to make the playoffs with the third highest payroll. And some believe Juan Soto, who’s a year from free agency, could be up for trade discussion.

Not sure selling is in San Diego’s DNA, but in case, the Yankees, who badly need left-handed hitters, make sense. (And no one should ever rule out Steve Cohen, of course.)

One exec suggests: It should be patterned after the Mookie Betts deal, a superstar with a year to go (though hopefully would turn out fairer).

The Padres are unpredictable, however, as they were supposed to have only $5M to spend last winter and wound up signing Xander Bogaerts for $280M.

Could Padres manager Bob Melvin be a possibility for the Mets? They pursued him before he chose the Padres for geographic reasons.

Could another manager option be Walt Weiss, the well-respected Suffern product who’s thriving as Braves bench coach after serving as Rockies manager?

He loves Detroit, but Eduardo Rodriguez is expected to opt out with $49M and three years to go.

For the Red Sox’s top exec job, either of two Dodgers execs could fit: Massachusetts product Brandon Gomes or ex-Red Sox exec Josh Byrnes. A’s GM David Forst, a Harvard man, also makes sense.

One theory heard: Is it possible the pitch clock was a detriment to veteran managers used to having more time to warm up relievers?

While the Yankees year is a disaster, they learned a few things late, like Michael King is a viable starter, Jasson Dominguez may be ready and Austin Wells may, too. The pitchers like throwing to Wells, and the lefty bat plays.