The San Diego Padres have been perhaps the most active team this off-season. The last time the Padres had a winning record was 2010 when their 90-72 record was not good enough to win the division or make the playoffs. Recently, this franchise has been an afterthought in the National League West with the San Francisco Giants winning three World Series titles and with the Los Angeles Dodgers going on an obscene spending spree. The Padres only two trips to the World Series were both against all-time great teams in the 1984 Tigers and the 1998 Yankees where they were dominated to the tune of 4-1 and 4-0, respectively. But it appears the mindset has changed.
San Diego Padres Cap Active Off-Season
Rookie General Manager A.J. Preller has been given the green light to spend and trade this team into contention. The big moves included adding top players such as Matt Kemp and Justin Upton. The smaller moves were equally impressive especially adding former top prospect Wil Myers. Rather than looking at the prospects that were given up, just look at the Major League talent acquired. The upgrades made in the outfield and the other smaller moves will do wonders to improve the team’s overall batting average, runs scored and home run totals; all categories where the Padres finished 12th or worse among National League teams and dead last in the NL West.
When you replace your outfield of Seth Smith, Abraham Almonte and Wil Venable with Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers that is pretty spectacular. Especially when the bulk of the players given up to acquire these three were prospects. Last season’s team leaders in home runs, RBIs and runs tallied 15, 51 and 56, respectively. Those totals should be easily topped this coming season, perhaps by the All-Star Break even.
The new acquisitions will take pressure off Jedd Gyorko from being relied upon as the team’s main run producer. Staying healthy has been a problem for Gyorko, but he can be a force to be reckoned with. Will Middlebrooks has flashed potential and will compete with Yangorvis Solarte to be the starting third baseman. Didi Gregorious and Everth Cabrera are both gone so Alexi Amarista likely will start at short. Derek Norris is a solid two-way catcher and Yonder Alonso is penciled to start at first. One name to watch is Derek Wallace. Can he play his way onto the roster? He has shown brief flashes of talent in the past but will need to find consistently.
San Diego’s offense is greatly improved but the lack of a true lead off hitter is something that needs to be dealt with. They need to get base runners in front of the big boppers that man the middle of this lineup. I just don’t see that player on this roster yet and hitting at the top of the lineup could be Amarista by default. Two through seven are solid with the middle of the lineup potentially being potent.
The Padres reeled in a big fish in “Big Game” James Shields last night. As the alternative to trading for and further depleting the farm system for Cole Hamels, not to mention paying his big contract, signing Shields will be cheaper in money and will not cost potential trading chips. He will anchor an already good starting rotation of Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, Ian Kennedy and Odrisamer Despaigne. In fact this is the strength of the team. San Diego was first in ERA in their division and second overall in the National League.
Jaoquin Benoit is the closer. Although he is 37 years old and had a bad shoulder last year he still struck out more than one batter an inning a key stat for a closer. The rest of the pen with Dale Thayer and Kevin Quackenbush in the set up roles this could be a pitching staff that can contend. Shane Kelley can be very valuable pickup as a middle reliever and spot starter. Papa Grande has also been invited to spring training for what it’s worth.
Cole Hamels was rumored to get traded to San Diego which means two things. The Padres have players the Phillies are interested in and they have the money to spend. Can they get both Shields and Hamels? Probably not. But that would make them a very dangerous team in the National League West. This team is no longer a sleeper or dark horse pick, especially if Hamels comes in a trade.
Enter the Yoan Moncada rumors. This high profile Cuban middle infielder was having a private workout with the Padres. While no deal is done the Padres are rumored to be extremely high on the most coveted international amateur player in years. If we have seen anything this off-season it’s that Preller gets things done. If signed will the 19-year-old Moncada be sent to the minors or make the big club out of Spring Training? The possibilities this five-tool player brings to the table and the lineup flexibility it gives the Padres should he be good enough to make the roster would be enormous. The lineup gets longer. Gyorko could potentially shift to third base leaving Middlebrooks and Solarte as bench players with Venable to make up a good bench.
The Padres are major players now. Their GM is bold and not afraid to make moves and spend money. This could be a playoff team this coming season.
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