Padres Press Clips Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Article Source Author Pg.

Padres value more highly than some others SD Union Tribune Acee 2

Padres roster review: Robbie Erlin SD Union Tribune Sanders 4

Padres notes: Urias, Margot injury updates; Bauer not in plans SD Union Tribune Acee 6

Padres Jacob Nix feeling better after surgery SD Union Tribune Acee 8

DFA'd claimed by Rangers SD Union Tribune Sanders 9

Padres seek long-term value in trade targets MLB.com Cassavell 11

Hoffman package highlights charity auction MLB.com Cassavell 13

General Manager A.J. Preller and the Padres Are Ready to Go for It While SI.com Apstein 14 Others Tank

Cordero, Myers, Renfroe, Jankowski, Reyes, Pirela Prepared to Play Left in FriarWire Center 16 2019

Padres Ease Into Baseball Winter Meetings NBCSanDiego.com Togerson 20

Padres willingness to trade prospects is evolving SD Union Tribune Acee 21

With the most young talent in baseball, the Padres are the biggest mystery CBSSports.com Keri 23 of the hot stove season

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Padres value Wil Myers more highly than some others Kevin Acee

Wil Myers turned 28 on Monday.

So perhaps it is especially nice for him to know on this day that his team values him as more than damaged goods.

And so far, that assessment is pointing in the direction of Myers packing his glove for the trip to the Padres complex in Peoria, Ariz., in February.

What seems more uncertain is whether that glove will be of the infielder’s or ’s variety.

While it is not known on which players the Padres are focusing their efforts, a source at the winter meetings here said Monday afternoon that finding a third baseman has emerged as the team’s chief aim this offseason.

Later, General Manager A.J. Preller said the Padres’ third baseman in 2019 could be a player they acquire to primarily play that position, Myers, minor leaguer Ty France or a top-level utility infielder they sign and make their primary third baseman until Hudson Potts is ready.

“It's definitely part of the deal here for the next week or so, to see if we have an option there for both the short- and long-term,” Preller said. “… I think we've talked about it, talked about different scenarios — acquire a player in the short term that can play third base and with the flexibility over the next few years, as maybe other guys internal in the system come up and stake a claim to that spot, can bounce around the field. I think that's a possibility for us.”

Two sources confirmed the team’s interest in free agent Marwin Gonzalez, though the status of talks with his agent, Scott Boras, is unknown.

Continued talk here that Myers is on the trade block is not necessarily untrue. It’s just that teams have been approaching the Padres with the idea that Myers is available as part of a swap for players/contracts those teams no longer want.

That is not, according to those familiar with the team’s thinking, how the Padres view Myers.

Their offseason reflection combined with the nibbles on Myers has left the Padres thinking their best course is probably to set their former All-Star first baseman in a position for ’19 and see whether he can return to the production (and health) that prompted them to sign him to a six- year, $83 million contract in January 2017.

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They believe that 2018, wherein he started as an outfielder after two seasons as a first baseman and finished as a third baseman, was something of a throwaway for Myers, who was also sidelined for 73 games over three stays on the disabled list. He finished with a .763 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages), 11 home runs and 13 stolen bases.

His .794 OPS and average of 29 homers and 24 steals in ’16 and ’17 is more along the lines of what they believe he can achieve if allowed to focus on one position. Where that position is will largely depend on whether the Padres move one of their corner and/or acquire a third baseman.

As has been the case all offseason, Myers can be had. But it will take a package in which teams are not primarily trying to unload undesirable contracts.

And despite indications from those inside the organization that the team is leaning toward letting Myers focus on one spot, Preller said it remains possible Myers could once again need both gloves.

“The conversation with Wil over the next week is to try to give him some sense of direction,” Preller said. “I think all the possibilities, a set spot in the infield, a set spot in the outfield, or continued versatility around the field, those are all still in play. We'll be clear with Wil with what we feel is best for the club and sit down and talk about it. The ability to move positions, his athleticism, some of his versatility, those are all factors of him being here and signing a contract.

“Wil's a great talent. He's had some really nice stretches for us over the course of the last few years. I think last year a lot of the season was because the injuries he had. It was a disjointed season. He didn't really get started. When you come back and play a little bit and get the bat going and then he went out with the injury. He's a guy that's got power, steals bases, he's an athlete. It's just hard to find position players that can beat you in multiple ways, and he can do that. He's a definite part of things. From a defensive standpoint, locking him into a spot or figuring out exactly what that role is, that's part of the questions, but I would anticipate him being part of things here in the future.”

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Padres roster review: Robbie Erlin Jeff Sanders Sizing up the Padres’ 40-man roster, from A to Z, heading into the 2019 season:

ROBBIE ERLIN

• Position(s): Left-handed pitcher • 2019 age: 28 • Bats/throws: R / L • Height/weight: 6-foot / 190 pounds • Acquired: From the Rangers in July 2011 trade • Contract status: Earned $650,000 in 2018 and projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to make $1.1 million in 2019 in his second year of arbitration eligibility. • Key stats: 4-7, 4.21 ERA, 0 saves, 88 , 12 walks, 1.14 WHIP, .267 opponent average (39 games, 12 starts, 109 innings)

STAT TO NOTE

• 2.05 – Erlin’s ERA in 52 innings out of the bullpen in 2018, well below the 6.23 ERA he posted in 12 starts (56 1/3 innings).

TRENDING

• Up – Acquired in the Mike Adams trade, Erlin had spent parts of four seasons in the majors when elbow troubled derailed his opportunity to stick in the rotation in 2016. He underwent Tommy John surgery that May and missed all of 2017, although he was at least pitching against in instructs that fall. That development allowed Erlin to enjoy a regular offseason and hit the ground running in spring training. He appeared in his first post-surgery game on March 31, received his first spot-start in mid-April and established himself as a valuable swing-man by the end of May, which he closed with 5 2/3 shutout innings in a game in relief. Erlin’s effectiveness largely fell off during his spot starts (see above), but he had his moments, too. He beat the playoff-bound Cubs with five innings of one- ball in Chicago in August, won again in Colorado with a solid start (5 IP, 3 ER) and tied his career-high with seven strikeouts in a no-decision (5 1/3 IP, 4 ER) against the Rockies on Sept. 1.

2019 OUTLOOK

• Although Erlin’s return to the mound off his 2016 Tommy John surgery was the most successful in Padres’ recent history (condolences to Corey Luebke, Josh

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Johnson, Casey Kelly and plenty more), he’s running out of time to lay claim to a starting role in an organization rich in rotation prospects. Several debuted last year and several more are on the way, likely relegating Erlin – the longest continuously tenured player in the organization (he was arrived via trade a couple weeks for Austin Hedges signed out of the draft) – to a few spot starts mixed in with valuable long-man innings out of the bullpen.

PADRES POWER RANKINGS (Currently 40 players on the 40-man roster)

1. 2. Jose Castillo 3. Robbie Erlin 4. Miguel Diaz 5. Austin Allen 6. Pedro Avila

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Removed from the roster

• Carlos Asuaje (claimed by the Rangers)

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Padres notes: Urias, Margot injury updates; Bauer not in plans Kevin Acee

Second baseman Luis Urias did not participate in the Dominican Winter League because the hamstring he pulled in September was not healing as quickly as expected.

The prognosis for the Padres’ fourth-ranked prospect has improved, and he is working out in San Diego.

“He's … ahead of schedule, starting baseball activity,” Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said Monday at the winter meetings. “Ahead of schedule after gearing up for winter ball and (feeling) that stretch. From that point forward, he's responded well.”

The 21-year-old Urias was 10-for-48 with two home runs and three walks in 12 games following his Aug. 28 call-up. He pulled up attempting to run out a grounder on Sept. 12 at Seattle and did not play again.

Margot, Reyes updates Center fielder played in just two games for Toros del Este in the Dominican in November before suffering a bone bruise when he fouled a ball off his left foot. The belief is he will not play again this winter but will be ready for spring training.

Preller also provided an update on right fielder Franmil Reyes, who had meniscus surgery earlier this month, saying Reyes is still on track to be ready for spring training.

Asuaje a Ranger It was announced Monday that the claimed Carlos Asuaje off waivers. While it was long clear the Padres were moving on from Asuaje, Monday’s news accentuated the team’s need for a utility infielder.

While they claimed Greg Garcia off waivers last month, continue to work with Jose Pirela this offseason on getting the ball in the air and still have interested in bringing back Freddy Galvis on a two-year deal, they concurrently seek a veteran upgrade for the utility role.

Changed, still the same The winter meetings will be held in San Diego next December, a home game Preller considers the best city in which to hold the annual event.

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Not that it matters where it is. He almost never leaves his hotel.

Late Monday afternoon, he said the only time he’d been outside in two days was to go to McDonald’s.

He spoke as he sat in a 31st-floor suite of the Delano Four Seasons Hotel that is part of the Mandalay Bay Resort. The floor-to-ceiling window in the stark front room looked out on a view of the strip. It is there that Preller is meeting with staff, rival general managers and agents — and doing what he does every other day of the year.

“It's changed,” he said of the winter meetings. “It (used to be) bouncing suite to suite. Now it's a lot of texting and back and forth on the phone.”

Preller characterized Monday’s dealings as a continuation of laying the groundwork. He seemed to indicate what other sources said, which is that the Padres are not close to a deal. That can (and is expected to) change over the next day or so.

One source said it would be fair to say the Padres’ top priority seems to be acquiring someone to play third base.

They also seek a starting pitcher and continue to talk to the Yankees about Sonny Gray, though it is not known how many other veteran starters they are targeting in their somewhat nebulous search. One pitcher they are not in on, a source familiar with their plans said emphatically, is the Indians’ Trevor Bauer.

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Padres pitcher Jacob Nix feeling better after surgery Kevin Acee

Jacob Nix did enough in nine starts last summer to earn a spot in the competition to remain in the starting rotation this spring.

And in the 2019 season, for which he will still be considered a rookie, Nix might just be a new pitcher.

The 22-year-old right-hander underwent sports hernia surgery on Nov. 8, an outpatient procedure he said already has him feeling freer.

“I really feel a pretty noticeable difference,” Nix said Monday. “… I can feel less tightness in there.”

It is that tightness, as well as pain, that Nix believes contributed to a drop in velocity, from an average of 95 mph down to 93 on his . He also spoke at the end of the season about the discomfort affecting his mechanics as he attempted to compensate for the affected area. He has battled the issue much of the past two seasons.

Nix, who was in Las Vegas along with Padres prospect to participate in a charity Fortnite event, is moving normally and is scheduled to begin throwing next week, only a week or so after when he normally would.

After having the start of his 2017 and ’18 campaigns delayed due to the groin issue the past two years, the expectation is Nix will be fully healthy for the start of this season.

Nix made his major league debut on Aug. 10, allowing four hits in six scoreless innings. Three starts later, he held the Mariners scoreless until Robinson Cano’s one-out in the ninth inning, after which he was pulled.

He gave up 24 runs over his next five starts (22 1/3 innings) and finished with a 7.02 ERA and allowed 1.54 walks and hits per inning pitched in his nine starts.

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DFA'd Carlos Asuaje claimed by Rangers Jeff Sanders Three days after he was designated for assignment, Carlos Asuaje was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers on Monday.

The 27-year-old Asuaje hit .196/.286/.280 in the majors in 2018 and spent a great deal of the season bouncing between -A El Paso and San Diego.

Currently playing in the Dominican Republic’s winter league, Asuaje tweeted shortly after news that the Padres had removed him from the 40-man roster and again on Monday after news that he was joining a new organization.

Original story posted Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 (6:25 p.m.)

Three years ago, Carlos Asuaje arrived in San Diego as a champion and a member of the “Core Four.” On Friday, the Padres removed the struggling infielder from the 40- man roster to make room for right-hander Garrett Richards.

The decision was not a surprise.

Asuaje, 27, saw his batting average plummet from .270 his rookie season to .196 last year and his OPS drop from .696 to .566. The downturn forced the Padres to bounce Asuaje, their opening day second baseman, between the big league squad and Triple-A El Paso throughout the year until Luis Urias arrived in late August as the second baseman of the future.

Not only was Asuaje not a September call-up, he did not rejoin the Padres even after Urias injured his hamstring in September.

Asuaje is the second Padres’ infielder designated for assignment this offseason. Cory Spangenberg was also DFA’d last month ahead of his release, a move that came on the heels of the Padres claiming utility infielder Greg Garcia – a left-handed bat like Asuaje and Spangenberg – off waivers.

Acquired from the Red Sox with Manuel Margot, Logan Allen and Javy Guerra in the trade, Asuaje ranked as high as No. 11 in the Padres’ farm system by Baseball America after pairing an .851 OPS with nine homers, 69 RBIs and 10 steals in helping El Paso to a PCL title in 2016.

Asuaje, Hunter Renfroe and Austin Hedges – the “Core Four” as they were known in El Paso – were all promoted to San Diego after winning the championship.

The Padres now have seven days to waive or trade Asuaje. If he clears waivers he could be outrighted back to El Paso.

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Padres seek long-term value in trade targets By AJ Cassavell MLB.com @AJCassavell Dec. 10th, 2018

LAS VEGAS -- If there's been a big name mentioned as a trade candidate this winter, he's probably already been linked to the Padres.

That's the nature of the market. It's understandable -- and perhaps it should have been expected. San Diego boasts the sport's top-rated farm system, and general manager A.J. Preller has plenty of organizational depth from which to deal. He also has a number of holes to fill on his big league roster.

"In the industry, there's a lot of other teams that like a lot of our players," Preller said Monday at his first media session from the Winter Meetings. "We've all understood that, at the right point in time, we're going to ... look to move potential players for more established guys."

But there's an important caveat in the Padres' trade talks this winter: years of club control. San Diego has been rumored as a trade destination for two of the biggest names on the market -- Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer and Marlins J.T. Realmuto. But both would become free agents after the 2020 season.

According to people familiar with the team's trade discussions, that's a significant hurdle. The Padres would love to compete in 2019. But they're eyeing '20 as the more realistic option.

No doubt, both Bauer and Realmuto could expedite San Diego's window for contention. But both will also come at a steep price. The Padres might be less likely to meet that price than other more immediate contenders, because they'd be getting one playoff push for their investment, instead of two or more.

That's also why trade talks with the Mets for Noah Syndergaard once seemed to have legs. New York now appears to have turned its focus toward contention in 2019 and is unlikely to deal Syndergaard. But many viewed the 26-year-old ace as a nice fit because he'd be able to headline the rotation in both '20 and '21.

In any case, the Padres clearly need starting pitching, and they clearly need help on the left side of their infield. Preller will look to add at both spots. And he was quick to say that years of control aren't his sole focus. (Case in point: the Padres' continued interest in Yankees right- hander Sonny Gray, who has just one year of control remaining on his deal, but could still prove a beneficial acquisition in the long run.)

"We're open to all different scenarios," Preller said. "Each scenario really depends on what the value is, going back and forth. If we're talking about dealing guys that we feel have a high ceiling and are part of the plan, you're definitely looking for the guy that can have more years of control and factors in, not just for a short-term fit.

"But we've factored in a lot of different options. There's a place for the five-plus players with one year of control. And there's clearly a place for the guys that are a longer fit."

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. 19th, 2018 Myers' future remains uncertain The Padres have yet to decide on their plans for Wil Myers in 2019. But they're nearing something of an artificial deadline.

Myers played left field for most of last season, before shifting to third base for the final month and a half. Preller noted that it's important the team give Myers a sense of how he might be used so he can focus the remainder of his offseason preparation around those plans.

"In conversations with Wil over the next week, we'll try to give him some sense of direction," Preller said. "I think all the possibilities -- set spot in the infield, set spot in the outfield or versatility where he continues to move around the field -- those are all still in play."

Of course, there's another option: Myers remains a prime trade candidate, given the Padres' outfield depth. He'll continue to be shopped -- at least until one of the other outfielders is dealt.

But Preller insisted there's no sense of urgency to move Myers after his 2018 struggles.

"He's had some really nice stretches for us over the course of the last few years," Preller said. "Last season, I think, honestly, because of some of the injuries he had, was a disjointed season. ... He's a guy that's got power, he can steal bases, he's an athlete. It's just hard to find position players that can beat you in multiple ways, and he can do that. He's a definite part of things."

, 2018 Crucial season awaits banged-up Margot While playing in the Dominican Republic, Padres center fielder Manuel Margot fouled a ball off his left foot and sustained a bone bruise. The injury isn't expected to linger, but Preller noted that Margot's winter-ball season is probably finished.

Instead, Margot will shift his focus toward 2019. An important spring awaits the 24-year-old speedster, after he took a serious step back in 2018.

Margot's struggles put the Padres at an interesting crossroads: According to multiple people in the organization, he isn't guaranteed his place in center field. Franchy Cordero, who has fully recovered from elbow surgery, is evidently an option to start there instead.

Cordero's defense is nowhere close to Margot's. But the Friars need offense, and Cordero has a much higher upside at the plate. The Padres seem committed to finding regular at-bats for Cordero, who can play all three outfield spots, and that might come at Margot's expense -- unless Margot can turn things around offensively.

, 2018 Noteworthy • The Rangers claimed second baseman Carlos Asuaje off waivers on Monday, officially bringing his tenure with the Padres to an end. Asuaje was designated for assignment on Friday when the team finalized its deal with right-hander Garrett Richards.

In three seasons with San Diego, Asuaje compiled a .240/.312/.329 slash line. He was one of four prospects acquired from the Red Sox in the 2015 Craig Kimbrel deal.

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• Preller mentioned that the team has held internal discussions about moving hard-throwing righty Robert Stock to the rotation. Those discussions are still in their infancy, though, and it seems likelier that Stock stays in his role as a multiple-inning option out of the 'pen.

"Honestly, when we signed him, I never would've considered that," Preller said. "But the way he threw last year, it was strikes with three pitches. That's usually a good formula for somebody who can go multiple times through a lineup."

• Preller acknowledged that second baseman Luis Urias had a setback in his recovery from a pulled left hamstring earlier this offseason.

"From that point forward, he's responded pretty well," Preller said. "He's in a good spot right now."

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Hoffman package highlights charity auction By AJ Cassavell MLB.com @AJCassavell Dec. 10th, 2018

LAS VEGAS -- The Padres' 50th anniversary is quickly approaching, and 's annual charity auction at the Winter Meetings features a handful of exciting and unique ways to celebrate.

The San Diego segment of the auction is highlighted by a 50th anniversary package with newly enshrined Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman. It includes a tour of the Padres Hall of Fame before a regular-season home game. After the tour, the auction winner will take in batting practice from the field and receive two tickets to the game.

Other items include the option to be "Clubbie for a Day," where the team's clubhouse manager will give a private behind-the-scenes tour, and a day of "Hanging with Hosmer" -- a meet and greet with Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer. Both of those items also feature game tickets.

This year's auction will support the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Negro Leagues Museum, two important institutions that educate future generations of young people through honoring significant moments and individuals of baseball's past.

The auction is live on MLB.com/wintermeetingsauction from now through Thursday, when it will conclude at 7 p.m. PT. Items include special baseball experiences, including meetings with some of the game's biggest stars, along with unique items donated by MLB and the 30 clubs.

Along with the main prizes, fans can also bid on game-used items like bases and authentic dirt from the 2016 All-Star Game at .

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General Manager A.J. Preller and the Padres Are Ready to Go for It While Others Tank

The Padres are mired in a long playoff drought, but GM A.J. Preller won't be tanking like so many of his competitors. By STEPHANIE APSTEIN December 11, 2018

LAS VEGAS — There's a truly unusual sight amid the men clad in rhinestone-encrusted tuxedos at 8 a.m. and cowboy hat–topped gamblers who have moseyed away from the nearby National Finals Rodeo competition: a mediocre baseball team that is trying to get better at the 2018 Winter Meetings.

“You could argue,” Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto said last year, “That there is more competition to get the No. 1 pick in the draft than to win the World Series.” He was defending his team as one of the few going for a championship.

Well, last week Dipoto traded his starting second baseman, Robinson Canó, and the best young closer in the game, Edwin Díaz, to the Mets.

As it stands today, there are six teams—the Red Sox, the Yankees, the Astros, the Braves, the Cubs and the Dodgers—that made the playoffs last year and appear to have the throttle open. The Nationals, the Cardinals and the Phillies missed out, but Washington has already signed the richest free agent deal so far this winter (lefty Patrick Corbin, for six years and $140 million), St. Louis traded for star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Philadelphia owner John Middleton said that his team was “expecting to spend money, and maybe even be a little stupid about it.” The Indians, A’s, Brewers and Rockies made the postseason but are somewhat financially limited. The Mets finished below .500 but control two of the best young in baseball for two more years. Another 15 clubs have shown that they were watching closely when the Astros and the Cubs demonstrated that one way to win a lot of baseball games is to first lose a lot.

That leaves us with the Padres, a member of an endangered species—and one of the sport’s last hopes. It’s absolutely true that tanking at the major league level and stockpiling minor league talent can be an effective way to build a franchise, but it’s not much fun to watch.

San Diego is mired in a long postseason drought. The Padres last won a playoff series in 1998, when they made it to the World Series only to be swept by the Yankees. (That season was long enough ago that only one active player took the field that year, free agent Bartolo Colón.) San Diego won the NL West in 2005 and ’06, but that had more to do with an abysmal division than a good Padres team; in both cases it was bounced quickly from the NLDS. The club has not won more than 77 games since GM A.J. Preller took over in mid-2014, but only once has that ordinariness come by design.

Preller spent his first offseason remaking the roster, trading top prospects to the Dodgers for outfielder Matt Kemp; trading top prospects to the Rays and Nationals as part of a three -team trade for first baseman Wil Myers; trading top prospects to the Braves for outfielder Justin Upton; 14 spending $75 million on righty James Shields; and trading top prospects to the Braves for closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton Jr.

The Padres proceeded to lose three more games than they had the year before. Preller unloaded most of his new acquisitions and undertook what amounted to a one-year flash rebuild. By the following year, he had stopped selling. His team won 71 games. San Diego’s window of contention seemed solidly closed. So Preller tried to pry it open, signing first baseman Eric Hosmer to the largest deal in franchise history, eight years for $144 million. The Padres won 66 games last season. A trend like that might cause some general managers to scuffle through one more losing season, collect one more top draft pick and wait.

Entering the winter meetings, Preller was reportedly in on everyone from shortstop Manny Machado and outfielder Bryce Harper—both expected to command $300 million deals—to righty Noah Syndergaard and catcher J.T. Realmuto, who would both require San Diego to dip into its league-best farm system. Preller is unlikely to acquire a one-year rental, but there is a real chance he makes a move that will improve his team this season as well as next.

The Padres may be terrible this year. But they deserve credit for trying not to be.

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Cordero, Myers, Renfroe, Jankowski, Reyes, Pirela Prepared to Play Left in 2019 Naylor and Reed en route to the Major Leagues

FriarWire Dec 10 By Bill Center

The Padres have seven outfielders on their 40-man roster. Five are primarily corner outfielders and six of the seven could play left.

See the problem?

The Padres are overloaded with outfielders who can play left. In fact, five players on their 40-man roster heading into this week’s Winter Meetings started games in left field for the Padres last season.

Chances are excellent that the Padres won’t be carrying seven outfielders come Opening Day in 2019. Four outfielders is a typical number, although five is possible if one of those outfielders — possibly Wil Myers or Jose Pirela — can also see duty in the infield.

So, something has to give — possibly as soon as this week — when it comes to the Padres over- crowded outfield situation — particularly in left.

In addition to Myers and Pirela, potential left fielders on the Padres 40-man roster are holdover starting corner outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes plus and Franchy Cordero, who finished the 2018 season on the 60-day disabled list following elbow surgery.

Reyes, who started only in right during his rookie campaign, will also be coming off surgery when spring training opens. His promising season in the Dominican Republic winter league ended early due to a surgical repair of a torn meniscus in his right knee.

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In addition to the Major League lineup of potential left fielders, two of the Padres’ Top-30 prospects — №13 Buddy Reed and №15 Josh Naylor — primarily played in left last season. And the deep list of left field prospects in the system includes Robbie Podorsky, Olivier Basabe, Jaquez Williams, Mason House and Tre Carter.

Here’s a closer look at the Padres left field depth chart, starting with, in alphabetical order, the candidates from the 40-man roster:

— Franchy Cordero was off to a solid start in 2018 when elbow problems first cut into his effectiveness then ended his season after a third of the season. Cordero, 24, is one of two, left- handed hitters in the mix. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of the Dominican Republic has hit for power and average.

Cordero was hitting as high as .281 last season when his elbow first became an issue. He had six homers and 13 RBIs in his first 15 games — including blasts of 489 feet and 456 feet — after the start of his 2018 campaign was delayed by a groin injury.

Cordero is hitting .278 after 20 games in the Dominican Republic winter league with five doubles, a triple and five homers. In 2017–2018, Cordero was the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the Dominican Republic when he hit .323 with five homers in 50 games.

Many scouts believe a healthy Cordero, who can also play center, is the most talented all-around outfielder in the Padres system.

— Travis Jankowski, 27, can play center as well as both corner outfield spots and is considered by many the fastest, most versatile and best defensive outfielder in the mix. The left-handed hitter started 78 games for the Padres in 2018 and hit .259 with a .332 on-base percentage. He stole 24 bases.

— Wil Myers, who turned 28 on Monday, had a second, injury-marred season during his four- year tenure with the Padres.

During his stay in San Diego, Myers has been a starter in center field, first base, right field, left field and third base for the Padres. The problem is staying healthy and finding the right position. His late-season experiment at third base last year didn’t go as well as hoped.

Myers hit .253 last season with 11 homers and 39 RBIs with a .754 OPS. One of the problems was that Myers played only 83 games around three trips to the disabled list. But Myers was most successful when playing in left, where he hit .276 with a .326 on-base percentage and a .569 slugging percentage for a .895 OPS. As a left fielder, Myers had eight homers and 27 RBIs in 123 at-bats.

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— Jose Pirela, 29, started 69 games at second last season compared to only 26 in left. But Luis Urías figures to be the Padres second baseman in 2018. Pirela hit only .249 last season with five homers and 32 RBIs in 438 at-bats compared to figures of .288 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs in 312 at-bats in 2017.

— Hunter Renfroe, 26, had 26 homers for a second straight season and hit .248 with 68 homers in 117 games and 403 at-bats. He had a .504 slugging percentage but only a .302 on-base percentage for a .806 OPS. But all four components of his slash line were improved from 2017.

Renfroe finished with a strong second half, hitting .253 with 19 homers and 43 RBIs in 229 at- bats as he started playing more regularly after the All-Star break. His strong, but sometimes erratic arm, could make him a better fit in right.

— Franmil Reyes, 23, spent the first six weeks of the season at Triple-A El Paso before making his Major League debut on May 14. Reyes started 40 games in right and hit .280 with 16 homers and 31 RBIs in 261 at-bats with a .838 OPS.

Like Renfroe, Reyes finished strong with a .315 batting average, a .383 on-base percentage and a .537 slugging percentage for a .920 OPS after the All-Star break. He had 10 homers and 23 RBIs after the break.

Some in the Padres front office feel the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Reyes might be better suited to play left in the National League. But because he had never played left as a professional, the Padres elected to keep Reyes in right last season, where he departed many games in the late innings for a defensive replacement.

Reyes was off to a .444 start after 13 games in the Dominican Republic Winter League when he suffered the injury to his meniscus. He had three homers in 45 at-bats with a 1.199 OPS. He is expected to be ready by spring training.

The left fielders at Triple-A El Paso in 2018 were minor league free agents who have moved on from the organization.

The most advanced prospect is the left-handed-hitting Naylor, who turned 21 last June. The 5- foot-11 250-pound Naylor moved from first base to left field early last season while with - A San Antonio. A Canadian native, the left-handed-hitting Naylor batted .297 with a .383 on-base percentage and a .447 slugging percentage for San Antonio last season despite being three years younger than the ’s average age. He had 22 doubles, a triple and 17 homers for 74 RBIs in 128 games.

Some Padres officials believe Naylor’s bat is close to being Major League record. Although he has good speed for his body type, he is still learning left field.

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The switch-hitting Reed, 23, a second-round pick in the 2016 draft, had a breakout season with Advanced -A Lake Elsinore last season, batting .324 with a .371 on-base percentage and a .485 slugging percentage for an .882 OPS. He had 21 doubles, seven triples, 12 homers, 33 steals, 47 RBIs and 54 runs scored in 79 games for the Storm.

After struggling (.179 with a .227 on-base percentage) in a late-season, 43-game stint with San Antonio, Reed rebounded in the — hitting .333 with a .397 on-base percentage and a .882 OPS.

Reed is currently ranked the Padres’ №13 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Naylor is №15.

Robbie Podorsky, 23, was hitting .366 with a .420 on-base percentage and a .883 OPS for Single- A Fort Wayne when an injury ended his season after just 57 games. Olivier Basabe, 21, hit .296 with a .789 OPS between Short-Season Single-A Tri-City and Fort Wayne in 2018.

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Padres Ease Into Baseball Winter Meetings Nothing big happens early on the first day in Las Vegas By Derek Togerson Published Dec 10, 2018 at 6:48 PM

Day 1 of the Baseball Winter Meetings started fairly slowly. No major moves involving the Padres, or really anyone else, went down but things haven’t even started warming up yet.

Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said, as of about 5:00 p.m. in Las Vegas, he had not even taken a step outside the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. He’d been talking meeting, and texting with a litany of other clubs trying to lay the groundwork for the rest of the meetings.

“I think it’s the continuation of a lot of conversations from the last week,” said Preller. “I think there’s progress on some fronts, some things where you keep talking and see what comes of it, and some things where you can cross it off the list.”

The Padres are in the market for starting pitching, a 3rd baseman, and a shortstop. Those are the things at the top of the To-Do list.

The Padres have been linked to Marlins All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto but a trade for him might involve a position change. Preller told NBC 7 SportsWrap they want super catching prospect Francisco Mejia to stay behind the plate.

Unless, of course, they trade Mejia, the top-25 prospect they got from Cleveland in the Brad Hand trade. They are certainly not looking to do that but nobody is untouchable this week. And when I say nobody I mean absolutely nobody.

“We go into every conversation open-minded,” said Preller. “I don’t think there’s any player that there’s zero chance that could be moved. I think you always want to hear how other clubs value your players and understand that if there’s a chance to get better we’re going to take it.”

This, of course, does not mean they are actively shopping guys like Fernando Tatis, Jr. and MacKenzie Gore. All it means is if someone comes to the Padres and offers Mike Trout for Tatis ... yeah then you kind of have to listen to the whole sales pitch.

They’ll be hearing and making plenty of those through Thursday.

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Padres willingness to trade prospects is evolving Kevin Acee

It was an inevitable question and one that had begun to circulate, if only in a nascent form.

With Padres General Manager A.J. Preller having demonstrated over the summer and through the fall that he wasn’t buying someone’s silver for his gold, the question was being asked around the league when – even if – the Padres would divest themselves of some of what is considered a plethora of excellent minor league prospects in order to acquire top-tier major league players.

There was innuendo among those familiar with some of their talks with other clubs that while the Padres are inquiring on almost every player available (and a number that aren’t available), they were stubbornly foregoing opportunity by declining to part with prospects.

Preller knew it was coming.

He addressed it Monday.

“I think we're willing to talk about anybody,” he said when asked about his team’s willingness to move prospects. “We've said that in every scenario. You have to be willing to listen and hear what's out there. In general, we like a lot of our players. In the industry, there's other teams that like a lot of our players.

“I think we've all understood that at the right point in time you're going to look to free agency or trade to supplement what's out there and look to move potential younger players for more established players. But it's got to be the right deal, something that fits for us because we feel like we have a lot of guys that we feel like in the next few years are going to come up here and contribute.”

Therein lies the quandary in the Padres’ situation.

The question of when they might let go of one of their highly touted minor leaguers seems a fair one. But it is a little premature, given the fact the Padres simply don’t feel it is prudent to make a push for top trade targets or free agents just yet.

In the signing of Garrett Richards and pursuit of Sonny Gray (and other starters) can be seen an apt metaphor of the Padres’ plans for the next two seasons.

They expect to be good (contenders) in 2020 and believe strongly enough that Richards could be the ace of that staff that they are paying him $7 million to rehab from Tommy John in ’19 before guaranteeing him $8.5 million in ’20. They are doing so with the hope the pitcher who has battled arm issues since 2016 can return to the form that saw him post a 3.18 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 376 innings from 2014 to ’15.

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Meanwhile, the thinking is Gray would be a good fit for ‘19, as the Padres expect to be better than they were in ’18, but still with too much development remaining and too many holes to contend. The 29-year-old Gray, who struggled with the Yankees last season but had a record of success over the previous five seasons, is projected to make $9.1 million this season, according to mlbtraderumors.com.

The Padres project their opening-day payroll will be around $100 million. With the 25-man roster (plus Richards) currently projected at around $81.5 million, that leaves room for a starter on Gray’s level and perhaps the signings of a couple of infielders.

Of course, with numerous trade possibilities pending, how that math squares is subject to change.

Likewise, the Padres’ inclination to trade a prospect or three is malleable.

The team exhaustively ranks and re-ranks its prospects internally. They believe they have a grasp of who can be part of a future championship. Those players will be more difficult for other teams to obtain.

That manifests itself not only in the quality of player the Padres would seek in return but the quantity of years that player is under team control before reaching free agency.

“We're open to all different scenarios,” Preller said. “I think each scenario depends on what the value is going back and forth. If we're talking about guys that have high ceiling and are part of the plan, I think you're looking for guys that have more years of control and factors as not just a short-term fit. I think in our conversations we've looked at all different options honestly. There's a place for the five-plus player with one year of control and there's clearly a place that's a longer fit.

“It becomes a little easier when you're talking about dealing guys with high ceilings or young guys that have a chance to be around a while, to then get another young player who has a chance to be around for multiple years, but honestly we've talked about all different scenarios.”

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With the most young talent in baseball, the Padres are the biggest mystery of the hot stove season The Padres aren't your typical rebuilding team by Jonah Keri

Ladies and gentlemen, your biggest mystery team of the 2018-2019 hot stove season! At first glance, the Padres appear to be a typical rebuilding team. They finished with the second- worst record in the National League last season. Their starting rotation was a disaster, with San Diego's starters finishing dead last in the majors in park-adjusted ERA. They experimented with countless lineups and defensive configurations, with one of the team's two players signed for more than two seasons spending a chunk of the year out of position at third base, while also missing half the year due to injuries. You'd typically expect a team operating under those conditions to be two, three, or more years away from rising toward playoff contention.

• 2018 Result: 66-96, fifth place in NL West • Key free agents: Freddy Galvis, A.J. Ellis • Needs: Starting pitching, relief pitching, third base

Thing is, the Padres under general manager A.J. Preller are anything but typical. Yes, Preller has engineered some classic rebuilding moves, his biggest coup picking up lefty reliever Brad Hand for nothing, watching him blossom into an All-Star, then flipping him last summer for one of the best catching prospects in baseball, Cleveland's Francisco Mejia. But last winter, with the Friars coming off seven straight losing seasons, Preller threw an eight-year, $144 million contract at Eric Hosmer, a good but not great first baseman coming off a career year. Even with one of the cleanest balance sheets in the league this was a curious move. Hosmer's 2017 success stemmed in large part from a flukish .351 batting average on balls in play. Moreover, the Padres were unlikely to be contenders until Hosmer hit his 30s, at which point his decline phase would likely begin. Preller pulled the trigger anyway.

The good news is that San Diego's balance sheet remains mostly clean, even after the Hosmer deal. Only three players (Hosmer, WIl Myers, and newly signed rehabbing starting pitcher Garrett Richards) are under contract through 2020. Even better, the Padres have built the best farm system in the game, thanks to savvy trades and impressive scouting and development work. The 2016 acquisition of shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. from the White Sox could prove to be one of the best trades in franchise history, given that Tatis has grown into a consensus top-three MLBprospect.

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The question then becomes what to do with all this available money and brimming young talent. In their 50 seasons of existence, the Padres have been one of the least successful franchises in all of North American sports. They've made the World Series just twice, and never won one. They've been run by a number of awful owners. They've collected a bunch of high draft picks, and botched most of them. (Seriously, peruse this list starting in the mid-90s at your own peril.)

With long-suffering franchises like the Cubs and Astros finally getting over the hump to win it all, the Padres are now the most overdue organization in baseball to find some real success. The Hosmer deal signaled that both Preller and the team's current owners might not be satisfied with remaining wallflowers anymore. Could San Diego shoot the moon this offseason?

There are reasons for cautious optimism. The baseball world watched closely as 2017 laggards Atlanta and Philadelphia immediately leapt into contention last season. The Braves in particular had a similarly loaded farm system and an impressive stable of young major leaguers, many of whom broke out in 2018.

In addition to the veterans Myers and Hosmer, the Padres can now trot out an enticing offense- defense catching combination in Mejia and Austin Hedges. Twenty-one-year-old Luis Urias projects as an Opening Day starter at either second base or shortstop. Meanwhile, the outfield is absolutely overloaded with talent, with Myers joined by younger names such as Hunter Renfroe, Franchy Cordero, Franmil Reyes, and Manuel Margot. Even if the Padres don't make a big splash this winter, it's a near-lock that they'll deal one of their outfielders for some pitching help.

The true believers are hoping for more. Call it an extreme long shot, but the mere fact that the Padres are being mentioned as even remotely possible suitors for Bryce Harper is a damn miracle, given how thoroughly one of America's loveliest cities has become such a wasteland for elite baseball talent. An ace like Noah Syndergaardwould require a trade as opposed to a player choosing San Diego over 29 other teams, but the Padres have been rumored as at least a theoretical (albeit unlikely) landing spot for Thor, if the Mets were to pull the trigger (also unlikely).

The most likely scenario is that the Padres make a well-placed trade or two, but fall short in their quest to land either an all-world hitter, or a top-of-the-rotation starter like Syndergaard, Corey Kluber, or Trevor Bauer. Check back a year from now, though. If the Pads do follow the path of 2018's NL East upstarts in Atlanta or Philly and become contenders, the next step could be to roll the dice and go all in for a shot at a World Series. In Hot Stove season, we can always dare to dream.

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