Padres Press Clips Friday, January 18, 2019

Article Source Author Pg.

‘This kid is getting ready to open some eyes’: Fernando Tatis Jr. is impressing The Athletic Lin 2 those around him — including his father

Padres roster review: SD Union Tribune Sanders 9

Padres sign RHP Carlos Torres, invite to big league camp SD Union Tribune Sanders 12

Inbox: Who will start in Padres' crowded outfield? MLB.com Cassavell 13

Around the horn: Padres face tricky 3B situation MLB.com Cassavell 16

30 best defensive prospects -- 1 for each team MLB.com Callis/Mayo/Rosenbaum 18

These prospects could be MLB's Top 5 in 2021 MLB.com Mayo 19

A.J. Preller Says Are On The Lookout For Free Agents Forbes Bloom 22 And Are Ready To Seize The Day

#PadresOnDeck: Mejía One of MLB’s Premier Prospects FriarWire Lafferty 25

50 Moments — First Padre to Draw Attention FriarWire Center 27

Top 50 Individual Seasons FriarWire Center 30

Chihuahuas name Rodriguez field , coaching staff return El Paso Inc. Staff 32

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‘This kid is getting ready to open some eyes’: Fernando Tatis Jr. is impressing those around him — including his father By Dennis Lin

At Estadio Tetelo Vargas, one might compare the intimate confines to Wrigley Field, where Waveland Avenue hugs the Chicago landmark’s northern edge. Except everything feels together at the venue named after a famous Dominican. No such street separates the ballpark from the rest of San Pedro de Macorís, the birthplace of Sammy Sosa, Robinson Canó and dozens of other major leaguers. Stadium and community have been intertwined since 1959. Houses scrape up against the outfield walls, leaving the crowds to squeeze into the grandstand. A particularly well-struck drive could dent a rooftop. These days, those in attendance harbor new hope. The snakebitten local team, Estrellas Orientales, is five wins from its first championship in half a century. And a young who sprouted in this city of more than 200,000 is practically the mayor. “Everybody in the grandstand has known him since he was a kid,” said Enrique Rojas, a longtime ESPN reporter and leading expert in Dominican baseball. “He looks like he’s playing in the yard.” Fernando Tatis Jr. may be the Padres’ best prospect and No. 2 in all of the minor leagues — some would argue his case over Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s — but El Bebo, as he is affectionately nicknamed, will always belong to San Pedro, “The Cradle of .” He grew up watching his father play winter ball for their hometown team. Fernando Tatis Sr. succeeded in both that league and the majors. The Tatises still live an eight-minute drive from the stadium. “I think my love of the game started from those days,” Tatis Jr., speaking by phone, said from his home. “That was the seed where everything started.” A city’s adoration has reached new peaks. Now, Tatis Sr. pulls the strings for Estrellas as the Dominican Winter League’s Manager of the Year. His son is 2 the MVP of the playoff semifinals and the club’s most magnetic player. On Thursday night, the best-of-nine championship series begins at Estadio Tetelo Vargas. San Pedro has seen Canó and many others take up its cause, but the last time Estrellas celebrated a national title, in 1968, Rico Carty was the best player. The fans’ hunger is palpable. Only five wins separate them from glory, and their shortstop already has an MVP award. “It’s like a dream come true,” Tatis Jr. said. “Being able to be next to my dad and being able to do something special for my hometown and seeing so many happy people, how emotional it can be, I can’t describe it.”

They filled the streets in San Pedro well past midnight on Monday. Hours earlier, Estrellas had advanced to the postseason finals with a victory in . Then, after popping bottles in the clubhouse, they rode into San Pedro as heroes. Tatis Jr., who recently turned 20, documented the jubilation on his Instagram account. The scene had been even more raucous on Jan. 10. Eight days after his birthday, with two on and no outs in the ninth of a tie game, Tatis Jr. dug into the batter’s box in his home ballpark. Tatis Sr., the team’s manager, signaled for a bunt. His No. 2 hitter complied. Twice, however, Tatis Jr. failed to move the runners. Down 0-2, he faced no choice but to gear up for contact. The third pitch from ’s Jairo Asencio, who has played in four big-league seasons, met a resounding demise. When Tatis Jr. saw the resulting laser clear the home- barrier in left field, he flung his bat skyward as if he were flipping a table. Then, as the ballpark lost its collective mind, El Bebo galloped around the bases like a caffeinated toddler, all the way into the arms of his equally euphoric teammates. By the next morning, media outlets around the world had hailed it as the next great bat flip. A highly unscientific survey revealed only pockets of disapproval. What did the father of the walk-off hero, the manager of the winning team, think of the flourish gone viral?

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“Crap,” Tatis Sr. said, laughing but serious. “I’m old-school, and I don’t like it at all. All my career, I tried to play this game the right way, always respecting everyone, every pitcher.” The 44-year-old added: “But I think baseball has been changing, so I’ve got to accept it. I’ve got to accept that these young kids are changing the game. I’m going to let him enjoy his time, because when he strikes out, the sometimes (celebrate) here, too.” And Tatis Jr.? “It just happened in the moment,” he said. “It was an important game for us to get on track to the finals. When I the ball I just got really excited.” Multiple generations can agree on at least one thing: In a league typically ruled by experienced players, a boy exiting his teens has played like a man. Tatis Jr. already had cemented his place among the game’s elite prospects in 2018. As one of the youngest players in A, he hit .286/.355/.507 with 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases. Then he broke his left thumb sliding into a bag. The injury required season-ending surgery in late July. “I was pretty disappointed because I was on a pretty big track, to hopefully finish in the big leagues at the end of the year,” said Tatis Jr., who also impressed in a brief stint with Estrellas last winter. “For two weeks, I was pretty sad. But when I talked to my dad and a couple people, they said, ‘You’re going to be fine. You can only get better from here.’” Whole again, Tatis Jr. has returned to showcasing a rare combination of plate coverage and other gifts. Across 23 regular-season games, he led Estrellas with a .263/.379/.488 slash line, homered three times and, at 6-foot-4, played airtight defense. He provided speed as well, consistently logging first-to-home times in the range of 4.2 seconds. One evaluator clocked him at 4.05 on a jailbreak ground ball; only the fastest right-handed hitters cover the first 90 feet in four seconds or less. “I think a lot of people don’t realize what kind of impact runner this guy is,” said Chris Kemp, the Padres’ field coordinator and international scouting director. “And defensively, I think there’s no question for us. This guy looks like a real shortstop. He’s able to shrink the field and make all the routine plays and then flash you a Derek Jeter-type play out of left field.”

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Tatis Jr. continued to stand out in the semifinals. He hit .254/.365/.476 with three home runs and six stolen bases. Estrellas finished the 18-game round- robin in first place, and will face for the league crown. Tatis Jr.’s statistics — solid but not blinding — should come with a few caveats. For one, the Dominican Winter League, the top setting for offseason competition, contains an unparalleled array of player styles and matchups. Starting pitchers often cycle through a lineup only once or twice and, with large rosters at their disposal, managers are permitted to carry entirely different bullpens from game to game. Many of the participants on either side of the ball are seasoned professionals, at the major-league level or otherwise. “In the Dominican League, they love breaking balls,” Rojas said. “If you are young, they kill you, man.” The list of overmatched newcomers is long. Last winter, Guerrero Jr. hit .211/.276/.278 for (while Tatis hit .246/.358/.386). More than two decades ago, a 19-year-old named hit just .175, also for Escogido. Which makes what Tatis Jr. is doing, at his age, something of an outlier. In a lineup also featuring Miguel Sanó and Yasmany Tomás (Canó is expected to play in the finals), the manager’s son has occupied either the second or third spots based on merit. The sample size remains limited, but the impression has been memorable. Thirty-eight out of 44 media members voted Tatis Jr. the league’s most valuable player in the semifinals. “This kid is getting ready to open some eyes,” Tatis Sr. said. “He can do it all. He can run, he can field, he can play some defense, he can throw and he can hit for power. The biggest challenge he has right now is to be consistent in the game. I told him, ‘If you can be consistent hitting those breaking balls to the opposite field, you’re going to be fine.’” How Tatis Jr. has conducted himself before and after games has been just as noticeable. In a place as baseball-rich as San Pedro, the intangible cannot be discounted. “This kid is different,” Rojas said. “Remember, he’s Fernando Tatis’ son, he’s a major-league baseball son, but he’s a nice kid, he’s a quiet kid. … He never speaks loud, he never holds a grudge, he’s a respectful kid. In some ways, he’s a lot like his father.

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“It’s not the way of Dominican baseball. If you are a great prospect sometimes, in some ways the kids try to do too much.” Yet most have been unable to pry their attention from the youngest member of the team (the oldest, former Diamondbacks reliever Jailen Peguero, is 38). Even though Canó has been taking batting practice with Estrellas for weeks, the biggest crowds flock to see Tatis Jr. “It’s not a lot of players in the winter league killing the league at 19 years old,” Rojas said. “And when I say killing the league, it’s not only because they’re hitting .280, .290 with some homers. It’s looking, showing this kind of confidence. Fernando Tatis looks like he is a veteran guy playing ball. It’s different. It’s not only about the numbers. “It’s about the body language, about the confidence. You don’t need to watch him fielding or running or hitting. No, no, no, no. Fernando Tatis walks in the ballpark, you know this kid is special.” And despite his unassuming nature, Tatis Jr. has shown no qualms about representing a perennially downtrodden franchise. “Pressure? I don’t feel that kind of pressure,” he said of being San Diego’s top prospect. “If they think I’m No. 1, it’s because I’ve been working hard.”

Tatis Jr.’s arrival date is unknown, though Padres officials concede he has made up valuable ground since his thumb injury. His combination of talent and production reminds veteran Dominican scouts of Hanley Ramírez, Rafael Furcal and other top middle-infield prospects when they played in the same winter league. “Maybe José Reyes,” Rojas said. “But he’s not like Tatis, because Tatis has power. Tatis is more like a young A-Rod. “Right now, he’s the king (of San Pedro). If he wins the championship, the people will never forget about Fernando Tatis, both father and son.” Regardless of the outcome, Tatis Jr. will report to Peoria, Ariz., next month as a precocious candidate to end the Padres’ revolving door at shortstop. He might break camp with the team, though his potential and service-time considerations mean his debut likely will be delayed until late April, at the earliest.

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Meanwhile, Tatis Jr.’s handlers are exercising caution. The Padres green-lit his request to continue playing in the finals because he has benefited from the action and because the stage is deeply personal. The Tatises badly want to deliver a championship, but vigilance is necessary. “Like I tell (Padres general manager A.J. Preller) … he’s my son. No one’s going to love him more than me, not even San Diego, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Tatis Sr. said. “I’m the one who really wants him to play in the big leagues, so I’m going to keep helping him. If I see any pain or little issue, I’ll pull him from the game right away.” A logical destination to start the 2019 season is -A El Paso. Tatis Jr., like any other 20-year-old, could use some fine-tuning. “He’s going to struggle with off-speed and breaking stuff in the major leagues at the beginning, but he’ll figure it out,” said one top scout for an team. “He still needs another year in Triple A, in my opinion, but I know the Padres are going to bring him up sometime in the summer.” The same scout, having watched Tatis Jr. in the Dominican, gave credence to a popular comparison: “He’s another to me.” Such a declaration simultaneously thrills and frustrates Padres fans. Machado is one of the two best free agents of this winter, an established slugger who can hold his own at shortstop and may go down as an all-time great . Yet the Padres have not used their financial flexibility to make a bid. Who knows when another opportunity to sign a 26-year-old star will come around? Still, the Padres are signaling restraint. Team executives have indicated they would prefer to spend significant money next offseason, after they have a clearer sense of certain prospects’ abilities. And while the organization’s history has been rife with disappointments and busts, their belief is strongest in Tatis Jr. “We think Tatis is going to line up and play like a (Machado) for the next 10 years,” one official said. His father, of course, shares that faith. “I hope,” Tatis Sr. said, “he can become better than Manny Machado. That’s my goal. And Manny is a great hitter and he’s a great fielder.”

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The Tatises have dedicated much of the last two decades toward that end. “The only thing different now is we have the same shirt for the same team,” Tatis Jr. laughed. So, for the next week or two, they will attempt to quench San Pedro’s 51-year thirst. And then Tatis Jr. will push to provide another city with something to cheer. The Padres, in the spring of their 51st year in existence, may have to pay particular attention to one assignment. “I’m going to give that decision to the big guys, to A.J. and those people,” Tatis Jr. said. “I’m just going to be ready, show them I can be there.” More than 3,000 miles separate San Pedro and San Diego, but these days, the distance feels a bit closer.

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Padres roster review: Craig Stammen

Jeff Sanders

Sizing up the Padres’ 40-man roster, from A to Z, heading into the 2019 season:

CRAIG STAMMEN

• Position(s): Right-handed reliever • 2019 Opening Day age: 35 • Bats/throws: R / R • Height/weight: 6-foot-4 / 230 pounds • Acquired: Signed to a minor league deal in December 2016 and returned as a free agent last January. • Contract status: Will earn $2.25 million in the final year of a two-year, $4.5 million deal. • Key stats: 8-3, 0 saves, 2.73 ERA, 88 , 17 walks, 1.04 WHIP, .221 opponent average (73 games, 79 )

STAT TO NOTE

• 5.18 – Stammen’s -to-walk ratio in 2018, a career-high and nearly twice the rate he produced (2.64) in his first year in San Diego. Stammen had never struck out better than four batters for every walk until last year.

TRENDING

• Up – Two years ago, Stammen entered the Padres’ spring training clubhouse on a minor league deal, his attempt to return to form following a torn flexor tendon that cost him most of 2015 and kept him in the minors for all of 2016. He left with a big league job, posted a 3.14 ERA in 80 1/3 innings out of the Padres’ bullpen and returned to the club the following winter on a two-year, big 9

league deal. Stammen was even better in 2018, turning in his best ERA since his breakthrough campaign in the Nationals’ bullpen in 2012 (2.34). He also set career-best in strikeouts (88), WHIP (1.038), homers per nine innings (0.3) and opponent OPS (.583). His 5.1-degree launch angle was also the 24th-best among the majors’ qualifying pitchers, another reason he was sought-after at the trade deadline as a potential fit in a contender’s bullpen. Makes sense. Stammen – whose 79 innings ranked ninth among big league relievers – held opposing hitters to a .588 OPS in high-leverage situations in 2018.

2019 OUTLOOK

• The Padres turned to Stammen often in 2018 and will do so again after holding onto him at last year’s trade deadline. Because he’s in the last year of his deal in San Diego and makes only $2.25 million, Stammen will again be the subject of trade rumors and the Padres – with a number of fireballing relievers coming through the system – could be inclined to move him this time around if they’re out of contention early this summer.

PADRES POWER RANKINGS

(Currently 40 players on the 40-man roster; the list below reflects only the players reviewed thus far in the series)

1. 2. 3. Austin Hedges 4. 5. 6. Francisco Mejia 7. Franchy Cordero 8. Joey Lucchesi 9. 10.Franmil Reyes 11. Ian Kinsler 10

12. Eric Lauer 13. 14. Garrett Richards 15. Jose Castillo 16. Craig Stammen 17. 18. Travis Jankowski 19. Robbie Erlin 20. Miguel Diaz 21. Jacob Nix 22. Phil Maton 23. Greg Garcia 24. Austin Allen 25. Pedro Avila 26. Edward Olivares 27.Gerardo Reyes 28. Luis Perdomo 29. Bryan Mitchell 30. Jose Pirela 31. Brett Kennedy 32. Ty France 33. Javy Guerra

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Removed from the roster

• Carlos Asuaje (claimed by the Rangers)

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Minors Padres sign RHP Carlos Torres, invite to big league camp

Jeff Sanders

Right-hander Carlos Torres has agreed to terms of a minor league deal with the Padres, a source told the Union-Tribune. Torres was expected to receive a non- roster invitation to spring training.

The rest of the Padres’ non-roster invitees have yet to be announced.

Torres, 36, spent most of 2018 at the Nationals’ Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse, N.Y., posting a 3.55 ERA in 50 2/3 innings (9.1 K/9). He appeared in 10 games in the majors last year (6.52 ERA) and has a 4.04 ERA in 500 2/3 innings spread across parts of nine major league seasons, most of it in the bullpen.

Torres started three games in the minors last year but last started a big league game in 2014 with the Mets. He has also pitched in the majors for Brewers, Rockies and White Sox, who drafted him in the 15th round in 2004 out of Kansas State.

Notable

The Padres announced the hiring of John Philbin as head strength and conditioning coach and Michael Salazar and Kevin Pillifant as assistant athletic trainers. Head athletic trainer Mark Rogow, Don Tricker (director of player health and performance), Scott Hacker (physical therapist), Atsushi Nakasone (massage therapist) and Scott Cline (assistant strength and conditioning coach) will all return in their same roles. 12

Inbox: Who will start in Padres' crowded outfield?

Beat reporter AJ Cassavell answers questions from fans

By AJ Cassavell MLB.com @AJCassavell

SAN DIEGO -- Outfield and third base -- for very different reasons -- have been the focus of the offseason in San Diego.

The Padres are overflowing with , with six players who have spent significant time as starters over the past two seasons. Naturally, that's led to plenty of trade speculation.

They're also devoid of an obvious starter at third, and it's clear they want to find a long-term solution there. That's fueled the speculation even more.

• Submit a question to Padres Inbox

Pitchers and report to Peoria, Ariz., in less than a month, and with the rest of the lineup mostly set, this week's Padres Inbox centers around those two spots.

Who do you see in the Opening Day outfield? -- Tom H.

Among those six outfielders, none has a starting spot locked up right now. In the corners, Wil Myers, Franmil Reyes and Hunter Renfroe are fighting for two places. Each has drawn trade interest, and it's hard to envision the Padres opening the season with all three on their roster. They already have plenty of depth, with the lefty-hitting Franchy Cordero returning from right elbow surgery.

But for the purposes of the question, let's rule Cordero out -- and Travis Jankowski, too -- because the Padres are likely to face Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner in the opener. They'll presumably load the lineup with righty hitters, putting Manuel Margot in center.

In the corners, it's anyone's guess. Renfroe has torched Bumgarner in the past, and Reyes is returning from offseason surgery on his right knee, so let's go with Renfroe-Margot-Myers.

The big wild card in the whole outfield logjam seems to be Franchy. What do you see happening with him? -- Julian S.

No kidding. Cordero is an extremely underrated component of the Padres' current outfield situation. He injured his elbow last May and played through a bone spur for a couple weeks. Understandably, his numbers took a nosedive while he played with that pain.

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But Cordero was hitting .281/.349/.500 on May 10. Imagine if he could sustain that pace -- or something close to it -- over a larger sample size. And he just might have the tools to do it. His 92.6 mph average exit velocity was 14th in the Majors last year, on par with Shohei Ohtani, and he made huge strides with his plate discipline and pitch recognition.

Cordero is the kind of guy who could quickly prove himself worthy of everyday playing time. The question is: Where? If the Padres don't trade a corner option, I'd expect Cordero to seriously press Margot for playing time in center. Margot is worlds better defensively. But the Padres are in dire need of offense, and Margot took a step back with the bat last season.

I think the likeliest scenario sees either Myers or Renfroe traded before Opening Day. Cordero could then receive regular playing time in a four-way platoon for three spots. He'd sit against lefties, but against right-handed pitching, he could slot in anywhere -- giving Margot, Myers, Reyes or Renfroe a breather.

Before letting go of Christian Villanueva, was there talk of using him as a platoon option in 2019? He was notably bad against right-handed pitchers, but he was the best hitting third baseman in baseball against left-handed pitchers in '18. -- Ridley L.

Ridley's right on the money with that stat. Against lefties, Villanueva's wRC+ -- an all-encompassing hitting metric that adjusts for ballparks and league -- was 198 last season. That means he was 98 percent better than league average, just above and Kris Bryant for tops in the Majors. Given that Ty France is the likely starter at third right now, Villanueva seems like a substantial loss -- despite his poor numbers against righties.

But it's worth noting that Villanueva's departure for Japan's Yomiuri Giants was his own decision. He approached the Padres and made it clear he wanted the opportunity. They granted his request.

So, yes, the Padres discussed using Villanueva as a platoon option. As of last September, he was squarely in their 2019 plans. But the team's primary goal is to find a long-term solution at third base. It might be the biggest organizational question mark right now. The Padres didn't believe Villanueva to be the answer, so they let him walk.

What are the Padres more likely to address before Spring Training -- starting pitching or third base? Is it possible they go into spring without making any more additions? -- Christopher W.

It's still possible the Padres stand pat. It's just very unlikely. There's a good chance they add to both areas before camp begins, but they probably aren't going to make a major splash with either of those moves. (Think: rotation depth and a replacement-level utility infielder.)

If there's one area that's more pressing, though, it's third base. The front office seems content to start the season with the current pitching staff, if need be. The rotation has major holes. But there are, at

14 least, potential answers in-house -- like (a prospect on the cusp of the big leagues), Dinelson Lamet (who should return from Tommy John surgery midseason), or (who will attempt to make the transition from a reliever to a starter).

At third base, the hole is more glaring. Even if France or Esteban Quiroz wins the job with a big-time Spring Training, the Padres would like to have an experienced option as a back-up plan or platoon partner.

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Around the horn: Padres face tricky 3B situation

By AJ Cassavell MLB.com @AJCassavell

With Spring Training on the horizon, MLB.com is taking an in-depth look at the 2019 Padres, breaking the team down position by position. Today, we preview the San Diego third basemen.

Around the Horn series: Catcher | First base | Second base | Shortstop

SAN DIEGO -- The offseason has offered very little clarity on the Padres' long-term plans at third base. We haven't learned much, yet we have learned who won't be playing there this year: Wil Myers, Christian Villanueva and Cory Spangenberg.

That trio combined for 93 percent of the Padres' innings at third last season (with , prior to his early-May release, covering nearly all of the rest). Villanueva's contract was sold to the Yomiuri Giants in November, and Spangenberg was designated for assignment on the same day before later signing a deal with Milwaukee. Then, on Saturday, Myers informed reporters that he'd be shifting back to a full-time outfield role this spring.

So what's left? Well, Ty France, Greg Garcia and Jason Vosler -- which might prompt a justifiable response of "Who?" on your end.

Vosler and France are Minor League sluggers with no big league experience between them, despite the fact that both are entering their age-25 seasons. After posting some impressive power numbers in 2018, they will get a chance to prove themselves in Spring Training. Garcia, meanwhile, is a career utility man claimed off waivers from St. Louis in October.

In other words: The Padres could use a third baseman.

Of course, there are two parts to that equation: The Padres need an Opening Day third baseman, and they need a third baseman of the future. Right now, the clear focus is on finding the latter. (That's why Myers, Villanueva and Spangenberg -- all unrealistic long-term options -- have been ruled out.)

Projecting into 2020 and beyond, third base is the most glaring hole in a lineup that could otherwise be pretty complete if a few pieces fall into place.

If the Padres can't find their long-term third baseman this winter, there are a handful of cheap stopgap options in free agency. But team sources have indicated it's possible they enter camp with the current group -- which looks like this:

Projected starter: France

Potential backups: Ian Kinsler, Vosler, Garcia, Esteban Quiroz, Jose Pirela 16

Top-30 prospects: No. 17 Esteury Ruiz, Tatis, No. 23 Hudson Potts, No. 30 Owen Miller

Best-case scenario You may not have heard, but there's a pretty darn good free-agent third baseman available. The obvious best-case scenario sees the Padres as the reported "mystery team" for Manny Machado, giving them a long-term infield of Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Urias and Eric Hosmer.

But -- and sorry to snap you back to reality, Padres fans -- there's been no indication that San Diego is the mystery team. So let's focus on the next-best-case scenario instead:

Already this offseason, the Padres have been linked to talks with the Reds and Yankees, who have two of the sport's best young third basemen in Nick Senzel and Miguel Andujar, respectively. General manager A.J. Preller works a three-way trade with one of those clubs that includes the Indians.

With the Tribe in dire need of outfield help, the Padres part with one or two youngsters from their surplus -- perhaps Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe -- and a couple prospects from outside the top five in their loaded farm system. Ultimately, that might be a price Preller is willing to meet.n. 15th, 2019

Worst-case scenario The Padres enter camp with their current group of third basemen, hoping for magic somewhere. (Heck, Vosler hits righties and France hits lefties, so they could form a decent platoon.)

But both fail to adjust to big league pitching, leaving the Padres with Garcia as the primary option. When Tatis arrives, Urias moves from shortstop to second, and Kinsler becomes a platoon option alongside Garcia. That platoon doesn't strike much fear into opposing pitchers.

The non-waiver Trade Deadline comes and goes, and the Padres enter next offseason in practically the same situation they're in right now -- without a long-term answer at third base.

A reasonable prediction No major trade comes to fruition this offseason. Instead, Preller finds a one-year deal with a replacement-level utility option, like Adeiny Hechavarria or . They compete for time at third base in Spring Training. Among the group of Vosler, France, Garcia and Hechavarria/Solarte, a couple struggle and a couple perform moderately well.

In the meantime, the Padres' decision-makers keep a sharp eye on Potts, the 20-year-old who will open the season at Double-A. Come July, they might have a better idea as to whether he's their long- term answer at third.

If he isn't, Preller will re-assess the available third-base options midseason, and he could get very active on the trade market this summer.

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30 best defensive prospects -- 1 for each team

By Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Mike Rosenbaum MLB.com

MLB Pipeline recently unveiled its annual All-Defense Team, but there were only so many spots to fill. It made us realize there were so many outstanding defenders across all 30 organizations.

Evaluating defense is still very much subjective, with metrics measuring fielding still imperfect. Still, each system has glovework that stands out more than others, and we considered many to present one best defender from each organization.

Padres: Buddy Reed, OF, No. 13 A member of MLB Pipeline's All-Defense Team, Reed's 70-grade speed and long, gliding strides allow him to cover huge swaths of territory in center field -- and he showcased that with his catch in last year's SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. Reed also has a strong arm and recorded 12 outfield assists in 2018, surpassing his combined total from his first two seasons.

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These prospects could be MLB's Top 5 in 202118

By Jonathan Mayo MLB.com @JonathanMayo

As everyone is likely aware by now, MLB Pipeline has officially begun rankings season. There are three lists up, with the remaining Top 10 position lists coming soon:

While we've been putting out all of these lists, we've also been doing some historical research. Since 2011, which position do you think has compiled the highest combined among top 10 preseason prospects? If you guessed shortstop (569.5), you'd be right. Outfielders came in second at 496.7, while right-handed pitching stands third, with 338.2 WAR.

All of these lists obviously elicit a ton of debate, which is a big reason why we enjoy doing the rankings. And that leads to good questions from all of you. So let's get to them, shall we?

Mike Sellers@puk32ellers I know this is an incredibly difficult projection to make, but who do you think will be the top 5 prospects 2 years from now? Taking into consideration who will graduate and who will be regarded higher or lower than they are now.

I know this is an incredibly difficult projection to make, but who do you think will be the top 5 prospects 2 years from now? Taking into consideration who will graduate and who will be regarded higher or lower than they are now.

We typically do a story of who will top the Top 100 a year from now right after a new list comes out, but this stretches it a bit further. The best part is that both @puk32ellers and then @Morris_8334 gave their projections. Both put Wander Franco of the Rays at the top, the only similarity. Nos. 2-5 for @puk32ellers were MacKenzie Gore (San Diego), (Seattle), Matt Manning (Detroit) and Hunter Greene (Cincinnati). Meanwhile, @Morris_8334 rounded out his list with Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota), Royce Lewis (Minnesota), Nolan Gorman (St. Louis) and Matthew Liberatore (Tampa Bay).

Both solid lists, though I could see both Kirilloff and Lewis having graduated by 2021. I'm going to go ahead and agree with putting Franco in the No. 1 spot. And I think Gore is probably right there with him, so I'll place him at No. 2. After that, I'll be different: No. 3, Patino of the Padres; No. 4, Drew Waters of the Braves; and No. 5, , who is about to start his junior year at Oregon State and could be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 Draft.

Josh Dop WHITESOX@josh_dop How is Cease not the number one pitcher on the list he won minor league pitcher of the year?

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I wanted to answer this one because this is a common misconception. Yes, Dylan Cease was our Pipeline Pitcher of the Year in 2018, and for good reason after a dominant season during which he reached Double-A for the first time. We're obviously very high on him, given that we have him at No. 5 on our Top 10 RHP list.

Our lists on Prospect Watch are not about current performance, however. Yes, production does become important at a certain point, and seeing Cease do well as he progressed to Double-A is a reason why he's as high as he is. But the Pitcher of the Year Award is only about performance for that year, not what he may, or may not, become in the future. That second point is exactly what the rankings are about -- what we project, based on countless conversations with the scouting industry, the players will become. With an overall 60 grade, Cease is still projected to be a frontline starter. It's just that Forrest Whitley, Casey Mize, Michael Kopech and Mitch Keller are projected to be ever so slightly better than Cease. At least for now.

Padres Fanatic@padres_faithful How close were Luis Patiño and Chris Paddack to being in the top 10?

I chose this one because it was a more polite version than several other tweets that had variations of "No Chris Paddack?" Braves fans, don't worry, I won't forget you. We got plenty of the "Where's Touki Toussaint/Ian Anderson?" questions as well.

Suffice it to say the right-handed pitchers list is the deepest one we have. I don't want to give anything away in terms of where these guys land on the new Top 100 (coming on Jan. 26), but you can get the idea by looking at our 2018 list. All 10 hurlers on that list were in the top 29 overall. So just because your favorite pitching prospect isn't on the list doesn't mean he isn't highly regarded.an. 15th, 2019

Padres fans, relax. Not only are Paddack and Luis Patino not far from this top 10, but Patino was the "Keep An Eye On" subject in the RHP breakdown story and San Diego has four lefties in the top 10. How many starting-pitching prospects do you need, anyway?

As for Braves fans, it's not a prospect-ranking season without hearing full-throated complaints. We get accusations of anti-Braves bias for snubs, even though there were 10 Braves in the Top 100 at the end of 2018. Mike Soroka and Kyle Wright gives them two Top 10 RHP, and I assure you Anderson and Toussaint aren't far behind.

MahatmaGagneInNYC@SigmrewFreudman So our Dodgers lefties can hit LHP with the exception of Toles & Joc. Looking at the Padres farm of LHP studs coming up perhaps a reason to look deeper into acquiring Machado?

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I had to include this question just because of the thoroughness of it. I also love how he's asking about going after Manny Machado to combat the Padres LHP pitching prospects on the way up, but his profile picture is of a very much left-handed-hitting (.796 career OPS vs. LHP) in a Dodgers uniform. But I digress.

I can't imagine any team, even one within the same division, going after a high-priced free agent because of Minor League pitching depth. But it is important to point out that the Padres also have some quality right-handers coming soon as well. The aforementioned Paddack and Patino didn't miss our Top 10 by much, and who knows what righties like Cal Quantrill, Anderson Espinoza and even Ja cob Nix can become. Maybe you should be looking for switch-hitters in Los Angeles?

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A.J. Preller Says San Diego Padres Are On The Lookout For Free Agents And Are Ready To Seize The Day

Barry M. Bloom

The West is suddenly wide open this year, giving the San Diego Padres a huge opportunity. If ownership moves up its timetable to be competitive by a season, the Padres could do some real damage.

Carpe diem. Seize the day.

This is a pivotal season in the recent history of the franchise. General manager A.J. Preller knows it, and there has been some discussion internally about the subject, he told Boomskie on Baseball in a wide- ranging and candid interview at in San Diego on Tuesday.

“It’s all about winning at the major league level,” Preller said. “That’s the next stage in the transition.”

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training Feb. 13 at Peoria, Arizona, the Padres could still re-sign free agent shortstop Freddy Galvis, who had a decent season for the club in 2018, Preller said.

"We've talked about bringing Freddy back," Preller said. "Is there a fit? That's something we're still discussing."

Even more importantly, Preller didn’t preclude the possibility of top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. opening with the big club, perhaps at third base.

“My conversations with Fernando have been to come in and compete and win a job and you’ll tell us,” Preller said of a 20-year-old who has had a great off-season playing winter ball in Latin America after dislocating his left thumb to end this past season around the All-Star break. “We’re going into spring training open to every possibility.”

Tatis hasn’t played above Double-A, but so what? He can bypass the , where hitting numbers and ERAs are always inflated because of the desert environments and high altitudes. Hit in the PCL, and there’s no guarantee that will translate to the majors. But failure in that Triple-A league can set a prospect back forever.

The thought they were a year away this past season. Hot shot Ronald Acuna then made the team and won the NL Rookie of the Year Award playing left field, and the Braves finished first in the NL East. Acuna was 20. Now, the Braves are trying to build on that success.

With the and the in rebuilding mode and the window for the closing, the same thing can happen for the Padres. Hey, the Dodgers aren't going to the for the third year in a row. The last NL team to do that was the St. Louis Cardinals of 1942- 44, when there was no multi-tiered playoff system.

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The division is wide open, baby.

Let’s face it, the Padres lost 96 games last year, haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, and have had two .500 or better seasons in the interim, none since 2010. They are 92 games under .500 since Aug. 6, 2014, the day Preller took over as general manager, and 76 games under .500 in three seasons managed by .

Preller’s original five-year contract was extended through 2022 and Green’s through ’21. Preller certainly knows they’re running out of precious time.

Despite the goal of building a deep farm system, a first in the 50-year history of the franchise, ultimately ownership will review Preller's stewardship through the prism of success at the big-league level.

He was just 36 years old when he was hired, but eight years to get there should be long enough.

“Yeah, I mean, you should win,” Preller responded when asked whether he was starting to feel any pressure. “I think at that point as a group we’ve got to be there, we’ve got to be good. When you look at some of these builds it definitely takes time. The pressure is there because this is such a good city, and it’s so ready to embrace a winning product.”

It’s been a long time, too long. And if one judges by the temper of the Padres' Twitter universe, patience is ebbing fast. Preller says he loves the fans' passion, but that passion is turning sullen.

There’s historic reason for it.

The ballclub was born into the NL as an expansion team in 1969 and has been to the World Series only twice, losing in 1984 to the Detroit Tigers and in ’98 to the . Funny about the color scheme of the uniforms, a somewhat contentious topic: The Padres wore brown in ’84 and blue in ’98. The fans went bonkers on both occasions. Give them a good team, and the players can wear mauve.

The Padres, though, are 1-8 in the World Series, having won only Game 2 of the ’84 Fall Classic in their old Mission Valley ballpark, then called Jack Murphy Stadium.

The fact is, they’ve never won a playoff series or even a single postseason game at Petco Park since moving downtown in 2004.

Current ownership – including and Peter and Tom Seidler – took over the team late in the 2012 season. The group is blessed by the fact that John Moores, the previous owner, built and left them a destination ballpark. With the NFL's Chargers having fled to Los Angeles, the Padres are the only major league team left in town, and tourists love to see games played at Petco.

Even as a bottom feeder in their own division, the Padres have drawn in excess of two million fans at home every season at Petco, for one, and in that season (2009), they fell just 80,387 short. The Padres topped out at 3,016,752 in Petco’s inaugural season.

There’s every reason to believe that, with a competitive team, attendance will reach that altitude again.

And the Padres are right there, folks, with a few more tweaks and adds to the current roster.

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A scouting friend who regularly covers the team for another NL West club said recently that his reports about Padres players for years have been “some of the most creative writing I’ve ever done.”

“At the end of last season, I could finally report that they have a major league player at every position,” he said.

Thank heaven for small mercies. Preller said he has told Wil Myers he’s going back to the outfield and newcomer Ian Kinsler that he could be a jack of all trades in the infield.

Kinsler is fresh from winning the World Series with the , and like Eric Hosmer, he gives the Padres another voice in the clubhouse with a championship pedigree.

“We've talked about it with Ian,” Preller said of the 36-year-old, who signed a two-year, $8 million contract with a third-year club option as a free agent. "We know we have a guy who can come in and play every day at second. But we've also talked to him about bouncing around the field and being more of a utility guy. He's open to either."

The back of the bullpen is set with Kirby Yates as the closer, but the candidates for the starting rotation are mostly young and inexperienced.

Much like today, in 1998, the Padres needed a top-of-the-rotation starter to get over the hump. On Dec. 15, 1997, the late general manager Kevin Towers plucked Kevin Brown from the Marlins in a fire-sale trade. Brown had won the World Series in Florida and nearly did it again in San Diego.

In his one Padres season, Brown started 35 games, winning 18 of them, with a 2.38 ERA. He was unbelievable for most of the postseason, pitching eight innings of shutout, two-hit ball to beat and the in the Astrodome during Game 1 of an NL Division Series the Padres won.

Could Dallas Keuchel provide the same magic? Could he prove to be a good bargain as spring training draws closer? Good veteran pitchers are still out there.

“Yeah, we’re still looking,” Preller said. “Each year it seems to get later and later before the market goes. We’re definitely in. We’re having daily conversations about the [free agent] market and trades. Whether we line up, we’ll see, but we’re still trying to improve the club, for sure.”

That should be music to the ears of every Padre fan. A rare opportunity is arising. The clock is ticking. Carpe diem, Padres. Seize the day. It's up to Preller to take advantage of it.

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#PadresOnDeck: Mejía One of MLB’s Premier Catcher Prospects MLB Pipeline says Mejía has best hit tool for a C

By Justin Lafferty

We already know the Padres have a plethora of highly-regarded lefty pitchers in the minor league system. However, there’s plenty of talent all over the diamond, as evidenced by MLB Pipeline’s rankings.

Francisco Mejía, acquired in a midseason trade last year, is №2 on MLB Pipeline’s top 10 catchers list.

Mejía, 23, was called up on Sept. 4, 2018, and didn’t waste time endearing himself to the Friar faithful. Two days later, he bashed a pair of home runs in a 6–2 win in Cincinnati.

It’s easy to see why MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo says Mejía has the best hit tool in the top 10 list. He also hit a walk-off on Sept. 16.

Mayo also said that Mejía’s 70-grade arm is tied for best in class with Oakland’s Sean Murphy.

“Mejia has hit at pretty much every stop in the Minors, starting with his 50-game and .342 average in 2016,” Mayo wrote. “Following his trade to the Padres last year in the deal, he showed what the fuss was about by hitting .328 with Triple-A El Paso en route to making his San Diego debut. His ability to swing the bat from both sides of the plate is well ahead of his defense behind it.”

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Mayo also wrote about the electric right-handed pitchers in the Padres system, in a recent mailbag. After his minor league RHP top 10 rankings were Friar-free, several fans wrote to him on Twitter asking why prospects such as Luis Patiño and Chris Paddack were not included.

Mayo responded that the RHP list is just so incredibly deep this year, and that the aforementioned Padres were not far off.

“All 10 hurlers on that list were in the top 29 overall,” Mayo wrote. “So just because your favorite pitching prospect isn’t on the list doesn’t mean he isn’t highly regarded. … Padres fans, relax. Not only are Paddack and Luis Patiño not far from this top 10, but Patiño was the “Keep An Eye On” subject in the RHP breakdown story and San Diego has four lefties in the top 10. How many starting-pitching prospects do you need, anyway?”

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50 Moments — First Padre Pitcher to Draw Attention By Bill Center On July 21, 1970, manager Preston Gomez made what remains one of the more controversial — and repeated — decisions in Padres history.

He pulled for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the eighth when the 21-year-old right-hander was throwing a no-hitter against the on a warm Tuesday night at San Diego Stadium.

Mets shortstop Ken Harrelson then opened the ninth with a single against Padres reliever Jack Baldschun.

The incident became known as “The Curse of Kirby” and the event is recounted every time a Padres pitcher threatens to throw the first no- hitter in Padres history. After 50 seasons, the Padres remain the only team in the Major Leagues without a no-hitter.

Clay Kirby could have pitched a no-hitter on July 21, 1970 . . . but we will never know.

Because, with Kirby working on a no-hitter against the New York Mets — but the Padres trailing 1–0 — Gomez decided pinch-hit for the pitcher with with two out and no one on in the bottom of the eighth. Gaston struck out.

At the time, the Padres were 38–58 and buried in last in the .

The crowd of 10,273 loudly booed Gomez’s decision. Several tried unsuccessfully to rush the Padres dugout. Months later, Gomez’s decision was still being debated throughout baseball.

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“You play the game to win the game,” Gomez explained afterward. The explanation did not set well with Padres fans, many of whom never forgave the manager.

Even the Mets were surprised by Gomez’s decision to remove Kirby while an inning away from a no-hitter.

“The Mets’ bench just gasped in disbelief,” said future Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver. “I personally would have let Kirby hit if a pennant race was involved . . . but in this situation, yes!”

With Kirby gone, Harrelson opened the top of the ninth with a single against Baldschun — who would eventually give up two runs on three hits and a walk to seal the Mets’ 3–0 win

Here’s a quick look back at the events that led up to Gomez’s historic decision to pull Kirby after eight no-hit innings.

The Mets took a 1–0 lead in the top of the first after drew a walk and stole second. After Kirby walked Ken Singleton with one out, both runners advanced on a double steal. Agee then scored the game’s only run on a grounder to second by Art Shamsky.

Kirby issued five walks and struck out four over eight innings.

Gomez’s decision to pull Kirby for a pinch-hitter was magnified by the Padres’ situation. Padres fans had little to cheer about during the franchise’s first two seasons. Going into the night of July 21, 1970, the Padres overall record for just over 1 ½ seasons was 90–168.

Ironically, Kirby would have two more no-hit bids and would be involved in several other notable pitching accomplishments in Padres’ history.

On Sept. 13, 1971, Houston catcher John Edwards doubled with one out in the eighth at the Astrodome to break up Kirby’s — and the 28

Padres’ — second bid for a no-hitter. Five days later, Giants’ future Hall of Famer Willie McCovey led off the eighth with a homer to break up Kirby’s third no-hit bid. Kirby had retired 21 straight Giants.

Kirby’s second and third no-hit bids came during one of the greatest runs ever by a Padres pitcher — which was capped on Sept. 24 when Kirby allowed one run on just eight hits and three walks while striking out 15 Astros in a 15-inning effort at San Diego Stadium. That remains the longest outing by a Padres pitcher in franchise history.

In his last three starts of 1971, Kirby allowed three runs on 15 hits and nine walks with 36 strikeouts over 34 innings — a 0.79 and a 0.71 WHIP. He became the Padres’ first 15-game winner in 1971, going 15–13 with a career-best 2.83 ERA in 38 games (36 starts).

The Padres’ sixth pick in the 1968 expansion draft, Kirby made his Major League debut on April 11, 1969, at the age of 20. He pitched with the Padres during their first five seasons, going 52–81 in 177 games (170 starts) with a 3.73 ERA.

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Top 50 Individual Seasons 50. Mark Loretta was a great addition in 2003

By Bill Center

As part of the Padres’ 50th Anniversary celebration, we’re starting a new feature today.

In reverse order, I’m going to be ranking what I consider to be the Top 50 individual seasons in Padres history. Statistics are a major part of the criteria. But how each season impacted Padres history and how it impacted fans also factor into the equation. And since it is my list, how I remember the importance of each season plays a role.

So we’re starting today with №50.

And the last position on an list is the toughest because when you pick the last spot, some other worthy candidates are going to be left off the list.

Among season’s the last spot came down to were Ozzie Smith’s 1980 campaign, Dave Winfield’s 1976 and 1977 seasons, Brian Giles’ 2008 campaign, Cito Gaston’s effort in 1970 with the second-year Padres, Heath Bell’s 2010 work as the closer and Andy Ashby’s 1994 and 1995 seasons.

Just by eliminating some of those opens the list to arguments. But here goes . . . starting with №50.

Mark Loretta (2003) — Although he was only 31, the had been in the Major Leagues for eight seasons when the Padres signed him as a free agent away from Houston on Dec. 16, 2002.

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But until the Padres signed him, Loretta had been a utility infielder, moving between third, second and short with the Brewers and then the Astros, who he joined during the 2002 season through a trade.

The Padres immediately positioned Loretta at second base (144 starts) in the field and at second (89 games) or third (45 games) in the for their final season in Mission Valley. Loretta responded with a breakout season.

Loretta hit .314 in 2003 with a .372 on-base percentage and a .441 for a .814 OPS. He had 28 doubles, four triples and 13 homers for 72 RBIs and 74 runs scored. He drew 54 walks against only 62 strikeouts.

In addition, he bolstered the top of the Padres lineup. Loretta hit .304 while hitting second. When asked to hit third, Loretta batted .339 with a .392 on-base percentage and a .472 slugging percentage for a .869 OPS. He had 31 RBIs out of the №3 spot.

Loretta capped his first season as a Padre by hitting the team’s last homer at Qualcomm Stadium

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Chihuahuas name Rodriguez field manager, coaching staff return

By El Paso Inc. staff

The recently named Edwin Rodriguez the team’s fourth manager. Rodriguez is entering his third season in the Padres organization after managing the High-A from 2017-18 and serving as the Major League manager for the Florida Marlins for parts of the 2010-11 seasons. He was the first Puerto Rican manager in MLB history, and managed Puerto Rico in the in 2013 and 2017, the team said in a news release.

As a player, Rodriguez reached the Major Leagues for parts of three seasons in the 1980s with the Padres and New York Yankees. “We look forward to his leadership with some of the Padres top prospects that will continue to come through El Paso,” Chihuahuas Senior Vice President and General Manager Brad Taylor said in a statement. “It’s also great to see those coaches and trainers that have given us such tremendous on-field success return. Bronswell Patrick, Morgan Burkhart, Lance Burkhart, Dan Turner, A.J. Russell – it’s awesome to be able to continue to work with them,” Taylor added. Rodriguez has previous minor league managing experience in the Marlins, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays organizations. He replaces former Chihuahuas manager , who was named San Diego Padres bench coach in late October. Returning coaches include hitting coach Morgan Burkhart, fielding coach Lance Burkhart and pitching coach Bronswell Patrick. The Chihuahuas 2019 training staff will include athletic trainers Dan Turner and Dan Leja and srength coach A.J. Russell. The Chihuahuas, who have won four consecutive Southern Division titles, begin play for the 2019 season April 4 at home versus the Las Vegas Aviators, Oakland A’s affiliate

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