Padres 2018 Offseason Outlook
by: Noah Gaines
The San Diego Padres are seen as, from many avid fans in San Diego County, the laughing stock of professional sport teams. The team is projected to reach the 65 win mark this season, finishing just below 100 losses. This is one year removed from the team acquiring Eric Hosmer during the offseason, inking him to a 5 year 125 million dollar deal with a team option for 3 years 39 million. People can argue that this was a bold move by general manager AJ Preller because the team is not ready to commit an insane amount of money to a player before the team is ready to contend.
Let’s take a trip to the future. It’s December’s Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. The Padres are looking to upgrade. Top free agents such as right fielder Bryce Harper and third baseman Manny Machado seem like a dream to fans. Yet, if the Padres were looking to sign one of the two superstars, I would bet on Machado. The Padres have loads of outfield depth, filled with some potential all-stars such as Franmil Reyes and Franchy Cordero, along with veterans like Travis Jankowski and Jose Pirela. Also, the Padres have a valuable trade asset in Wil Myers who can play both third base and outfield, who would be willing to move around for the organization if Machado becomes the starting third baseman. He would stack up well with the young Padre core emerging. Players of the future such as Fernando Tatis Jr, Mackenzie Gore, Francisco Mejia among others need a captain to steer the ship, and Machado, along with Hosmer, can provide such a role.
Other than Machado, the Padres could seek some veteran starting pitching. The pitching rotation is filled with young talent. A solid, established veteran presence in that rotation could do wonders with the development of the staff. The Padres are not that far off, they have solid young pieces that can impact the team in the long run. A couple mediocre pieces to help shape the young team could do wonders, and I believe ownership thinks as such.
Okay Padre fans, heartbreak has owned this team ever since it was founded in 1969. From losing two World Series’, to missing the playoffs by only one game twice in the last 10 years, to seeing the team up in northern California win three World Series in the last decade, we have suffered a lot. This is different. The Padres are seen to have the best young core in baseball, and supposedly a better group than the Cubs and Royals had (who both won the World Series) at this time in the rebuild.
I know San Diego winning doesn’t sound realistic, but with some minor moves and young developed talent, winning is just around the corner. So stay tuned Padre fans, you’ll be supporting the 2022 World Series champs.