The president of baseball operations for the Padres, A.J. Preller, held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the team’s plans for the upcoming season. Preller acknowledged that the offseason market has been slow to develop, but he assured reporters that the team is still actively engaged in trade conversations and expects to make additional acquisitions. Unlike most teams at this point in the season, the Padres are focused on improving their roster rather than just preparing for Spring Training. Preller emphasized that the team that starts camp will not be the same team that finishes the season.
One area of concern for the Padres is their outfield. With the departures of Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, there are two open spots alongside Fernando Tatis Jr. on the roster. The team currently only has one other outfielder, José Azocar, on their 40-man roster. They are in talks with the Red Sox about acquiring Jarren Duran, but there are other options being considered as well. Michael A. Taylor, a free agent center fielder, is also on their radar.
The Padres have faced budget constraints this offseason, which has affected their ability to make big moves in free agency. They have allowed several key free agents to leave and have focused on cutting costs. Their projected season-opening spending is around $160 million, but they plan to have a player payroll in the range of $180-190 million for the upcoming season. This leaves them with some room for additional spending, but they may choose to keep some of it in reserve for midseason acquisitions.
In terms of the outfield, the Padres may look to their top prospect, Jackson Merrill, to step up and make an impact. Merrill has been training as an outfielder in addition to his usual shortstop position and has a chance to make the Opening Day roster. However, he has limited experience above A-ball. Another option is Jakob Marsee, who had a strong showing in High-A and the Arizona Fall League.
While the outfield is a priority, the Padres could also use more depth in their rotation and another bench bat. They are considering bringing in another starting pitcher, but only three spots in the rotation are guaranteed at this point. There are several young pitchers and prospects who will compete for the remaining spots. The Padres have shown interest in free agent starters Michael Lorenzen, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Noah Syndergaard.
Acquiring pitching through trades at this stage of the offseason is challenging, especially if the Padres are reluctant to part with their top prospects. If they do consider trading from their MLB roster, middle infielder Ha-Seong Kim could be a valuable trade chip. However, Preller emphasized that Kim is an important part of the team and they are not actively looking to trade him.
Overall, Preller expressed confidence in the team’s current roster but acknowledged the need for some additional acquisitions. He believes that the Padres have the potential to be successful this season, with Ha-Seong Kim playing a crucial role in the middle infield.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com