General Manager: Jed Hoyer (since October 2009)
Manager: Bud Black (since November 2006)
Gains: Aaron Cunningham, Jon Garland, Jerry Hairston Jr., Scott Hairston, Radhames Liz, Dusty Ryan, Yorvit Torrealba
Losses: Elizer Alfonzo, Cha Seung Baek, Josh Banks, Henry Blanco, Chris Burke, Mike Ekstrom, Cliff Floyd, Brian Giles, Edgar Gonzalez, Shawn Hill, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Drew Macias, Edwin Moreno, Luis Rodriguez, Eric Sogard
Minor League Deals: Josh Barfield, Chris Denorfia, Matt Stairs
Projected Starting Lineup
Tony Gwynn, Jr. – CF
David Eckstein – 2B
Adrian Gonzalez – 1B
Chase Headley – 3B
Kyle Banks – LF
Will Venable – RF
Nick Hundley – C
Everth Cabrera – SS
Projected Starting Rotation
Chris Young
Kevin Correia
Jon Garland
Clayton Richard
Mat Latos
Projected Bullpen
Heath Bell (Closer)
Mike Adams
Luke Gregerson
Edward Mujica
Adam Russell
Joe Thatcher
The Padres WILL make the playoffs if: 3B Chase Headley and LF Kyle Blanks can quickly grow into the #4 and #5 hitters that join with 1B Adrian Gonzalez to increase production from the recently punchless Padres’ middle of the order…The back end of the starting rotation can eat up innings and keep from exposing the team’s lack of pitching depth in the top levels of the minors…The Padres continue their tradition of building effective bullpens on the cheap.
The Padres WON’T make the playoffs if: OF Tony Gwynn, Jr. and 2B David Eckstein hit like the 4th outfielder and declining infielder that they are…SPs Jon Garland and Kevin Correia gag on the innings they’re expected to eat…This year’s bullpen is as uneven as last year’s bullpen.
Over/Under (71): I like what the Pads are doing. They’re biding their time, quietly building from within on offense and plugging in warm bodies on the mound. That’s not the formula for winning a World Series, but it’s better than the Orioles’ “sign an aging, big-name free agent every offseason” approach from the last decade. Take the OVER.
