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Padres Press Clips Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Article Source Author Pg. Barring significant upgrades, Padres could rethink rotation roles in 2019 The Athletic Lin 2 Sarris: An early look at the odds from Vegas and the Winter Meetings The Athletic Sarris 5 Padres roster review: Anderson Espinoza SD Union Tribune Sanders 10 Padres' top talent in high demand at Meetings MLB.com Cassavell 12 A.J. Preller at #WinterMeetings: Day 1 & 2 FriarWire Lafferty 15 Guerra, Córdoba just Getting Started in Panama as Winter Ball Starts FriarWire Center 21 to Wind Down

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Barring significant upgrades, Padres could rethink rotation roles in 2019 By Dennis Lin LAS VEGAS — What follows may be a worst-case scenario or, perhaps, making the best of the worst. Let’s say that various discussions involving starting pitchers all fail to culminate in a deal that would budge the needle in San Diego. Let’s say that when the Padres report to Peoria, Ariz., their new starters consist of a lower-level acquisition or two, hiking the pressure on untested prospects. While rival teams indicate that A.J. Preller continues to be aggressive, let’s say the general manager ultimately decides this is not the winter to pay the cost for a front-of-the-rotation arm. In such a scenario, fans would cringe and club employees would be compelled to get creative. Before throwing up their hands, might the Padres look at stretching the bounds of convention in 2019? The Padres’ 2018 bullpen, according to FanGraphs’ calculation of WAR, was the fifth-best bullpen of the last two decades. Only the relief brigades of the 2018 Yankees, 2003 Dodgers, 2017 Yankees and 2017 Indians — filled with such titans as Aroldis Chapman, Eric Gagne, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller — outperformed last season’s more anonymous Petco-based collective. The 2018 Padres, of course, threatened to lose 100 games, the non-relievers among the primary culprits. While the bullpen statistically was the most valuable in club history, the starters submitted the worst park-adjusted ERA in baseball. Since the franchise was born, only two rotations have been less productive. Much of this owed to inexperience and a general dearth of talent, but barring a major upgrade, the chasm may not need to be so vast. Until top-tier arms arrive, either from inside the organization or via external transactions, why not look to bridge the gap between the pitchers who open games and the pitchers who follow them? “We gave our young guys the opportunity to start, to work deep into games,” one team official said recently. “We had great numbers in our bullpen. We’re

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deploying them strategically. … What happens when you’re deploying everybody strategically and you don’t have, ‘Here’s our five guys, and they’ll start the next five games, and they’ll start the next five games after that’?” A six-man rotation, something often used to protect rookie arms, isn’t the only option on the table. In 2019, the Padres could reimagine more traditional arrangements. This week, Preller provided an acknowledgment that he and his staff have entertained atypical avenues. “Honestly, when we signed him I never would have considered that,” Preller said when asked if the Padres have contemplated using reliever Robert Stock as a hybrid starter. “He throws strikes with three pitches. That’s usually a good formula for somebody that can go multiple times through a lineup. His versatility gives us a chance to at least consider that — multiple innings, being able to pitch regularly. “But for right now,” Preller added, “I think he’s going to be more that guy that can come in out of the ‘pen, be able to throw an inning, throw two innings a day later. That’s probably the way we’re going to go into the year, but we’ve had some internal conversation about (whether there is) a different role for him. Most likely, it’s going to be kind of the same role he was in last year.” Yet the mere fact that the Padres have wondered about the possibility speaks to their state of need. If next season were to begin tomorrow, left-hander Joey Lucchesi would deserve the start on merit. He went undrafted before his senior year at Southeast Missouri State. He reached Petco Park last season and logged a 4.08 ERA in 130 innings. The internal situation isn’t entirely bleak. Another lefty, Matt Strahm, could supply a boost if he successfully converts an opportunity to transition from the bullpen. Dinelson Lamet, who retains one of the higher ceilings in the organization, is expected to return from Tommy John surgery next summer. A vaunted farm system includes near-immediate help in Chris Paddack, Logan Allen and Cal Quantrill. But there is nothing approaching a guarantee on the horizon. Of the aforementioned prospects, only Paddack is viewed as a potential ace, and he must answer questions about his long-term health and a third pitch.

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So, the Padres must be mindful of how hard they push their young arms. They must ponder how they can create more favorable matchups throughout games. Terms such as “openers” and “bullpenning” come to mind. Put more simply, San Diego might carry more pitchers who can provide length, leveraging depth and an ability to mix and match. “Looking at guys who are going to throw 200-plus innings, especially in year one or year two in the big leagues, that’s probably not as likely,” Preller said. “Other guys are going to factor into that mix.” On certain days, the optimal configuration may call for earlier entrances for relievers who can cycle through multiple innings. Strahm, Stock, Miguel Díaz and José Castillo belong in this category. At times, the order of appearance might be worth flipping. Last season, Strahm started five bullpen games that were ordered because the Padres deemed them their best chance at victory. The Padres could follow a similar template with greater frequency next year. “You can have a lefty starter and then go to a righty in the fourth, fifth, sixth inning,” Preller said. “That may be the best way our staff is constructed for Andy (Green) and Darren (Balsley) to get the most out of the staff.” The Padres also may consider carrying more than five or six starters for stretches of the season, with the understanding that some of those pitchers may not open games at traditional intervals. “There’s definitely a lot of options when you get outside that box,” the team official said. “When you’re able to put (relievers) in strategic positions, they pitch well. So I think we’re going to have to talk about what that means for our starters as well.” Of course, the easiest solution would be a proven pitcher capable of six or more innings on a regular basis. “We know we need to add starters,” another official said. Worst case, the Padres don’t acquire one who moves the needle. And then it would be up to them to make the best of it.

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Sarris: An early look at the odds from Vegas and the Winter Meetings By Eno Sarris It’s legal. There’s a gaming partner for Major League Baseball. The Winter Meetings are in friggin’ Las Vegas. We don’t have to hide our language, we don’t have to talk about wagering gummy bears. It’s time to look at the betting odds for the 2019 World Series champs in order to help you maybe make a good wager with actual money. Let’s ask the brightest minds in and out of the game which lines they think are the most enticing. First, we have to set the framework. So I asked Dan Szymborski, father of ZiPs projections, to run his own simulation of the 2019 season. His method first projects each of the players and then simulates a depth chart by picking the best players and awarding them differing amounts of playing time. That allows him to convert individual projections into team projections. Then he takes those median projections for each team and virtually ‘plays out’ the season over and over again. If you take the projected win totals from this exercise, and then rank the teams by wins and compare them to the current odds at the Mandalay Bay sports book published on Dec. 10, you can find the teams the numbers say are underrated. Team W W Rank Odds O Rank Diff

Pittsburgh Pirates 84 11 50/1 21 -10

New York Mets 87 9 22/1 16 -7

Los Angeles Angels 85 10 30/1 17 -7

San Diego Padres 76 22 125/1 28 -6

Washington Nationals 92 6 15/1 11 -5

Cincinnati Reds 76 21 100/1 26 -5

Minnesota Twins 80 14 40/1 18 -4

Arizona Diamondbacks 79 17 50/1 20 -3

New York Yankees 96 3 6/1 5 -2

Kansas City Royals 68 27 150/1 29 -2

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Los Angeles Dodgers 97 2 6/1 3 -1

Cleveland Indians 93 5 8/1 6 -1

St. Louis Cardinals 88 8 12/1 9 -1

Tampa Bay Rays 82 12 20/1 13 -1

Seattle Mariners 73 24 100/1 25 -1

Boston Red Sox 98 1 5/1 1 0

Toronto Blue Jays 78 19 40/1 19 0

Baltimore Orioles 62 30 200/1 30 0

Oakland A’s 80 15 22/1 14 1

Texas Rangers 73 25 75/1 24 1

Houston Astros 95 4 5/1 2 2

Miami Marlins 67 29 125/1 27 2

Chicago Cubs 92 7 6/1 4 3

Detroit Tigers 69 26 60/1 23 3

Atlanta Braves 82 13 10/1 7 6

Milwaukee Brewers 79 16 15/1 10 6

Colorado Rockies 79 18 18/1 12 6

Chicago White Sox 68 28 50/1 22 6

San Francisco Giants 74 23 22/1 15 8

Philadelphia Phillies 78 20 12/1 8 12

Run, don’t walk, and put some duckets down on the Pirates — at least that’s what the numbers say. And, in fairness, three front office executives we talked to agreed and picked Pittsburgh as being ranked too low by the odds. “They have enough young players that you could see them perform at the top of their expectation and power the Pirates to a good year,” said one. This method isn’t perfect because it’s not just about projected win totals — the division you’re in matters, too. The Yankees, for example, are projected for 96 wins, third-most in baseball behind the Dodgers and… their division mates, the world champions of Boston. That’s why they appear as a value here despite having a tougher road to the World Series than any other 90+ win team. Division dynamics like that make some of the odds puzzling. Look, for example, at how the National League East features four teams right next to

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each other in the odds ranks. But it can’t work that way in real life. If one is that good, it’ll have to beat the others. It’s possible the whole division should have tougher odds, especially the Braves, who currently have the seventh-ranked odds and the 13th-ranked projection. “Can’t take the Braves and Phillies right next to each other,” said Syzmborski. “If one makes the playoffs, that’s meaningful for the other.” You also have to evaluate this list from the perspective of potential return for your risk. Sure, the Red Sox are good, but there are at least 10 teams ready to compete at that high level this season, so risking a dollar to win five is not all that enticing. “5/1 is a sucker’s bet,” said one front office executive. “Too much offseason left.” Betting well requires knowing both the talent of the teams involved as well as a knowledge of how betting works, in other words. 22/1 odds for the Giants and Athletics stumped a few people, but there’s a similar way to understand those odds in the context of betting as a whole. “Those two teams having the same odds makes no sense,” said one team analyst. “In terms of team structure, flexibility, talent and ability to improve, those teams are not the same.” But within the context of betting it makes some sense. Odds are designed to invite a bet. If a bet is really enticing to the betting population, you reduce the return on it. If nobody is making a certain bet, you make it look better by giving the bettors a better return. It’s called moving the lines, and it suggests that there might be a lot of Giants fans from nearby California betting on their home team to win it all despite poor projections for the team. “The Giants are too high but that’s probably because Giants fans are betting,” said The Athletic‘s Andrew Baggarly. “They have to even out the betting. It’s why you should never bet on Notre Dame to cover, those lines are wackadoo.” The odds are constantly moving, and when Szymborski first ran his numbers, it appeared that the D-Backs — then a 20/1 play — were overrated. “Arizona is a bad play because the odds are they’re about to trade more 2019 talent away,” Szymborski said then. And the odds, when they updated, agreed, pushing the team lower in the rankings.

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The Nationals, who were at 25/1, signed Patrick Corbin and that shoved their odds forward. They’re still a top-five value, projected for a full 10 wins more than the Atlanta Braves and yet offering a better bang for your buck. “The Nationals should be higher if just because of the pitching,” said Baggarly. “Why are the Nationals so low?” said one executive. “I don’t get it, they’re a well-run squad.” “The team is still structurally young on the hitting side, and I don’t believe in any curse,” laughed Prospects Live’s Lance Brozdowski. “And I still don’t think the Braves have the pitching. They have the offensive weapons, but they still need pitching.” In some ways, if you’re betting on a team right now, you’re betting on what will happen the rest of the way. Even the projections are just using current depth charts, which are due to change a lot over the next week and into the future. “I think when you look at something like our outfield, it’s going to look very different now then it will on Opening Day,” said the Giants’ Farhan Zaidi of his team’s current win projections. “When you have known holes that you are expecting to fill in and upgrade in, it’s hard to know what the team is on December 10. I don’t actually know what day it is. Our 2019 win projection as of this date doesn’t really mean that much to me or us as a front office. As we get closer to Opening Day and you start to see how you stack up in your division, it might help shape some of those later moves.” So you have to use your divining rod. Will the Braves get that pitching they need? Then maybe they deserve their lofty spot in the odds rankings. What are the Padres doing? They’re already a top-five value and they look like they may add. “I kind of like the Padres at 125-1,” said Szymborski. “Not sure it will play out in the projections but there’s a good chance they add this winter, and if they can get to the wild card, all bets are off. You can’t put their odds as the same as the Marlins.” “I’d put $100 on the Padres, you never know what kinds of moves are coming,” said Baggarly, and fellow The Athletic writer Jake Kaplan agreed.

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At the top end of the projections, you might bet on a team that has apparent holes that might be easy to fill. One executive felt you should consider the Indians, and at least you’d be getting eight dollars for every dollar you bet. “Cleveland’s too low,” said one executive. “All they need is a couple of outfielders. You can find outfielders.” Maybe one team sits at the nexus of future moves, and an actual chance to win it all. You may like the Pirates and Padres better than their odds, but do you believe they can win it all? How about the second team on this list — the New York Mets? They’re projected into 87 wins, and the standard deviation on team projections is around five wins, meaning a team like that could easily win 92 and not be an outlier. That many wins would likely give them the division — at least it would have last year — and it’s actually easy to see how it could happen. Yes, these are ifs, but if the pitching staff is healthy, it’s great; if Michael Conforto’s shoulder is healthier and he busts out; if veterans like Robinson Canó and Todd Frazier are decent and healthy; and if youngsters like Amed Rosario and Peter Alonso take a step forward, then you could actually see a strong squad. And the team’s not done making moves. “Can’t believe I’m saying this…but the Mets haha,” texted one front office official. “Don’t let them break your heart, brother.” Maybe that’s the biggest reality that becomes apparent as you walk the halls in Mandalay Bay. We can have fun, think as hard as we can, and let it ride — but the house always wins.

. 19th, 2018

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Padres roster review: Anderson Espinoza Jeff Sanders

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

ANDERSON ESPINOZA

• Position(s): Right-handed pitcher • 2019 Opening Day age: 21 • Bats/throws: R / R • Height/weight: 6-foot / 160 pounds • Acquired: From the Red Sox in July 2016 trade • Contract status: Added to the 40-man roster in November 2018. • Key stats: Did not pitch in 2018 (injured).

STAT TO NOTE

• 0 – The number of innings thrown in 2016 and 2017, when Tommy John surgery ended a season that began with Anderson ranked as the organization’s No. 1 prospect as ranked by Baseball America.

TRENDING

• Idle – Three winters ago, General Manger A.J. Preller flipped 1B Yonder Alonsoand LHP Marc Rzepczynski to Oakland for a player to be named later (Jabari Blash), a player recently released (Jose Torres) and pitcher who blossomed into an All-Star (Drew Pomeranz). The latter was then flipped to Boston for Anderson, an undersized right-hander with big stuff and even bigger projections. The Red Sox originally signed Espinoza for $1.8 million and watched him grow into a profile akin to the late Yordano

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Ventura: His four-seamer sat 95-98 mph, the change-up was an above-average mid-80s pitch and an upper-70s curve flashed plus as well. Anderson posted 4.73 ERA in 32 innings in the Midwest League after the Padres dropped him in the system and was set to begin 2017 as a 19-year-old in the California League when a forearm strain ended his season before it began. After some starts and stops, Espinoza elected for an elbow reconstruction later that summer. He missed all of 2017 and all of 2018, but remains a prospect worth watching in the organization. He is currently ranked the No. 12 prospect in the organization by MLB.com and the fifth-best right-hander behind Chris Paddack (No. 5), Michel Baez (No. 7), Luis Patino (No. 9) and Cal Quantrill (No. 11).

2019 OUTLOOK

• Added to the 40-man roster in November, Espinoza did not pitch in the fall instructional league, but was throwing off the mound. The hope is he’s on a pace to follow Paddack’s path in 2019. Also a Tommy John patient, Paddack missed roughly the first month of the season, tore up the competition in the California League to make the all-star team and finished the year in Double-A San Antonio. The Padres would be thrilled with the same sort of progression from Anderson and plenty pleased with simply a healthy year. at one level, mostly likely Lake Elsinore.

PADRES POWER RANKINGS

(Currently 40 players on the 40-man roster)

1. Franchy Cordero 2. Jose Castillo 3. Anderson Espinoza 4. Robbie Erlin 5. Miguel Diaz 6. Austin Allen 7. Pedro Avila

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Padres' top talent in high demand at Meetings Preller open to trade talks, aware of farm system's value11th, 2018 By A.J. Cassavell MLB.com LAS VEGAS -- Who, exactly, is untouchable from the Padres' loaded, top-ranked farm system? It's a system headlined by Fernando Tatis Jr., a budding star at shortstop, and featuring 10 players in MLB Pipeline's Top 100. You better believe rival general managers are calling to ask about A.J. Preller's prospects.

Technically, Preller says, no one's untouchable.

"If someone wants to give us two Tatises for one Tatis, you're gonna talk about it," Preller quipped Tuesday morning on MLB Network.

Still, Tatis is clearly not part of any Padres trade plans. One person with influence on the team's decision-making even mused, "If they came and offered Mike Trout, we'd have to think about it."

That might be an exaggeration. But as prospects go, Tatis is as close to untouchable as it gets. So what about the rest?

If the Padres are going to acquire proven Major League talent, they're going to have to part with some of their prospects to do so.Dec. 7th, 2018

San Diego has already been linked to a handful of the trade market's biggest names -- names like Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard and Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto. Reports have surfaced that Preller has been one of the most active general managers at this week's Winter Meetings.

"Other teams like our guys," one source said. "... So of course we'll listen."

Said Preller: "A lot of the players that have been made available -- we're in the discussions. When you have talented players and especially talented young players, that leads to some of the discussions."

As Preller indicated, there are no truly untouchable pieces. But it sounds as though some other players in the system are approaching Tatis' status. For any trade to occur involving the top handful of prospects, it would take an awful lot in return -- and probably players with years of team control remaining.

Even then, the Padres are hesitant to deal from the top end of their pitching prospects, given their thin rotation moving forward. MacKenzie Gore, Chris Paddack, Luis Patino and possibly Adrian Morejon are unlikely to move unless Preller is blown away by a trade offer.

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The Padres' system is believed to be as deep as it is star-heavy, and ultimately that's why they've been so busy this week. Right now, it seems likelier that Preller deals from his depth in a smaller trade -- perhaps for a starter or for a third baseman.

As for a potential blockbuster, other teams may like Preller's "guys." But so does Preller, and he likes them a lot.

Galvis still an option Preller acknowledged that the Padres have spoken with Freddy Galvis' representatives about the possibility of a reunion with the 28-year-old shortstop. Galvis batted .248/.299/.380 last season, and he started all 162 games.

If Galvis were to return, there's a clear role for him in San Diego, though it's different than the one he filled last season. Ultimately, he'd have to cede playing time to middle-infield prospects Luis Urias and Tatis. But the Padres currently don't have a likely starting shortstop or third baseman on their Opening Day roster. Galvis, a respected clubhouse presence, could play both positions in the long term, making him a useful infield piece.ct. 28th, 2018

"We liked a lot of things that he brought to us this past year ... from a really solid presence defensively, a guy that's a winning person, winning player, a lot of consistency," Preller said. "We told him there's a lot of different scenarios that we could see. He fits in some of those scenarios. He understands, too, some of the younger players we have coming and how potentially that might change his role. ... He's one of the possibilities for us. But honestly, there's a lot of different ways we think we can go."

Strength in numbers? Most people within baseball -- both inside the Padres' organization and outside of it -- believe the Friars will trade at least one outfielder this offseason. Yet Preller continues to insist that he might hold onto all six of his big league-caliber outfield pieces.

"We like the group we have," Preller said. "We have depth, we have versatility, we have some guys with options. That gives us flexibility. We have some left-handed bats, defenders, some power. We saw last year: You think you maybe have an excess or an overabundance at one spot, and then a couple of injuries later [and] you're searching for guys. We don't take that lightly."

That outfield group currently features Wil Myers, Hunter Renfroe, Franmil Reyes and Franchy Corderoas options at the corners, with Manuel Margot, Travis Jankowski and Cordero as options in center.11th, 2018

Not only might Preller retain all six, but he doubled down, noting that he could keep all six even if Myers were to move back to left field full-time. (Myers spent the last couple months of the season at third base, where he struggled immensely.)

"You're creating competition, which is something we've pushed here in general the last few years," Preller said. "In that scenario, most likely, a really good Major League-caliber player is not going to break with our club. Hopefully that brings out the best in all of those guys. We're not looking at it from a numbers standpoint that Wil has to play third base. ... We're just looking to get better."

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With six outfielders, one possibility would see Cordero moving to center field for more regular at-bats. Margot struggled last season, and the Padres are desperate for offense. But Preller seemed to downplay that notion.

"It would take a pretty good effort from one of the other outfielders to supplant Manny as the main guy in center field," he said.

Of course, most of these questions could be solved with one measly outfield trade, and the Padres would still seemingly have plenty of depth. That doesn't mean a trade is imminent.

"Other teams see our outfielders as Major League-caliber players," Preller said. "We're definitely going to have discussions there. But I definitely wouldn't be surprised if we go into the year with the group as it stands in the outfield."

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A.J. Preller at #WinterMeetings: Day 1 & 2 Running blog of Padres GM’s media appearances in Las Vegas

By Justin Lafferty The Padres are expected by many to be one of the busier teams at this week’s MLB Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.

It’s definitely reflected in the schedule of GM A.J. Preller, who told reporters Monday evening that he had yet to leave the Mandalay Bay Resort, constantly in and out of meetings.

Preller also has a full media schedule for Tuesday, and we’ll keep this blog updated after each appearance.

Day 2: Mighty 1090 & 97.3 The Fan

While the Padres have been linked to some big names, both in trades and on the free agent market, Preller doesn’t sound like he’s in a rush to grab headlines just yet. In a pair of radio interviews Tuesday afternoon, Preller remained noncommittal on whether or not the Padres will make a big splash before the end of Winter Meetings.

The general manager has said repeatedly today that he’s interested in “layering” talent in, blending it at the right time with the bumper crop of prospects coming through the farm system.

“I don’t want to give the impression that it’s just shooting at every possible target,” Preller told 1090 AM’s Darren Smith. “We have players that some other clubs like and we have a strong farm system that leads to different options.”

Preller notes that the Padres are willing to be patient with the prospects coming up. He said that highly-regarded talent such as Cal

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Quantrill, Logan Allen and Chris Paddack could break into the rotation in 2019.

He pointed to the success of Joey Lucchesi, Eric Lauer and Jose Castillo as proof that pitching help is on the way internally.

“I think we’ve got a lot of guys homegrown that we know we can believe in, and give those guys an opportunity,” Preller said. “We expect those guys to come and compete and earn a spot on the staff this year. … To just make a move to make a move and add a veteran? We don’t feel that need, from a numbers standpoint.”

However, having so much minor league depth allows the Padres to deal from it, if need be. Preller has been playing his cards close to the vest so far in the Winter Meetings. He said the focus has been on the improvement and development of key players like Wil Myers and Eric Hosmer, as well as the progression of minor leaguers.

“We’ve talked about, for the last few years, building up the farm system, building up the depth,” Preller said to Tony Gwynn Jr. on 97.3 The Fan. “A lot of that is for us, and for guys that will come and play in San Diego and create competition. … When you have depth at multiple positions, you’re able to make trades and I think that’s what has spurred a lot of the speculation and the conversation.”

If the Padres are going to be as active on the free agent market as they were last year, Preller knows that he’s got a great situation in San Diego.

“I think there’s a ton of positives about San Diego; it’s not hard to sell,” Preller said on 97.3 The Fan. “Players see that and understand that it’s the one major sport in town, and I think that’s attractive. What we’re looking for is guys who want to be a part of something for the first time. The Padres have never won a World Series, and they want to be a part of getting the Padres back to the postseason.”

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Preller’s interview with 1090 AM also touched on some lighter topics. The first time Preller left his room at the Mandalay Bay to get some food, he grabbed an Egg McMuffin from McDonald’s, though the two cheeseburger meal is his go-to at the Golden Arches.

ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian reminisced about playing pickup basketball with the Padres GM, offering a scouting report.

“He can shoot the three, and if you go get him when he shoots a three, he goes right by you,” Kurkjian said in an earlier interview on 1090 AM. “Even though he’s a little guy … he’s really strong at the rim.”

Day 2: MLB Network Radio & High Heat — Watch the full interview

As trade talk continues to swirl, one constant question facing Preller is where Wil Myers will play in 2019. Preller has told the media that Myers will have some clarity in the next couple weeks about where he’ll line up defensively. Waving off trade rumors, he told MLB Network’s Chris Russo on Tuesday’s episode of High Heat, “most likely, we’re going forward as-is.”

When talking with MLB Network Radio Tuesday morning, Preller lauded Myers’ athletic ability and positional flexibility.

“When we get into the holidays and get through these meetings, we’ll go to Wil and talk to him about which glove or gloves to bring to Spring Training,” Preller said. “There were some nights where he definitely looked like a real Major League third baseman and some other nights where there were some growing pains. We’ll come out of the next week or two having a better sense of our roster, then we’ll get to Wil and talk to him about what exact spot he should be ready to play in Spring Training.”

Another key player who struggled at times in 2018 was first baseman Eric Hosmer, signed last offseason to an eight-year deal.

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Despite a midseason slump, Preller feels that Hosmer is ready to bounce back in 2019.

“I think the person that we signed up for, he’s a very proud person and he’s a very hard worker,” Preller said. “From our standpoint, I expect him to come back and have a really good year, a complete year, top-to-bottom.”

Preller talked with Russo about the Padres’ window of contention opening soon, pointing to 2020 as a breakout year.

“The goal is to win at the big league level,” Preller said on High Heat. “It’s not to have the best farm system in the game or be №1 or 2 in these rankings. … San Diego, they’re ready to win and the fans are ready to win, they’ve been very patient with us and they understood our plan and what we’re trying to do.”

Preller also discussed the team’s top prospect, Fernando Tatis Jr. The №2 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline has been the source of trade rumors all winter long, as the Padres seek an established top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.

With Tatis Jr. essentially being untouchable, the next question looms: when will he appear in a San Diego Padres uniform?

“He’ll tell us, honestly,” Preller told MLB Network Radio. “He’s come back healthy, he’s played well. He hasn’t played above AA yet, so I think he’ll come to camp and most likely compete for the job. … He’ll be the guy that’ll tell us from a timeframe standpoint, but he’s put himself in that conversation.”

The catcher position has also been a hot topic for the Padres, who have Austin Hedges and Francisco Mejía behind the dish, with prospects such as Austin Allen not too far away.

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Preller told MLB Network Radio that the days of a catcher playing the lion’s share of a 162-game schedule are going away. He sees Hedges and Mejía competing for roughly equal time at catcher.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Preller said. “With Hedges and Mejía, we feel we have two of the best 25-and-under catchers in the game.”

On MLB Network Radio, Preller also gave an update on outfielder Franmil Reyes, who suffered a torn meniscus while playing winter ball. He said the surgery went well and they’re expecting Reyes to be ready to go for Spring Training.

Day 1: Media availability

It’s no secret that with MLB’s best farm system, teams would be interested in Padres prospects in trades for established players.

“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. “We’ve all understood that, at the right point in time, we’re going to … look to move potential players for more established guys.”

Preller also talked about Myers, who has played all over the outfield and first base in his Padres tenure before finishing last season at third base. The general manager quieted trade talk Monday, saying that the Padres aren’t in a rush to deal him after a difficult year.

“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.”

The GM also noted that the team is considering giving hard-throwing reliever Robert Stock a chance at the rotation. MLB.com beat

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writer AJ Cassavellwrote that it’s most likely that Stock stays in the bullpen, though.

“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 gave an update on some injuries, as centerfielder Manuel Margot’s winter ball season is finished following a bone bruise sustained after Margot fouled a ball off his left foot. Second baseman Luis Urías, whose season ended with a pulled left hamstring, is back on track after an initial setback in his recovery.

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

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Guerra, Córdoba just Getting Started in Panama as Winter Ball Starts to Wind Down Torrens, Gettys continue strong winter efforts

By Bill Center Regular season play in baseball’s winter leagues is winding down.

The Dominican Republic regular season ends next Monday with the playoffs beginning Dec. 21. The regular seasons in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico end just before New Year’s Day with the playoffs starting Jan. 2.

But play in Panama started a week ago with two Padres prospects — middle infielders Javy Guerra and Allen Córdoba — playing for Panama West in the four-team league.

Shortstop Guerra is tied for the Panamanian RBI lead with four after six games. But he is only 3-for-20 with a double, a walk and three runs scored. Second baseman Córdoba is 2-for-11 with a double, a walk and two RBIs in three starts.

Meantime, the Dominican Republic season ended sooner than expected for two Padres.

Center fielder Manuel Margot hasn’t played since fouling a ball off his left foot in his third game for Escogido. Padres general manager A.J. Preller said there is still a possibility that Margot could return for the playoffs.

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Right fielder Franmil Reyes, of course, has had surgery to repair a torn meniscus suffered in the Dominican Republic. Reyes was hitting .444 when he was injured with a 1.199 OPS in 13 games.

Of the 35 Major League Padres and prospects who played winter ball or in the Arizona Fall League this off-season, only 12 are still playing. The only pitcher still competing is right-handed reliever Colby Blueberg, who has a 3.00 earned run average, a 1.00 WHIP and a .146 opponents’ batting average in nine appearances for Mayaguez in Puerto Rico.

The key Padres prospects still playing are shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., catcher Francisco Mejía and outfielder Franchy Cordero in the Dominican Republic. Tatis and Mejía are teammates with Estrellas, where they are managed by Tatis’ father. Cordero is playing for Escogido.

Cordero, 24, who was both the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the Dominican Republic last winter, is hitting .278 after 20 games with five doubles, a triple, two homers and seven RBIs. He has drawn eight walks for a .345 on-base percentage and a .443 slugging percentage for a .788 OPS.

Tatis, 19, the Padres’ top-ranked prospect, is hitting .277 after 19 games with six doubles, three homers and seven RBIs. He has drawn seven walks with six stolen bases and has a .390 on-base percentage with a .506 slugging percentage for a .897 OPS.

Mejía, the Padres’ third-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, is hitting .232 after 15 games.

The top active hitters among Padres prospects still playing winter ball are catcher Luis Torrens and outfielder Michael Gettys.

Torrens, 22, has a .356 batting average with a .444 slugging percentage and a .792 OPS (four doubles, seven RBIs) after 15 games in Venezuela.

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The league resumed play Monday after suspending play for three days following the death of Lara players Luis Valbuena and José Castillo in a car accident triggered by a robbery attempt.

This will be an interesting week for Gettys, 23, who was the Padres’ second-round pick in the 2014 Draft. Gettys is hitting .350 for Adelaide in Australia with four doubles, two triples, six homers and 20 RBIs in 16 games. He has a .394 on-base percentage with a .783 slugging percentage for a 1.177 OPS.

Gettys leads the Australian Baseball League in four offensive categories. But his days as a Padre could be numbered. He is unprotected going into Thursday’s Rule 5 draft, although outfielders have the lowest draft percentage of any category in the Rule 5 draft. For example, Franmil Reyes was unprotected last year and was passed over by all 29 teams.

Also still playing in Australia are middle infielders Justin Lopez (.227) and Kelvin Melean (.220). Both are playing for Canberra and alternating between shortstop and second base.