2016 Pre-Season Profile: San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres had a very disappointing 2015 season after stocking up on huge names heading into the season.  Now that expectations have fallen back down to earth, will the Padres have a more successful 2016?

Last Season

My 2015 Prediction: 2nd in NL West, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

2015 Result: 74-88, 4th in NL West

I'll admit, I was one of the people sold on the Padres last season.  With all the moves they made, they looked destined for a big year in 2015.  However, all those expectations came crashing down as the season could only be viewed as a colossal failure.  They fired their long-time manager and decided they needed to reset again after the one year experiment.

2016 Additions / Subtractions

Like I said, after the poor 2015 season, the Padres had to reshuffle the deck again.  They let Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy walk, and traded Craig Kimbrel and Jedd Gyorko.  Two of those names are ones that made the 2015 offseason such a success.  Coming onto the roster this year are Fernando Rodney, John Jay, and Alexei Ramirez.  They are good players, but definitely not the caliber of what they lost.

Most Important Hitter

Wil Myers

After winning Rookie of the Year in 2013 for the Rays, Wil Myers has been plagued by injuries.  His trade to the Padres last season was supposed to be the cornerstone of their resurgence, but he only played 60 games.  He is projected to the their starting first baseman this season, which might save some wear and tear on his body, but as one of the few young pieces brought in from the 2015 offseason, he needs to show a return to his rookie form for this front office to not be considered a complete failure.

Most Important Pitcher

Andrew Cashner

Andrew Cashner has shown flashes of brilliance over the last few seasons.  Last season was not one of those times.  He was once considered one of the emerging young arms in the game.  Now, he has a huge question mark about how good he could potentially be.  The starting rotation for the Padres has been a strength the last few seasons, and 2016 shouldn't be any different.  However, Cashner needs to finally show he can be a potential All Star starter for this staff to be as deep as it has been the last few years.

Player to Watch

Colin Rea

Like I said, the starting rotation for the Padres has been their strength the last few seasons.  The next big arm they have coming into that rotation is Colin Rea.  Rea made his big league debut last season with marginal success, but now he is projected to start the season in the rotation.  He is just one of a young wave of players that will have a potential impact for the 2016 Padres.

2016 Prediction

5th in NL West

Last season, the Padres were a popular pick to do great things.  With many of those moves not working, it has left the Padres in chaos.  They sold the farm last year to bring in players that didn't work.  Now they are stuck with guys like Melvin Upton, Jr., Matt Kemp, and James Shields and not a very rich farm system to add depth.  They are stuck.  Add to that a rookie manager with no experience, and this season has the potential of being a major disaster for San Diego.

Fearless Prediction

The Padres will trade over half of their starting rotation by the end of the season.

If this season becomes the dumpster fire I think it could be, the Padres will be heavy sellers at the Trade Deadline, and they have three guys in their starting rotation that could be key pieces for any contender.  "Big Game" James Shields would be a welcome addition to any playoff staff with his durability and experience.  Andrew Cashner, if he plays well this year, could be a wild card for a team looking for some rotation depth.  Their ace this season, Tyson Ross, would be the key piece.  He is young and talented.  If they want to really bolster their farm system and future, he would need to go.  The Padres' current front office seems to have a "go big or go home" mentality, so watch for all three of them to be traded, which would leave a guy like Colin Rea as their ace.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: San Diego Padres

After an uneventful 2014 season that saw a fourth straight losing season, the San Diego Padres had arguably the most exciting offseason in recent memory.  Will all the moves lead to success in 2015?

Last Season

77-85, 3rd in NL West

It could be said that the Padres were one of the most boring teams in baseball in 2014.  They had a solid pitching staff, but a lack of offense led to a sub-par season.  They only reason their record and standing were that good is because they happened to have the Rockies and the Diamondbacks in their division.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

To say the Padres' lineup went through a transformation this offseason would be a grand understatement.  Of the 2014 Opening Day starting lineup, only two players (Jedd Gyorko, Yonder Alonso) will remain come Opening Day 2015.  Many of the former starters will now be backing up the likes of Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Justin Upton, Will Middlebrooks, and Derek Norris.  All these players were acquired via blockbuster deals this offseason.  Add to that pitching ace and staff mentor James Shields, and you have gone from one of the most boring teams in the league to the of the best and most exciting.  Who cares what they lost?  They upgraded every position around the diamond.

Most Important Hitter

Matt Kemp

The new heart of the Padres' batting lineup now features the likes of Justin Upton and Derek Norris.  However, the player that may determine the success or failure of the 2015 season is Matt Kemp.  Only a few years removed from being votes away from winning an MVP, Kemp's career is on the rebound.  After some injury plagued seasons, he finally seemed to be back on the right track in the second half of 2014.  Kemp had, however, overstayed his welcome in the extremely crowded Dodger outfield.  If he was going to make it back to who he once was, it would be for someone else ... like the Padres.  Now the Padres are counting on the end of 2014 being a sign of things to come instead of a flash of what could have been if it weren't for another injury.

Most Important Pitcher

Andrew Cashner

After being the Padres' Opening Day starter in 2014, Andrew Cashner never lived up to the billing of ace.  Suffering through an injury plagued season, he only tallied 5 wins last year.  Now with Big Game James taking the pressure off, Cashner can live up to his potential and be the type of guy that can seemlessly slot in behind the new ace of the staff.

Player to Watch

Austin Hedges

The Padres' number two prospect, catcher Austin Hedges, is not slated to be ready until next season.  However, if they get a chance at a postseason run, look for him to be a potential impact bat off the bench a la Andrew Susac last year for the Giants.  Also, watch for Hedges to get an early look if there is an injury to Derek Norris.  However, with most of last year's starters now serving as this year's bench, don't look for many, if any, rookies to pop up with any significant time this year.

Prediction

2nd in AL West, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

This complete overhaul of the roster has the Padres poised for a postseason already in 2015.  They brought in enough proven bats that Petco Park will not even prevent them from scoring runs.  Add to their young pitching staff a solid ace and another year of experience, and the Padres are destined to make the biggest leap in the standings and be a contender for the foreseeable future.