SAN DIEGO -- The General Managers Meetings get underway in Las Vegas this week, and the Padres have plenty of work to do -- namely in their starting rotation.
Padres president of baseball operations and GM A.J. Preller will speak with reporters on Wednesday. He’ll spend the rest of his time meeting with players, agents and others from around the industry, laying the groundwork for the busy offseason ahead.
Here are four Padres storylines to watch at this week’s GM Meetings, which run through Thursday morning:
1. Which reunions are possible?
More than anything else, this is what the Padres should be able to glean from this week. All of their biggest free agents -- Michael King, Adrian Morejon and Ty France most notably, but also Walker Buehler, Jason Adam and a few others -- have publicly expressed a desire to return.
This week is when the Padres get to find out just how realistic that is. Preller and other front office staff will spend the next few days meeting with agents of those players and learning the early specifics on what those players are after in their contract negotiations.
The Padres have presumably laid out their own offseason map, with their own idea of where they’ll be looking to allocate resources. This week, they find out what matches up with their plans and where they’ll need to adjust.
2. About that rotation…
Things are wide open in the San Diego rotation right now, which Preller seems to be treating as a glass-half-full proposition.
“We have a little bit of a blank canvas and have some flexibility,” he said recently. “I think we see that as an opportunity. … Every year we talk about it: You’ve got to be willing to revamp your pitching staff. This offseason will be no different.”
Preller has earned the benefit of the doubt. The situation in his rotation has been dire in past offseasons. He’s typically found a way to revamp it, often with shrewd and under-the-radar signings and trades.
Still, this offseason might be his toughest task yet, with King, Buehler, Nick Pivetta, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize and Lucas Giolito all set to hit free agency. (Not to mention the future of Yu Darvish remains in question, as does Joe Musgrove’s role.) As things stand, the only surefire returnee in the rotation is Randy Vásquez.
Preller will get to work fixing that this week, perhaps even laying the groundwork for a trade or two.
3. What’s the market for a bat?
The Padres need starters. Probably three of them, at least. They probably need a high-end reliever, too, whether it’s Morejon or somebody else.
Offensively, the precise needs are less clear. They could use a first baseman and would love to reunite with France. But they have options if that falls through. Same goes for left field, where Dustin Harris and Samad Taylor could form a serviceable platoon. They’ll be looking for upgrades if they’re out there.
The Padres will almost certainly add a bat or two. The position or caliber of that bat might be determined by the specifics of the market itself. That will begin to unfold this week.
4. Any further changes on staff?
The Padres have already seen two notable departures from the organization.
Ben Fritz, who had been with the organization for 12 seasons and the last seven in his role as bullpen coach, is reportedly set to join the Diamondbacks as their pitching coach.
Meanwhile, A.J. Ellis, a special assistant to the Major League staff, will join the Mets as strategy coordinator. Ellis played under Mets manager Andy Green with the Padres and is now set to join his staff in New York.
That leaves a couple holes. Any other changes incoming? Both Preller and manager Craig Stammen have expressed a desire for continuity.
“In general, there’s a lot of value, when you have good people, in having that continuity and bringing that group back,” Preller said last month. “We feel like the group did a really good job.”