Green set to lead revamped Padres in 2016
PEORIA, Ariz. -- There could be as many as five new position players in the starting lineup on Opening Day, as the Padres' roster has undergone a smaller renovation compared to the one it endured a year ago.
You remember last year's shake-up, as general manager A.J. Preller essentially revamped the lineup with a handful of big-name players. That team, however, was unable to deliver, finishing 74-88.
The changes this offseason haven't been quite as notable, though Preller and first-year manager Andy Green think the team will be, at the very least, better defensively.
? Spring Training: Preview | Prospects to watch | Newcomers | Rebound candidates
Last year's left fielder, Justin Upton, signed a six-year free-agent deal with the Tigers. Jedd Gyorko, the starting second baseman last season, was traded to the Cardinals. There's a new shortstop (Alexi Ramirez) and second baseman (Cory Spangenberg), and Jon Jay, the return of that Gyorko deal, will likely start in center field.
You'll need a scorecard to keep track of the changes on the pitching side, too, as the bullpen will look nearly entirely different from a year ago.
Get all that?
Here's a look at the projected lineup, rotation and bullpen as we head toward the beginning of Spring Training, with pitchers and catchers reporting to Arizona on Thursday.
2015 record
74-88 , fourth in the NL West
Projected batting order
- CF Jay:
.210 BA, .306 OBP, .257 SLG, 1 HR, 10 RBI in 2015 - 3B Yangervis Solarte:
.270 BA, .320 OBP, .428 SLG, 14 HR, 63 RBI in 2015 - RF Matt Kemp:
.265 BA, .312 OBP, .443 SLG, 23 HR, 100 RBI in 2015 - 1B Wil Myers:
.253 BA, .336 OBP, .427 SLG, 8 HR, 29 RBI in 2015 - SS Ramirez:
.249 BA, .285 OBP, .357 SLG, 10 HR, 62 RBI in 2015 - C Derek Norris:
.250 BA, .305 OBP, .404 SLG, 14 HR, 62 RBI in 2015 - LF Melvin Upton Jr.:
.259 BA, .327OBP, .429 SLG, 5 HR, 17 RBI in 2015 - 2B Spangenberg:
.271 BA, .333 OBP, .399 SLG, 4 HR, 21 RBI in 2015
Projected rotation - James Shields: 13-7, 3.91 ERA in 2015
- Tyson Ross: 10-12, 3.26 ERA in 2015
- Andrew Cashner: 6-16, 4.34 ERA in 2015
- Brandon Maurer: 7-4, 3.00 ERA in 2015
- Carlos Villanueva: 4-3, 2.95 ERA in 2015
Projected bullpen
Closer: Fernando Rodney: 16/23 saves, 4.74 ERA in 2015
RH setup man: Kevin Quackenbush: 4.01 ERA in 2015
LH setup man: Drew Pomeranz: 3.66 ERA in 2015