Any chance we see Jose Pirela at second base more often when William Myers and Manuel Margot are back?
-- Tommy, San Diego
This is an unequivocal yes. Manager Andy Green spent most of Spring Training waxing about having serious platoon options and competition for playing time. (The Padres haven't really had that since his tenure began.)
That said, Pirela is never going to be the everyday second baseman in San Diego. The Padres' rotation is far too ground-ball heavy to employ subpar infield defense.
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With a full host of healthy outfielders, Pirela should move to second base against tough left-handers, allowing Hunter Renfroe to play. But he's not a long-term solution. (If Carlos Asuaje and Cory Spangenberg continue to struggle, a callup for Padres No. 3 prospect Luis Urias could be on the horizon.)
It seems like the Padres will have a surplus when some guys get called up in the next one or two years. What's the long-term plan for Renfroe, Spangenberg, Asuaje and Franchy Cordero once the next wave arrives?
-- Ethan G.
The Padres are still in the process of figuring out that plan, and this season's results will go a long way toward determining it. Spangenberg and Asuaje could be running out of time to impress, with Urias hot on their heels. Renfroe and Cordero, meanwhile, could ultimately be pitted against each other in the fight for a place in the Padres' future.
At 23, Cordero is the rawest of the bunch, and he has the biggest margin for error if he struggles this year. As for Asuaje, Spangenberg and Renfroe, the Padres fielded calls on all three during the offseason, and the trade chatter could persist as the non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches.
That said, the Padres don't mind the idea of a surplus. Quite the opposite, in fact. They'd embrace it.
How long will the Padres let Bryan Mitchell stay in the rotation? What are the chances Eric Lauer replaces him?
-- Frank, Fallbrook, Calif.
It's not impossible for Lauer (the Padres' No. 12 prospect) and Mitchell to occupy places in the rotation at the same time. In fact, it might be imminent, given Luis Perdomo's struggles. Lauer -- off to an impressive start for Triple-A El Paso -- could be in the Padres' rotation as soon as Tuesday.
As for Mitchell's rotation place, I suspect the leash is relatively long -- despite the fact that he hasn't been much better than Perdomo. In Mitchell, the Padres saw a rotation project in the mold of Thomas Pomeranz or Trevor Cahill when they acquired him in a December trade with the Yankees. The early results tell another story.
That said, there's a reason for the disconnect in the club's reaction to the small samples of Mitchell and Perdomo. Most importantly, Mitchell is out of options and couldn't be sent to Triple-A to work out any kinks. But Perdomo has been a Padres rotation experiment for two years. Mitchell, even if the early returns are ugly, has been that for only three weeks.
When Margot gets back, where does he hit in the lineup?
-- James M.
The Padres would love for Margot to establish himself as their leadoff hitter of the future. His .303 career on-base percentage doesn't support that end goal right now.
The speedy center fielder was off to a woeful start when he was plunked in Colorado last week and placed on the disabled list with bruised ribs. But he had shown signs of turning things around in his last couple of games before the injury.
Ultimately, Margot might return to leadoff when he finds his form. But it's a safer bet that the Padres let him continue to work out the kinks in the No. 6 or 7 spot in the lineup, especially against right-handed pitching.
What's your take on Freddy Galvis? I've seen local media say the Padres should sign him long term, since he's getting on base at a higher rate than usual. I'd like to see at least a few months' body of work before doing so. Thoughts?
-- Harrison M., North Auburn, Calif.
The Padres won't make any snap judgments with Galvis, and nobody expects him to continue reaching base at a .373 clip. There's a feeling in the organization that he could be a nice long-term piece to help nurture a young infield, but that possibility won't be formally explored for a while.
Before any talk of a Galvis extension, the Padres need to evaluate the rest of their internal options. They'll ask themselves whether top prospect Fernando Tatis Jr. is a shortstop or a third baseman in the long run. And they'll have to make a decision on the progress of fellow shortstop prospect Javy Guerra.
It's possible Galvis is back in San Diego beyond this season. I wouldn't say it's probable.