To me, I think the Padres offense is in pretty good shape and if the front office is smart about things, their offense could really be special next year. We don't know exactly what the payroll will be set at, but it seems like Moorad said it will raise a bit, so conservatively I think we can expect something around 50-55 million. If it all breaks right, this team could take a big leap forward.

 

After pay raises to Adrian & co. I think our payroll sits right around 30-32 million, essentially leaving about 20 million dollars for additions and arbitration.

It wouldn't surprise me for the Pads to make one minor splash in free agency to kick off Moorad's first off-season. Sure, the splash will be smaller, but there is one guy in particular who could be a nice fit. Mike Cameron. He played well in SD before and liked it, due to age won't be able to command many years. I think if we offered 2 years, 15 million we would probably be able to get it done. I'd also look to sign Matt Murton for OF insurance, who could probably be had slightly over the minimum (COL has no space for him)

Next, I would turn to 2B as the next position to fill. On the FA market, there's soem real depth and someone like an Iwamura would really be a ncie upgrade and come within our price rang. However, the idea that intrigues me most is Dan Uggla of FLA. He's coming off a down year and FLA will certainly look to trade him and move Coghlan back to 2B. One of their big needs is at closer and we have Heath Bell entering arb., who they already tried to trade for at the deadline apparently. I think Bell for Uggla would be accepted by FLA, and I think it would be a good deal. Bell is probably looking at 4-5 mil in arb, and Uggla is looking at 6-7.

Thirdly, I think catcher is a position I'd want more options at. Chris Iannetta will likely be the most attractive trade option out there, but it's unlikley to expect COL to deal him within the division. So, I think a good guy to look at would be JR Towles. Towles had a good minor league track record, but has stunk in each of his chances at the bigs. HOU is probably over him and Ed Wade had a good working relationship with KT. I don't think it would take too much (perhaps Greg Burke and/or Corey Kluber) and would give us a good upside option (worst case beign we just stick with Hundley).

Finally, I think we could use a little more upside in the rotation. This is the most unrealistic option I present, but what about trading the arb eligible Kevin Correia and Kevin Kouzmanoff to MIN for Francisco Liriano. Liriano is about to enter arb himself and is coming off a real down year. The guys got some kinks, but even in this terrible year his expeced ERA was in the mid 4.00's. I think worst case with him, you have a leauge average pitcher in PETCO and best case could be the Liriano of old.

 

Obviously another hidden bullpen gem (as the Pads always seem to find) would be nice too, but look at this team if these 4, somewhat reasonable, scenarios happened.

 

SS Everth

CF Cameron

1B Adrian

LF Blanks

3B Headley

2B Uggla

RF Venable/Murton platoon

C Towles/Hundley

Bench

RF/LF Murton

CF Gwynn

UTL Salazaar

2B/SS Eckstein

 

Rotation

1. CY

2. Liriano

3. Latos

4. Richard

5. Stauffer/LeBlanc/Gallagher

 

Pen

CL Adams

SU Gregerson

LHR Thatcher

MR Worrell

MR Russell

MR/LR Webb/Perdomo

LR Stauffer/Gallgher

 

The pitching would still have a ton of question marks, but the upside to this team is pretty undeniable, and for certain that is an above average offense and defense