With major league teams going through trading frenzies this off-season, Baseball Musings takes a look at the players added by each team this off-season, continuing with the San Diego Padres. The Padres brought in the following players from other organizations:
- Clint Barmes, inf
- Tim Federowicz, c
- Josh Johnson, p
- Shawn Kelley, p
- Matt Kemp, of
- Brandon Maurer, p
- Will Middlebrooks, 3b
- Brandon Morrow, p
- Wil Myers, of
- Derek Norris, c
- James Shields, p
- Justin Upton, of
The Padres replaced their outfield, turning it into a potentially great one. Justin Upton is a star, Wil Myer is still young enough to develop into a star, and Matt Kemp could finally rebound to his former star self.
The rotation also gets a bit of an overhaul, as James Shields moves in. Brandon Morrow and Josh Johnson are reclamation projects, but if they come back to respectability, the Padres will own a very nice starting staff.
The infield is still a question mark, as Will Middlebrooks never recaptured the power of his rookie season, and Clint Barmes is just old.
I do like Derek Norris as the LHP killer in a catching, platoon, but at the moment the Padres don’t have a righty killer to go with him.
San Diego should be better than in 2014, but how much better depends on how many reclamation projects come to fruition.