2017 San Digo Padres Top 10 Insider
See Also: Padres Top 10 Prospects
Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: San Diego hosted the All-Star Game and associated festivities, but the hometown fans had little to celebrate as the big league club tied for the second-worst record in baseball and endured a tumultuous season that saw general manager A.J. Preller suspended for failing to disclose player injuries in a trade with the Red Sox.
HIGH POINT: The Padres gave up Trea Turner and Joe Ross in the three-team deal that netted them Wil Myers, so seeing Myers play nearly every day and establish himself at first base—where he was a Gold Glove Award finalist—was a plus.
LOW POINT: While on the field the team provided plenty of low-lights, the true low points were off-the-field. Preller’s late-September 30-game suspension provided one nadir; the Padres had to take back righthander Collin Rea from the Marlins, returning righty Luis Castillo, after Rea came up lame in his first start with the Marlins. Another came when the club let go of president and CEO Mike Dee in October. Worst of all, in September, the wife of third baseman Yangervis Solarte, Yuliette, died of cancer at age 31.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: Three lefthanded-hitting rookies became regulars in San Diego’s second half lineup. Center fielder Travis Jankowski (30 stolen bases) and second baseman Ryan Schimpf (20 HRs) both flashed big league tools, though Jankowski showed little power and Schimpf hit just .217. Left fielder Alex Dickerson (.257/.333/.455) had the best approach.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: The Padres cleaned house, with Preller acquiring highly touted righty Anderson Espinoza from the Red Sox for Drew Pomeranz while sending Andrew Cashner to the Marlins in a haul that included 2015 first-round pick Josh Naylor. Preller also jettisoned two huge contracts, righty James Shields and outfielder Matt Kemp, who were his first key acquisitions.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Triple-A El Paso, led by Pacific Coast League MVP Hunter Renfroe, outfielder Manuel Margot, catcher Austin Hedges and second baseman Carlos Asuaje, won the PCL title. Overall, the Padres added talent across the board though trades, a draft class that included three first-round picks and an aggressive international program. That group included 17-year-old Cuban lefthander Adrian Morejon, Dominican shortstop Luis Almanzar and outfielder Jeisson Rosario, and Venezuelan infielder Gabriel Arias.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $101,424,814 (20th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Luis Urias |
| Best Power Hitter | Hunter Renfroe |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Luis Urias |
| Fastest Baserunner | Manuel Margot |
| Best Athlete | Michael Gettys |
| Best Fastball | Anderson Espinoza |
| Best Curveball | Jacob Nix |
| Best Slider | Dinelson Lamet |
| Best Changeup | Cal Quantrill |
| Best Control | Joey Lucchesi |
| Best Defensive Catcher | A.J. Kennedy |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Javier Guerra |
| Best Infield Arm | Javier Guerra |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Manuel Margot |
| Best Outfield Arm | Hunter Renfroe |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Austin Hedges |
| First Base | Wil Myers |
| Second Base | Luis Urias |
| Third Base | Yangervis Solarte |
| Shortstop | Fernando Tatis Jr. |
| Left Field | Michael Gettys |
| Center Field | Manuel Margot |
| Right Field | Hunter Renfroe |
| No. 1 Starter | Anderson Espinoza |
| No. 2 Starter | Cal Quantrill |
| No. 3 Starter | Jacob Nix |
| No. 4 Starter | Dinelson Lamet |
| No. 5 Starter | Eric Lauer |
| Closer | Phil Maton |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Cedric Hunter, of | Phillies |
| 2008 | Chase Headley, 3b | Yankees |
| 2009 | Kyle Blanks, 1b | Giants |
| 2010 | Donovan Tate, of | Dodgers |
| 2011 | Casey Kelly, rhp | Braves |
| 2012 | Anthony Rizzo, 1b | Cubs |
| 2013 | Casey Kelly, rhp | Braves |
| 2014 | Austin Hedges, c | Padres |
| 2015 | Matt Wisler, rhp | Braves |
| 2016 | Javier Guerra, ss | Padres |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Nick Schmidt, lhp | Did not play |
| 2008 | Allan Dykstra, 1b | Did not play |
| 2009 | Donovan Tate, of | Dodgers |
| 2010 | Karsten Whitson, rhp | Did not play |
| 2011 | Cory Spangenberg, 2b | Padres |
| 2012 | Max Fried, lhp | Braves |
| 2013 | Hunter Renfroe, of | Padres |
| 2014 | Trea Turner, ss | Nationals |
| 2015 | Austin Smith, rhp (2nd round) | Padres |
| 2016 | Cal Quantrill, rhp | Padres |
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Adrian Morejon, 2016 | $11,000,000 |
| Jorge Ona, 2016 | $7,000,000 |
| Donovan Tate, 2009 | $6,250,000 |
| Luis Almanzar, 2016 | $4,050,000 |
| Cal Quantrill, 2016 | $3,963,045 |
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