Padres Press Clips Tuesday, January 17, 2017

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1 Padres Press Clips Tuesday, January 17, 2017 Article Source Author Page Yangervis Solarte grateful for new deal with Padres family UT San Diego Lin 2 Former Padres infielder Vazquez among three new coaches on staff UT San Diego Lin 5 Padres roster review: Jarred Cosart UT San Diego Sanders 7 Padres sign Yangervis Solarte to two-year deal with club options UT San Diego Lin 9 Padres close to long-term extension with Wil Myers UT San Diego Lin 11 Padres Margot eyes leap to bigs for good MLB.com Cassavell 13 Padres, Myers on verge of 6-year agreement MLB.com Cassavell 15 Solarte: SD, fans made extension easy choice MLB.com Cassavell 17 Espinoza among top RHP prospects MLB.com Rosenbaum 19 Inbox: Who is in race to be Padres 2B in 2017? MLB.com Cassavell 20 Vazquez among 3 new coaches on Padres staff MLB.com Cassavell 23 Making Trevor Hoffman a pitcher paid off for him, not for me ESPN.com Bowden 25 Padres Announce 2017 Coaching Staff NBC San Diego Togerson 28 1

2 Yangervis Solarte grateful for new deal with Padres 'family' Dennis Lin Contact Reporter A few weeks before his 18th birthday, a Venezuelan with a distinctive name signed with the Minnesota Twins. Unbeknownst to the young prospect, a decade would elapse before he established himself as a recognized and, for many Padres fans, beloved name in the majors. On Monday, Yangervis Solarte met with reporters following a late-morning workout at Petco Park. The 29-year-old third baseman expressed gratitude for the new deal he had just signed, for the reward it represented after years of anonymous toil, for the team that granted it and supported him through tragedy. I m really happy, really grateful to have received this contract and be here, Solarte said through an interpreter. And not only to have the contract, but to help the team in whatever way it might be. Professionally, that s a big deal, and personally, it s definitely an achievement after having worked so hard for so many years to get where I am. I have to thank my daughters, my wife, my entire family, everyone who helped me get here today. The Padres on Friday announced a two-year, $7.5 million extension for Solarte. The agreement includes two club options, worth a combined $13.5 million, that could extend his stay in San Diego through He has earned unprecedented security after producing in each of his first three major league seasons. In September, Yuliett Pimentel Solarte, Solarte s wife and the mother of their three daughters, died of cancer-related complications. A week later, Solarte returned to the Padres. Buoyed by the organization and its fans, he finished the year with career highs in multiple statistical categories. Having that support meant a ton, just being here with my teammates, said Solarte, who hit.286 with 15 home runs in 109 games. A lot of that factored into my thinking coming back here, knowing that I d be here, I could play here calmly and know that I have this family here. I can tell you it was a very difficult moment. I try to teach 2

3 others and try to think for myself that those moments teach you that you can overcome anything. Solarte will attend the Boston Baseball Writers Dinner on Thursday to accept the Tony Conigliaro Award, given annually to a major who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, courage and determination. You lose a wife, no group, no extended family, no team can ever replace that, Padres manager Andy Green said, but it s nice to have a team that loves a guy and helps carry him through that. With what he s been through, I think it s a tremendous gesture from the organization to do that and give him that security and us the cost certainty at the same time. It was just a perfect partnership. Since being acquired from the New York Yankees in 2014, Solarte has hit.275 with 33 home runs. Both his steady performance and gregarious personality have won admirers. He s always smiling, he loves to be at the yard, Green said. He s one of the guys as we go into this season we re expecting big things from. In the minor leagues, I was playing to support my family, said Solarte, who played eight seasons and signed two minor league deals before he reached the majors. I had to go out there and do my work every day. Now that I have this contract and I m in this position, that s not going to change. Thanks to God, for helping me get here, but, if anything, I m going to work three times as hard. Green on Myers, Chargers As reported Friday, the Padres are nearing another extension, one that could keep first baseman Wil Myers in San Diego through FanRag Sports Jon Heyman reported Monday night that Myers and the Padres are in basic agreement on a sixyear deal that includes an option year and is believed to be worth $83 million. 3

4 Myers, 26, was a first-time All-Star last season. I personally love Wil, respect Wil a lot, think he s passionate about what we re building here in San Diego, Green said. I think you want to find guys that you can build around as young guys come into the organization. A guy that, as a manager, I connect very well with, respect immensely. I think Wil is that type of guy. I m excited about having him long-term here, and I think we re moving closer to that. News of Myers imminent deal, which would be the most lucrative in franchise history, comes at a sensitive time for many San Diego sports loyalists. The Chargers last week announced their plans to relocate to Los Angeles, leaving the Padres as the only major sports team in San Diego. I think we communicated as an organization that we were disappointed and saddened by the Chargers moving, Green said. I know it rips a piece out of the city, and that s hard for the city to get through. More pressure to us? I don t look at it that way. I don t think that there s going to be an effort to replace the Chargers by the San Diego Padres. We re going to try and go out and play a brand of baseball that the city connects with, is inspired by and wants to believe in for the future. I think if you get a hold of where our plan is right now and what we re heading towards, I think there can be some genuine excitement for that. But obviously saddened by that news. 4

5 Former Padres infielder Vazquez among three new coaches on staff Dennis Lin Contact Reporter Former Padres infielder Ramon Vazquez is one of three new coaches on San Diego s staff, the club announced Monday. Vazquez, who played for the Padres from , will primarily work with the team s infielders. Johnny Washington, Double-A San Antonio s hitting coach last season, received a promotion to first base coach. And Jonathan Mathews, who, like Vazquez, was hired as a major league coach, will work with Padres outfielders. The rest of second-year manager Andy Green s staff remains intact. Pitching coach Darren Balsley is back for his 15th season with the Padres, while third base coach Glenn Hoffman returns for his 12th. Bench coach Mark McGwire, hitting coach Alan Zinter and bullpen coach Doug Bochtler are entering their second season. Vazquez, 40, spent the last four seasons with the Houston Astros, most recently as manager of High Single-A Lancaster. Previously, he was the club s developmental specialist focusing on infielders. He will help replace Eddie Rodriguez, an infield coach on the Padres staff last season. He communicated his passion for infield play very, very well, his handle of technique very, very well, Green said. I think he sees the game differently than a lot of people do, and he s going to be an asset here. I think he ll connect well with a lot of our Latin guys, especially as we look at the way our organization s built. Vazquez, a Puerto Rico native, played nine seasons in the majors with the Mariners, Padres, Red Sox, Indians, Rangers and Pirates. Seattle drafted him in the 27th round in Washington, who is entering his second season in the Padres organization, replaces Tarrik Brock at first base. The 32-year-old spent the previous eight seasons with the Dodgers, the last seven in a coaching capacity. A 27th-round selection by Texas in 5

6 2003, he had a seven-year professional career in the Rangers and Dodgers organizations. Johnny Washington s a guy I was very impressed with in the organization, Green said. This guy has presence, he s got energy, he s got conviction, he has a way that players connect well with. I know he doesn t have with a ton of name recognition, but I believe in this guy and I think he s going to be tremendous at first base. Washington and Mathews will assist Zinter with hitting instruction, Green said. Mathews, 44, is familiar with Green, having spent the last three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was hitting coach for Single-A Kane County in 2016, and served in the same capacity for High Single-A Visalia in 2015 and Single-A South Bend in He was a coach in the Orioles organization in 2013 after spending 14 years as an assistant coach at Indian Hills Community College in Centerville, Iowa. A 42nd-round draft pick by Colorado in 1994, he played in the Arizona Rookie League and short-season ball that year. He s incredibly bright, connects well, Green said. He s going to fit very well working with our outfielders. Mathews, who ll work with hitters inside the batting cage during games, will help replace Casey Myers, who resigned as major league staff coordinator last season. 6

7 Padres roster review: Jarred Cosart Jeff Sanders Contact Reporter Sizing up the Padres 40-man roster, from A to Z, heading into the 2017 season. JARRED COSART Position: Right-handed pitcher Acquired: In the Andrew Cashner trade (July 2015); 38 th -round draft pick in 2008 (Clear Creek HS, League City, Texas) 2017 Opening Day age: 26 Contract status: Won t be arbitration-eligible until 2018; earned $550,000 in 2016 Key stats: 0-4, 6.00 ERA, 38 strikeouts, 39 walks, 1.75 WHIP,.271 avg. against, 57 IP (13 starts) Stat to note 6.2 Walks per nine innings, a career-high for Cosart. That effort includes 23 walks in 37 1/3 innings with the Padres following his inclusion in the deal that sent Andrew Cashner and prospect Tayron Guerrero to the Marlins for first base prospect Josh Naylor, reliever Carter Capps and Cosart. Trending Down Originally a 38 th -round draft pick of the Phillies, Cosart ranked as high as the 50 th -best prospect in the game (Baseball America) before he was included in the Hunter Pence trade in June Two years later, a wild yet effective Cosart fashioned a 1.95 ERA over his first 60 innings in the majors (33 strikeouts, 35 walks) only to see his success wane with each passing season. He went with a 3.60 ERA over 30 starts in 2014, posted a 4.52 ERA over 69 2/3 innings the following year with the Astros and Marlins and saw a lack of command utterly derail him in Cosart walked more than he struck out for the second time in four years, didn t win any of his starts and pitched into the sixth inning just once while auditioning for a rotation that remains up in the air to this date. Equally frustrating, Cosart s attempts to leave a 7

8 lasting impression in San Diego was slowed down the stretch by both elbow and groin injuries outlook With loose bodies successfully removed from his left elbow, Cosart is expected to compete for a rotation spot this spring alongside the likes of Luis Perdomo, Christian Friedrich, the returning Clayton Richard and a horde of newcomers that include Jhoulys Chacin. Although the Padres staff has raved about his stuff since arrive, Job. No. 1 if Cosart is going to realize his potential is harnessing command that hasn t quite matched what it was in the minors. 8

9 Padres sign Yangervis Solarte to twoyear deal with club options Dennis Lin Contact Reporter The Padres on Friday announced they had signed third baseman Yangervis Solarte to a two-year, $7.5 million contract through the 2018 season. The deal includes two club options, which, if both are exercised, would cover one year of Solarte s free agency. Solarte will receive a $250,000 signing bonus and salaries of $2.5 million this year and $4 million in The Padres hold a $5.5 million option for 2019 with a $750,000 buyout. Should that option be picked up, they would have an $8 million option for 2020 with a $750,000 buyout. The pact was the second significant deal of the day for the Padres; earlier, news emerged that the team is close to a six-year extension with first baseman Wil Myers. Solarte, 29, had been arbitration-eligible for the first time after forging a career season in In 109 games, he hit.286 (116-for-405) with 26 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs and 71 RBIs. MLBTradeRumors.com s predictive model had projected a $2.7 million salary for As an organization, we re really excited to get Solarte s deal done, Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said. He s obviously a very productive middle-of-the-order bat, a switch-hitter that gives you really good at-bats. I think a lot of the intangibles he brings to the field his passion, he loves to play I think everyone s come to respect and appreciate him. He s earned (the new contract) with his play. Solarte tweeted the following Friday night: I am excited to announce that I am lucky enough to stay with the Padres for (a) couple more years! Thank you everyone and my Padres family! 9

10 Solarte was one of the Padres top contributors last season despite missing time early in the year with a hamstring injury and despite dealing with personal tragedy. In September, Yuliett Pimentel Solarte, the infielder s wife and mother of their three daughters, died of complications related to cancer. Obviously, last year was a tough year for him off the field, and he handled it as well as you can handle it and was extremely productive, Preller said. Last month, Solarte was selected as the 18th winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award, given annually to a major leaguer who has overcome adversity. Solarte will receive the award in person Thursday at the annual Boston Baseball Writers dinner. Since being acquired from the New York Yankees in 2014, Solarte has hit.275 with 33 home runs in 317 games. Originally signed by Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2005, he is a career.271 hitter with 39 home runs. He s always been a guy who s had to wait a little bit for his opportunity, Preller said. I think he s taken advantage of his opportunity, and we wanted to reward him for that. Solarte primarily has played third base in the majors, but he also has experience at second. The Padres have discussed swapping him and Ryan Schimpf defensively in For now, Solarte will enter spring training as the team s starting third baseman. 10

11 Padres close to long-term extension with Wil Myers Dennis Lin Contact Reporter The Padres are nearing a long-term extension with Wil Myers, sources said Friday, and could wind up awarding the first baseman the largest contract in franchise history. FoxSports.com s Ken Rosenthal, who first reported a deal was imminent, said the two sides are close to a six-year agreement worth more than $80 million. Multiple officials with knowledge of the discussions said negotiations are ongoing. Still nothing finalized, Padres General Manager A.J. Preller said Friday night. We re trying to work to something here over the next week. Myers, who turned 26 last month, is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. A six-year deal would cover all three years of his eligibility, plus three years of free agency. MLBTradeRumors.com s predictive model projected that Myers would earn $4.7 million this year following his breakout Myers, who previously had not played a full major league season due to wrist injuries, appeared in 157 games, hitting.259 with a.336 on-base percentage, 28 home runs and 28 steals. In July, he represented San Diego at Petco Park as a first-time All- Star. In October, he was announced as a Gold Glove award finalist. Shortly after the Midsummer Classic, Padres officials and Myers acknowledged mutual interest in discussing an extension. Formal talks began in November. The biggest thing from both ends is there s openness, Preller said. There s a want for him to be here. In our organization, from ownership on down, we share the same feeling. He was an All-Star for us last year, obviously showed the ability he has. 11

12 I think it s been a really good process. I think both sides have been really straightforward in terms of what s important to both parties, and that s the way to make a long-term relationship work. Myers was acquired from Tampa Bay as part of a three-team trade during the Padres splashy offseason. San Diego paid a steep price for the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year; as part of the deal, top prospects Joe Ross and Trea Turner were sent to Washington. Myers suffered injuries to both wrists in his first season with the Padres. He was limited to 60 games, batting.253 with eight home runs. Healthy last season, he hit.286 with 19 home runs in the first half. His production fell off after the All-Star break, though he suspected that had something to do with it being his first full season in the majors. In 1,663 career plate appearances, Myers is hitting.257 with a.331 OBP, 55 home runs and 44 steals. As he s begun to deliver on some of his potential, the Padres have turned their attention to making him a franchise cornerstone. While San Diego is deep into a rebuilding process and not expected to contend for at least two more seasons, Myers is viewed as a player who could lead the organization into brighter days. The largest contract in franchise history is the four-year, $75 million deal signed by James Shields before the 2015 season. The Padres, who traded Shields to the White Sox in June, still owe the right-hander $11 million in each of the next two seasons. If Myers does sign for six years and upward of $80 million, that contract would be similar to the one San Francisco s Brandon Belt landed in April. Including his 2016 salary, the Giants first baseman will earn $79 million over six years. Though nearly 28 when he signed his extension, Belt was more proven at the major league level. Through 2,061 career plate appearances, he had hit.272 with a.349 OBP and 63 home runs. Like Myers, he made his first All-Star appearance in July. 12

13 Padres' Margot eyes leap to bigs for good Outfield prospect could compete for roster spot this spring By AJ Cassavell / 10:12 AM ET SAN DIEGO -- There's a chance Manuel Margot could man the Petco Park outfield for a long, long time. But the 22-year-old rookie will never forget his first chance to do so. The Padres' top hitting prospect played his first game at his parent club's home stadium during this past summer's All-Star festivities. He took part in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game and stole the show in front of the home fans, robbing a home run with a great catch in the bottom of the sixth inning. Speaking at the MLB/MLBPA Rookie Career Development Program earlier this month, Margot fondly recalled that day -- and his eventual callup to the big leagues. "I felt very proud when I got the call to be a part of the Futures Game," Margot. "It was very special, because I said, 'Wow, this could really be my home for a lot of years.' And I had the privilege to step on the field on such a special day. For me, it was something very special in my life." Margot is currently rated as the Padres' No. 2 prospect, but he will likely lose his prospect status this season. The line-drive-hitting speedster got his callup in September and batted.243 with five extra-base hits in 10 big league games. Margot joined San Diego's organization -- along with fellow prospects Carlos Asuaje, Javier Guerra and Logan Allen -- two Novembers ago when the Padres sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the Red Sox. "That was an honor," Margot said. "When they trade you for someone who's a big-name Major Leaguer, you say, 'Wow, my name has value.' For me, that was very special." Entering the 2017 season, Margot has a chance to compete for a roster spot. San Diego likely has five outfielders competing for three starting jobs and four spots overall. Margot -- who batted.304/.351/.426 with Triple-A El Paso last season -- is a candidate to begin the season with a bit more seasoning in the Minors. But he could force the Padres' hand with an impressive Spring Training. 13

14 In any case, Margot is confident things will work out in the long term -- so long as he stays focused on the short term. "You set long-term goals, but that goal isn't that far off if you work hard," Margot said. "Working hard and continuing to do the things I know how to do -- I think that's a special way to have success and stay for a long time in the big leagues." 14

15 Padres, Myers on verge of 6-year agreement Reported deal valued at $83M, includes 7th-year option By AJ Cassavell / 2:17 AM ET The Padres and Wil Myers have reportedly avoided arbitration and come to terms on a long-term contract extension. The deal is for six years plus a one-year option and valued around $83 million, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman. The club has not confirmed the news, but the two sides were said to be nearing an agreement Friday. If the report becomes official, Myers' contract would be the largest in Padres history. Myers, 26, is entering his fourth year in the big leagues. He enjoyed his first fully healthy season in 2016, batting.259/.336/.461 with 28 home runs and earning a trip to the All-Star Game. "It's been a really good process," Padres general manager A.J. Preller said Friday of the negotiations. "Overall, I think both sides have been really straightforward in terms of what's important to both parties. That's the way to make a long-term relationship work. When you're trying to do a multiyear deal, an extension on a player that's really talented, there's got to be give and take both ways, and so far that's the way the negotiation has gone." Myers, who is represented by CAA Sports, is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time this year. He isn't set to become a free agent until after the '19 season. The Padres expressed interest in a long-term deal as early as last July, and they began exploring an extension with Myers' agent at the General Managers Meetings in November. The Padres view Myers as a cornerstone to build their young team around. Over the past year, they've invested heavily in prospects while trading away a handful of big-name veterans. Regarding Myers' possible extension, the club believes his prime years will coincide perfectly with the incoming crop of youngsters reaching the big leagues over the next half-decade. "There's a want for Wil to be here," Preller said. "There's a want for him to be a guy that's with the Padres through the heart of his career. In our organization, from ownership on down, we share the same feeling." 15

16 Myers came to the Padres in December 2014 as part of the three-team deal that sent Joe Ross and Trea Turner to Washington. He earned the American League Rookie of the Year Award with Tampa Bay in 2013, before playing only 147 games over the next two seasons because of wrist issues. He burst back onto the scene last June, taking home NL Player of the Month honors while batting.327/.429/.765 with 11 homers. The summer surge earned him a starting spot in the All-Star Game at Petco Park. 16

17 Solarte: SD, fans made extension easy choice Third baseman grateful to community for support in wake of wife's death By AJ Cassavell / 2:23 AM ET SAN DIEGO -- Speaking publicly for the first time since signing a contract extension, Yangervis Solarte said he's "really happy, really grateful" to have secured his future in San Diego. But the Padres' third baseman made one other thing clear: He is not satisfied yet. "In the Minor Leagues, I was playing to support my family," Solarte said through a team interpreter. "I had to go out there and do my work every day. That was really the main focus. Now that I have this contract, and I'm in this position, that's not going to change. Thanks to God for helping me get here. But if anything, I'm going to work three times as hard." On Friday, the Padres announced a two-year contract extension with Solarte, a $7.5 million deal that includes team options for 2019 and '20 worth a combined $13.5 million. On the field, the 29-year-old infielder batted.286/.341/.467 with 15 home runs last season. Off the field, Solarte dealt with personal tragedy, as his wife, Yuliett, lost her battle with cancer in mid- September. When he returned to the team, he was greeted warmly -- both in the clubhouse and by the Petco Park faithful. That fact did not go overlooked. "Having that support meant a ton, just being here with my teammates," Solarte said. "A lot of that factored into my thinking coming back here, knowing that I'd be here. I could play here calmly and know that I have this family here. I can tell you it was a very difficult moment." On Thursday, Solarte will head to the BBWAA dinner in Boston, where he will be the recipient of the Tony Conigliaro Award, given annually to "the Major Leaguer who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, courage and determination." "He talks about this as his Padre family," said manager Andy Green. "You lose a wife -- no group, no extended family, no team can ever replace that. But it's nice to have a team that loves a guy and helps carry him through that." 17

18 Green said it's more than likely Solarte will serve as the team's starting third baseman next season. But he left open the possibility of a switch back to second base (in which case Ryan Schimpf and/or Cory Spangenberg would move to third). Solarte will continue to anchor the middle of the Padres' lineup, giving protection to slugging first baseman Wil Myers (who could be ticketed for an extension as well). Before he signed the deal, Solarte had three years of arbitration remaining. But Green noted how the extension served in the best interests of both parties. "It gives us a degree of cost certainty that's good for us as an organization," Green said. "Personally, it gives him some financial stability in life. With what he's been through, I think it's a tremendous gesture from the organization to give him that security and us the cost certainty at the same time. It was just a perfect partnership." Since joining the Padres in the 2014 deal that sent Chase Headley to the Yankees, Solarte has emerged as a fan favorite in San Diego. He took time on Monday to thank the fans and organization. "That's one of the things that factored in, being here every day, being happy right here in San Diego," Solarte said. "Coming to the park everyday and being happy -- that was one of the things I tried to maintain throughout all of those very difficult moments that I overcame. "I signed the contract, I can't believe it. I'm so happy to be here and know that we have a family here in San Diego, in the Padres." 18

19 Espinoza among top RHP prospects Reyes overtakes Giolito for top spot, Glasnow remains at No. 2 By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com 1:06 AM ET Lucas Giolito headlined last year's list of the Top 10 right-handed pitching prospects, followed by Tyler Glasnow and Alex Reyes, respectively. That same trio checks in at the top of this year's list, too, only in a different order. Reyes, after his impressive showing with the Cardinals down the stretch last season, has seized the top spot from Giolito, who falls to No. 3 behind Glasnow. All three logged meaningful innings in the big leagues last year, as did three other members of the list: Jose De Leon, Jeff Hoffman and Reynaldo Lopez. Meanwhile, three of baseball's top righties belong to the White Sox, who acquired Michael Kopech from the Red Sox and then Giolito and Lopez from the Nationals on back-to-back days during the Winter Meetings. 6. Anderson Espinoza, Padres Espinoza moves up four spots from last year's list after a first full season in which he was traded from Boston to San Diego for Drew Pomeranz during the All-Star break. Espinoza, who will be only 19 years old for the 2017 season, pitches bigger than his slight frame, sitting at mph with his fastball and complementing it with a plus changeup and above-average breaking ball. He also has command that belies his age, giving him one of the highest ceilings among hurlers on this list. 19

20 Inbox: Who is in race to be Padres' 2B in 2017? Beat reporter AJ Cassavell answers questions from San Diego fans By AJ Cassavell / January 16th, 2017 The Padres are coming off an extremely busy week -- one in which they locked up Yangervis Solarte to an extension and appear to be headed in the same direction with Wil Myers. Those moves bring clarity to the Padres' future. But they also raise some interesting questions in the present. Meanwhile, the races at second base and in the rotation remain extremely hot topics in San Diego. With Spring Training on the horizon, here's a look at your most pressing questions. How many players will be competing for the starting job at second base? -- Glenn T., Santee, Calif. Publicly, the Padres have thrown Carlos Asuaje's name into the ring. But in reality, the competition will come down to Cory Spangenberg vs. Ryan Schimpf. Asuaje could be given time at second during Spring Training, but the team's No. 20 prospect, per MLBPipeline.com, has only recorded 24 career big league at-bats, and has a long way to go before he's an everyday player. Right now, second base is clearly one of the Padres' strengths. Sure, Spangenberg's lost year was tough on the Padres. But it allowed for the emergence of Schimpf. Now, both players are theoretically building on fantastic second halves -- Schimpf last season and Spangenberg in 2015, before he suffered a torn left quad last April. Take a look at these numbers: Spangenberg '15 second half:.294/.373/.460, 2 home runs. Schimpf '16 second half:.227/.345/.551, 16 home runs. If the Padres have to decide between those two, that's a good problem to have. Can the Padres make room for Asuaje on the roster -- maybe as an Alexi Amarista-type? -- Cam D., San Diego Here's where the roster math gets tricky. First of all, I wouldn't call Asuaje "an Amarista-type." During his time in San Diego, Amarista made regular appearances at six different positions. 20

21 Asuaje, meanwhile, is limited to second base and third base (with some very brief experience in left field). Let's assume the Padres keep four outfielders, two catchers and Christian Bethancourt as a combination of both (and a reliever, too!). That leaves very little room for Asuaje -- especially if the Friars hang onto Rule 5 shortstop Allen Cordoba. (Even if they don't, they wouldn't have a capable backup for Luis Sardinas and would probably look elsewhere.) Barring a breakout Spring Training, Asuaje is probably best served to begin the year with a bit more seasoning at Triple-A. I'd guess he earns a callup the moment an infielder goes down. With the possible signing of Myers to a long-term deal, will the Padres move him from first base to get Josh Naylor's bat in the lineup? -- Chris J., San Diego By all accounts, Naylor will become the Padres' best hitting prospect once Hunter Renfroe loses that status. Naylor, the hefty 19-year-old first baseman, is already very advanced for his age. That said, he's probably three years away from making an impact at the Major League-level, and the Padres have no plans whatsoever to move Myers -- a potential Gold Glove first baseman. (Naylor, meanwhile, is an iffy defender, at best.) If, in three seasons, Naylor bursts onto the scene and commands a spot in the lineup, sure. The Padres might consider moving Myers to the outfield. But Naylor needs a lot of development, and could also be an appetizing piece in a future trade. The Padres aren't about to tinker with their best hitter -- and a very good defender -- to accommodate for a 19-year-old in Class A Advanced. Is a Solarte extension in the best interest of the Padres' rebuild? Or should he be traded for prospects? -- Adam S., Las Vegas I'll admit it: I was skeptical when I first heard of a potential extension for Solarte. It just didn't seem necessary to lock up a 29-year-old third baseman with three arbitration years remaining. But the exact details of Solarte's extension make a lot of sense. The Padres have two years of affordable club options in 2019 and '20. And Solarte does not have a no-trade clause structured into the deal. 21

22 In the short term, the Padres have locked down a fan favorite and a beloved clubhouse presence -- not to mention a middle-of-the-order bat. In the longer term, if Solarte continues to produce, his team-friendly contract options will make him a very appealing trade chip. There are so many starting pitchers fighting for five spots. How many would move to the 'pen if they do not make the rotation? Or could there be a six-man rotation? -- Andrew S., San Diego As it stands, the Padres have eight pitchers fighting for five jobs. They've been linked to a few other hurlers as well. The guess here is they enter camp with 10 starting-pitching options -- none of whom have a spot completely locked up. As for the bullpen/six-man rotation question, it's likely the Padres put at least two hybrid-types in their 'pen -- think Paul Clemens or rumored signing Trevor Cahill. It's unlikely San Diego enters the season with an outright six-man staff. But manager Andy Green has shown a penchant for protecting his young arms, and the Padres don't have a bona fide ace who needs the ball every five days. In that regard, I wouldn't be surprised if Green moves one of those hybrid arms into the rotation during any long stretches without a day off. 22

23 Vazquez among 3 new coaches on Padres' staff By AJ Cassavell / 2:24 AM ET SAN DIEGO -- The Padres unveiled their 2017 coaching staff on Monday, adding two new faces and a familiar one to fill three vacancies. Johnny Washington, who spent the 2016 season as the hitting coach for Double-A San Antonio, will take over for Tarrik Brock as first-base coach. Former Padre Ramon Vazquez will work with the club's infielders. And Jonathan Mathews, who most recently spent three seasons in the D-backs' system, will work with the outfielders. For the 32-year-old Washington, it's his first job on a Major League coaching staff. He spent seven seasons playing professionally -- mostly in the Rangers' organization -- before embarking on a coaching career in After seven years in the Dodgers' system, he joined the Padres before last season. "This guy has presence, he's got energy, he's got conviction, he has a way that players connect well with," said Padres manager Andy Green. "I know he doesn't have a ton of name recognition, but I believe in this guy, and I think he's going to be tremendous at first base." During games, Washington will also be in charge of outfield positioning. But the bulk of that preparation will fall to Mathews, a hitting coach in the D-backs' organization for the past three years. Mathews will be stationed in the batting cage during games, working with Padres hitters. Vazquez, who replaces infielders coach Eddie Rodriguez on the staff, spent 2016 as the manager for Class A Advanced Lancaster, an affiliate of the Houston Astros. Vazquez had a nine-year big league career, including three seasons in San Diego (from ). "He sees the game differently than a lot of people do, and he's going to be an asset here," Green said. "I think he'll connect well with a lot of our Latin guys, especially, too. As we look at the way our organization's built, that connection's going to be incredibly important to us." The remainder of the Padres' coaching staff remains intact, meaning bench coach Mark McGwire, hitting coach Alan Zinter, pitching coach Darren Balsley, third-base coach Glenn Hoffman and bullpen coach Doug Bochtler will all return. 23

24 Green: Padres "moving closer" with Myers deal The Padres appear to be on the verge of signing Wil Myers to a long-term extension, a deal that would keep the All-Star first baseman in San Diego through The contract hasn't quite been finalized, but in his meeting with the media on Monday, Green noted that the two sides are "moving closer." "He's passionate about what we're building here in San Diego, loves being a part of the community," Green said. "I think you want to find guys that you can build around as young guys come into the organization.... Wil is that type of guy. I think we're very excited about the prospect of having him for years to come. There's still limitless potential within Wil that he hasn't tapped yet." Quotable: Green on Chargers' departure "We've communicated as an organization that we were disappointened and saddened by the Chargers moving. It rips a piece out of the city, and that's hard for the city to get through. "More pressure to us? I don't look at it that way. I don't think there's going to be an effort to replace the Chargers by the San Diego Padres. We're going to try and go out and play a brand of baseball that the city connects with, is inspired by and wants to believe in. "If you get a hold of where our plan is right now and what we're heading toward, I think there can be some genuine excitement for that. But we're obviously saddened by that [Chargers] news." 24

25 Making Trevor Hoffman a pitcher paid off - - for him, not for me 7:49 AM PT Jim Bowden ESPN Senior Writer I knew what Trevor Hoffman was when I first saw him back in March 1990 at the spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds in Plant City, Florida, out on the back fields: He was a solid fielding shortstop with a gun for an arm. And that might have been it. I was the Reds assistant director of player development and scouting at the time, and Hoffman really did nothing on the field to raise my eyebrows, except for one thing: He was always showing off his rifle of an arm from deep in the hole at shortstop. Hoffman s bat showed zero promise. That year during the regular season, he slashed just.213/.311/.277 with 10 doubles, two home runs and 23 RBIs, while making 25 errors at shortstop. Throughout the year, Hoffman was on the potential release list of the Reds farm director, Howie Bedell. But Bedell was talked out of releasing Hoffman on multiple occasions by his minor league manager Jim Lett and pitching coach Mike Griffin. Because of Hoffman s strong arm, Lett and Griffin decided to work with Hoffman in bullpen sessions twice a week during the regular season. After each of those sessions, he would take batting practice and infield at shortstop. When the season ended, it was concluded that Hoffman would not make it as a shortstop, because he would never hit enough. But we were all so impressed with his work with Griffin and his ridiculous arm strength that we decided to bring him back to spring training in as a minor league pitcher. We know now how that worked out. Firing an overpowering 95 to 99 mph fastball, Hoffman made his conversion to pitching full time an instant success. He appeared in 41 games, striking out 75 hitters in just 47⅔ innings with 20 saves pitching for Cedar Rapids of the low-a Midwest League and Double-A Chattanooga in the Southern League. He owed most of his success to his fastball. I was named the Reds director of player development in the fall of Hoffman immediately became one of our top pitching prospects. Beyond his stuff, I loved his makeup, his character, his personality and even his sense of humor. What I didn t like was his eating habits. I would walk through the clubhouse and he would be downing six or seven hotdogs at once like it was nothing; I thought he was trying out for Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. I kept talking about how he should be more careful about what he ate, and he would just laugh, knowing he had very little body fat and was cut. I always tried to give him a hard time, and he was always so witty with comebacks, I rarely could one-up him. In his next year in 1992, I put Hoffman back in Chattanooga and had him move to a starting role. The goal in doing that was to get him innings, build up his arm strength and develop his secondary pitches -- especially a changeup. He completely dominated, going 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA before I promoted him to Triple-A Nashville. It was a different story for him there; his overpowering fastball was not enough on its own to get hitters out at that level, and his changeup still hadn t arrived yet as a reliable pitch. He finished his time with Nashville with a dismal 4.41 ERA in 42 games. For the first time as a pitcher, he had struggled, and he left that season knowing that he would have to improve his secondary pitches. 25

26 In October 1992, I was named the youngest general manager in baseball history, and a short time thereafter, I had to put together a protection list for baseball s expansion draft to help stock the two new expansions teams, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. This was a difficult process, and our last protection spot came down to two minor league players: Tim Costo, a 23- year-old former first-rounder and eighth overall pick (by the Cleveland Indians) who had just clubbed 28 home runs at Double-A. Or Trevor Hoffman. This was a really close call. So at the team s organizational meeting that was held at the Holiday Inn in Plant City, I had everyone in our baseball operations department vote on who we should protect -- Costo or Hoffman. Every scout, every minor league manager and pitching coach and every special assistant to the GM had to vote. I tallied them up and approximately 75 percent of the staff voted to protect the power-hitting Costo over Hoffman. I went with the majority, who believed that Hoffman s struggles at Triple-A and his need to still develop his secondary pitches would be enough for the Rockies or Marlins not to take him -- and that we could then pull him back for the next round. And this became one of the worst baseball decisions I was ever a part of. The Marlins grabbed him with the eighth overall pick in the expansion draft. We were devastated. (And the fact that Costo wound up with just a.610 OPS in 146 career plate appearances with three home runs didn't help.) Most of our room full of execs and scouts felt he had a chance to be an impact player, but none of us knew that he would develop into the greatest closer in National League history and someday would be a Hall of Famer. And whether he or not he gets into the Hall of Fame when this year s voting results are announced on Wednesday, have no doubt about it -- he will be a Hall of Famer. I monitored Hoffman closely the rest of his career and am still friends with him. I admire the man he became and the father and executive he is today with the San Diego Padres. He s a class act, a Hall of Fame-grade person as well as pitcher. On the field, I felt privileged to watch the most dominating reliever I ever saw besides Mariano Rivera. Hoffman s 99 mph fastball was impressive. But it was his Bugs Bunny changeup that was the difference-maker: It was just unhittable. Even late in his career, when his fastball velocity dropped to 88 to 89 mph, Hoffman still got hitters out with that changeup, even without the benefit of a strong velocity differential. I used to love sitting behind home plate and watching his fastball/change combo. I have never seen another like it. It was dominant, breathtaking stuff. Not that I m a voter, but let s remember the strength of his case for making the Hall of Fame. Hoffman and Rivera are the only two pitchers in baseball history to save more than 600 games. Hoffman saved 123 more games than the next leading closer, Lee Smith. Hoffman went to seven All-Star Games, finished in the top six in Cy Young Award voting on four different occasions and the top 10 in MVP twice. He had 40 saves or more in nine different seasons. Despite that, there are some voters who won t vote for him because he was just a ninth-inning reliever. But that s just the way the game was managed when Hoffman was in his long run of greatness. He could have pitched multiple innings if his managers had wanted to use him that way. Hall of Famers are supposed to be the very best at their position or in their role during their era. While Rivera was that guy in the American League, Hoffman was that guy at the same time in 26

27 the National League. This is not debatable for any of us that spent our lives watching Hoffman pitch during his 18-year career. He was the league s best. So Trevor Hoffman is sort of a bittersweet subject for me. Being a part of the organization that converted him from shortstop to closer but then left him off an expansion draft protection list are two total opposites as experiences go. One of those things could make an organization proud of its resourcefulness; the other left it wishing it could have a do-over. However, it also reminds us how great baseball is when a minor league shortstop hitting.213, a player about to be released, can someday enter Cooperstown by doing something different -- even if it meant he d do it wearing a different major league cap. 27

28 Padres Announce 2017 Coaching Staff Friars add three fresh faces to Andy Green's group By Derek Togerson The Padres have finalized their 2017 coaching staff. Andy Green is, of course, back for his second season at the helm. He ll bring back pitching coach Darren Balsley, hitting coach Alan Zinter, 3rd base coach Glenn Hoffman, bench coach Mark McGwire and bullpen coach Doug Bochtler. New to the staff are 1st base coach Johnny Washington, Jonathan Mathews as a coach specializing in teaching the outfielders and former Padre Ramon Vazquez as a coach specializing in teaching the infielders The two constants for the Padres continue to be Balsley and Hoffman. This will be Balsley s 15th season with the Padres, making him the 2nd-longest-tenured pitching coach in Major League Baseball (Dave Righetti has been with the Giants since 2000). Hoffman has been with the club for 12 years, all as the 3rd base coach. McGwire, Bochtler and Zinter all joined the Padres staff with Green for the 2016 season. Washington is a 32-year-old who was the hitting coach for the Padres Double-A affiliate in San Antonio last season. Before joining the Padres organization he spent seven years as a coach in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system. This is his first job at the big league level. The other two guys have an interesting connection: Indian Hills Community College in Centerville, Iowa. Mathews comes over from the Diamondbacks, where he was a minor league hitting coach. He got his first coaching job in pro baseball when the Orioles hired him as their Single-A hitting coach in Before that he was an assistant coach at Indian Hills, where the also was an Economics teacher (Mathews has a master s degree in athletic administration from the University of Iowa). Speaking of Indian Hills C.C.; that is the school Vazquez was drafted out of in 1995 by the Mariners. Vazquez would play nine years in the Major Leagues, including three for the Padres ( ). Last season he was the manager for Single-A Lancaster in the Houston Astros system. Padres pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona on February