Padres Press Clips Saturday, April 1, 2017

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1 Padres Press Clips Saturday, April 1, 2017 Article Source Author Page Cahill perfect as Padres edge Storm UT San Diego Sanders 2 Life in the minor leagues: Andy Green did what UT San Diego Miller 3 in the outfield? With Esch, Padres again fishing for pitching depth UT San Diego Sanders 5 Shortstop struggles remain rite of spring for Padres UT San Diego Miller 7 San Diego isn't dead without Chargers UT San Diego Acee 9 Eater San Diego: What to Eat & Drink This Season NBC 7 Togerson 12 at Petco Park Offseason In Review: San Diego Padres MLB Traderumors Jason Martinez 13 in ninth inning Cahill, Bethancourt perfect in spring finale MLB.com Cassavell 17 Mound experiment proves Bethancourt worthy MLB.com Cassavell 18 5 Statcast storylines for '17 Padres MLB.com Kelly 19 Stammen wins 'pen spot on Padres' roster MLB.com Cassavell 24 Padres lauded for Out at the Park event MLB.com Cassavell 25 1

2 Cahill perfect as Padres edge Storm BY: JEFF SANDERS San Diego Union Tribune March 31, 2017 Right-hander Trevor Cahill breezed through his final tune-up Friday night in front of 6,497 at The Diamond, striking out six over three perfect innings in 4-2 win over the Storm, the Padres high Single-A affiliate in the California League. Cahill is slated to start the third game of the season Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. He was outstanding today, Padres manager Andy Green said. A three-inning tune-up before the season starts, so that was good. I thought he was really good, really snapped off the breaking ball well. Right-handers Jarred Cosart, Brandon Maurer and Christian Bethancourt all followed with scoreless frames, although Maurer needed a double play to survive the back-to-back singles he allowed in the fifth. Bethancourt struck out the side in the sixth. The Storm scratched a run across in the seventh when first base prospect Josh Naylor doubled off right-hander Craig Stammen and scored on an RBI groundout from Alan Garcia. On the mound, right-hander Walker Lockett allowed a run on four hits and a walk over five innings against the big league team. He struck out the side in the second Hunter Renfroe, Ryan Schimpf and Cory Spangenberg for his only strikeouts before Austin Hedges leadoff double in the third set up Travis Jankowski s run-scoring single. I had guys coming back in here that hadn t had a chance to face him saying, Man, there s a lot of movement on the fastball; it just keeps running in hard, Green said. I think we re excited about his future and it was good for him to face our big league club. Hector Sanchez also notched an RBI in a two-run sixth charged to right-hander T.J. Weir and Colig Cowgil singled in a run in the seventh against right-hander Jose Ruiz, a converted catcher. Taylor Kohlwey collected two of Lake Elsinore s six hits. 2

3 Life in the minor leagues: Andy Green did what in the outfield? BY: BRYCE MILLER San Diego Union Tribune March 31, 2017 When big-leaguers soak up the atmosphere in a cozy park like The Diamond, a place peppered with outfield advertising for bowling equipment, pest control and upholstery, it offers a doorway to walk back in time. Just watch where you step. Warm memories of life in the minor-leagues remain uncomfortably warm when relayed by Padres manager Andy Green. In 2002, the then-second baseman for the Lancaster JetHawks raced after a blooper during a Cal League playoff game against the Storm. The ball hunted for a hole in short right field. Green dove. The right fielder went underneath me, Green said Friday before the Padres beat the Storm 4-2 on the same field, nearly a decade and a half later. He hit (his head) kind of in my sternum area and I ended up vomiting on the field. The only time I ve ever vomited on a baseball field was this field. There s little pieces of me out there. So it s good to be back. That s the Bull Durham beauty of the minor leagues, outfield messes and all. This lap, though, provided a glimpse of the Padres present as much as their past. Current big-leaguers Travis Jankowski, Hunter Renfroe, Cory Spangenberg and Austin Hedges played for the Storm. The mid-20-somethings, along with All-Star Wil Myers, anchor a mammoth shift toward youth at Petco Park. The Storm represent it, too. Top shortstop prospect Javier Guerra gobbled up the first two grounders of the game, off the bats of Jankowski and Manny Margot. A few pitches later, Myers organizational understudy Josh Naylor knocked down a rocket from Yangervis Solarte to stifle extra bases. Anyone who tracks the Padres pipeline also glanced a time or three at center fielder Michael Gettys and third baseman Ruddy Giron, a potential shortstop down the road who singled to left in the fourth for the Storm s first hit. 3

4 In the fast moving scheme of things, it wasn t that long ago that the big Padres hustled along as almost-padres themselves. I was in their shoes last year, Renfroe said. I was in (Triple-A) El Paso. I was able to take a lot from that. If you play well, you get here. I think I m the perfect example of that play as hard as I possibly can. When someone cracks the majors, revisiting the rugged road is fine. So is reminiscing. Lingering, though? Um, no. Is there anything Jankowski yearns to recapture from those good ol days in the minors? No, to be honest, he said. I don t miss the bus rides. What about the video game showdowns on the clubhouse couch? I sucked at Guitar Hero, Jankowski said. I m awful. I think I m the rookie level or something. Cranking back the clock reminded Green that a local casino served as team lodging during his playing days. That, however, in no way signaled hitting the jackpot. I don t know if there s a sponsorship with the casino hotel right now, but if there is, I hope it s improved substantially from 13 years ago, he said. Someone mentioned the place added a sports bar. There you go, Green said. It s got all it needs slot machines and a sports bar. The visit to Lake Elsinore lightened the Padres spirits and loosened the talk after a long slog in Arizona. Renfroe smiled mischievously when asked about a unique pair of boots parked at his clubhouse locker. Um, those? Those are elephant skin, said Renfroe, who scooped them up in his hometown of Jackson, Miss. I don t even know who makes them, honestly. I forgot. They were on sale, so I got them. They were my wife s birthday present to myself that I had to go buy myself. Eventually, some baseball broke out in front of 6,497. Hedges doubled in the third and scored the game s first run on Jankowski s single to center. The Storm filled the bases against Brandon Maurer in the fifth before recent shortstop pickup Erick Aybar turned a double play to douse the threat. 4

5 The night, though, meant an opportunity to take a big-league breath. On Monday, the spring morphs into significance when the much-to-prove Padres line up against Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium. How s that make Green s stomach feel? Smoother sailing tummy-wise, actually, than the moment in 2002 that caused a lunch to be painfully and publicly lost. Did he make the play? I wouldn t tell the story, Green said, if I didn t catch it. With Esch, Padres again fishing for pitching depth BY: JEFF SANDERS San Diego Union Tribune March 31, 2017 With Anderson Espinoza, Cal Quantrill and Eric Lauer on high Single-A Lake Elsinore s roster to start the season, the strength of the Padres starting pitching prospects remain three levels below the majors. The depth above the California League in that department, too, remains a work in progress that the front office addressed Friday by dipping into the Marlins organization. Yes, again. Fishing for the kind of payoff yielded by claiming Brad Hand last April, the Padres on Friday claimed right-hander Jake Esch from Miami. Right-hander Cesar Vargas was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. He s a starting candidate for us down the line, Padres manager Andy Green said of Esch, who will likely start the year in the high minors. He ll slot in with Zach Lee and Tyrell Jenkins as viable options to see who separates themselves from the pack, along with Walker Lockett. Whoever separates themselves from the pack will get the first crack if the spot opens up. Vargas, too, remains an option down the line if he remains in the organization. The Padres have 10 days to place him on waivers, trade him, release him or outright him to the minors. Optioned to Triple-A El Paso in early March, the 25-year-old Vargas went posted a 5.03 ERA over seven big league starts before a strained flexor tendon ended his season. He d opted for rehab over surgery last year and his fastball was sitting 84 to 86 mph, Green said, as he attempted to return to form. 5

6 I don t think his stuff has come back at this point in time, Green said. These are hard decisions. If the stuff returns, we still think Cesar Vargas can be an option. As far the 27-year-old Esch, he s an 11th-round pick out of Georgia Tech who went 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA, 10 strikeouts and six walks over three starts (13 IP) in 2016 in his first major league action. In the minors, Esch who has two options left went with a 4.31 ERA, 96 strikeouts and a 1.33 WHIP in 142 innings spread between the Marlins Double-A and Triple-A affiliates. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Esch throws a slider, curve and change-up off the low-90s fastball. He s a mix guy with a feel to pitch, Green said. We ve got a lot of faith in our scouts and there s a number of them that thought he was a very good acquisition for us. They ve felt that way about quite a few Marlins in the last year. In addition to Hand (waivers), the Padres have also added right-handers Jarred Cosart (trade), Carter Capps (trade), Paul Clemens (waivers) and Edwin Jackson (released) directly from the Marlins organization. The team also acquired prospects Josh Naylor and Chris Paddack from the Marlins in two separate trades last year. A laughing Cosart insisted he isn t the mole. No, it s not me, said Cosart, who, as a long man in the pen, is also part of the Padres starting pitching depth. I guess they like what they see over there and Bals (pitching coach Darren Balsley) is a genius in my book. Maybe they can put their hands on (Esch) and help him out. Added Green: In the case of Brad Hand, it obviously worked out very, very well for us and we re excited about some of the other guys we ve pulled from the Marlins organization. I know we ll watch Josh Naylor tonight and Cosy has done well for us. It s coincidental more than anything else, but we ll see if Esch follows in Hand s footsteps. Notable If Christian Bethancourt opens the season on the Padres roster, his ability to slot in as the eighth reliever will be crucial through the first two months of the season. The Padres have one day off in April (13th) and two days off in May (1st and 22nd). If you look at our schedule, (an eighth reliever) is incredibly necessary, Green said. He gives us the flexibility that no other bullpen arm can do, which is pinch-hit capabilities as well as cover-the-field capabilities. You typically get two days off in the first week. Our second day off is May 1. You need bullpen arms and Christian gives us the ability to navigate that. 6

7 In addition to Espinoza, Quantrill and Lauer, the Storm s roster posted Friday includes LHP Joey Lucchesi and Jean Cosme all of whom are among the Padres top pitching prospects. All five were held back in spring training to continue to prepare for the season as Lockett drew the start against the big league club. The Storm will open the season Thursday at home. Shortstop struggles remain rite of spring for Padres BY: BRYCE MILLER San Diego Union Tribune March 31, 2017 The Padres break spring camp with a broken position, again. There s another aging veteran, performance trending south as the birthdays head north, asked to man what s arguably the most important spot on the field. The Padres season-over-season shortcoming remains shortstop, obvious even beneath the distracting cover of a full-blown rebuild. Is there a chance Erick Aybar surprises, beginning Monday during the season opener at Dodger Stadium? Sure, it s possible for a player just three seasons removed from an All-Star selection. Is it likely? To ask it a different way: Did it pan out with Alexei Ramirez, who chewed up 421 atbats for the Padres last season at a.240 clip yet unsigned as 2017 blossoms? What about Clint Barmes? Alexi Amarista?Points to manager Andy Green for honesty. We have to get better in that area, Green said. There s really no alternative. We have too many (pitchers) that get the ball on the ground too often to play defensively the way we played last year. The head-scratcher is why the Padres struggle so mightily and often to acquire and develop shortstops. The team will lean on a new everyday guy for the fourth consecutive season, something only the Tampa Bay Rays awkwardly can claim. A past-30 player will field the position for the third straight opening day. Entering last season, the organization had used 18 players at shortstop since 2009, according to MLB.com. That s the ultimate E-6, if you re scoring at home. There s been multiple changes in scouting departments and scouting philosophies, Green said, so I don t know that you can look at it as anything other than an anomaly one that I think will be rectified. 7

8 Plenty of reinforcements exist, which is a departure from many shortstop-challenged seasons past. The rub, like so many positions for the Padres, is that fan patience will be strained like an advanced yoga class. Uber-talented Javier Guerra remains slotted at Single-A Lake Elsinore. The Padres still lust for his upside, but continue to tinker with him mentally to shake off those days when the bat s off. There s also Ruddy Giron, MLB-pedigree Fernando Tatis Jr., $4 million Dominican pickup Luis Almanzar, possible second base convert Luis Urias and Rule 5 pickup Allen Cordoba, along with pipeline prowlers Jose Rondon, Reinaldo Ilarraza, Yordy Barley, Kevin Melean and versatile infielder Hudson Potts. Just looking at our system, we re going to be able to look up at each level, we re going to have multiple guys who can play short, General Manager A.J. Preller said. Some will play second and third because we have numbers, but the goal at each level is to look up and have at least one guy who s a legitimate shortstop prospect. We re pretty close to being there. Venezuelan signee Gabriel Arias already has caught the big-league eye of Green. Someone like Gabe Arias, very few people talk about him, that s a shortstop profile, Green said. Body, arm strength, hands. You look at those guys and there are enough guys in the pipeline now, Javy Guerra and on down from there. There are a lot of guys who have the ability to turn into every-day shortstops. Now it s our job to develop them. The organization s continuing job, to be precise. The last spurt of stability at shortstop real stability ended in 2009 when Khalil Greene shuffled off to St. Louis. Everth Cabrera produced a breakout season, but then was suspended 50 games for violating the league s performance-enhancing drug policy. He also was plagued by injuries. The hush-hush reasoning from the Padres might sound like this: Why sink much money into the position for 2017, when we re building for 2019 and beyond? That makes sense. The experience of an 11-year veteran like Aybar could provide more in the clubhouse than the batter s box. Plus, he s sure to offer more range than the uncomfortably limited range of Ramirez. Aybar understands the role and responsibility. As easy as it looks on TV, playing shortstop every day in the big leagues isn t that easy, he said. Being able to find someone who can help the team immediately, until those guys are ready to go, it makes lots of sense. 8

9 It doesn t change the fact, however, that the organization still lacks a now answer. Aybar, Ramirez and Barmes the last three opening-day starters were a combined 103 years old when they walked onto the field. That will change in a season or two. That doesn t mean they might not cringe in the shadows, though, when they see highlights of Trea Turner at shortstop for the Nationals. In general, Trea is a talent that s tough to trade, Preller said. To trade him, we felt like we had to get a premium, young talent back in Wil Myers. I think the good news for our situation is that we stockpiled guys who can come up and play shortstop in the big leagues down the road. That s shortstop in a nutshell for the Padres. It s a later-rather-than-now proposition. Watch accordingly. San Diego isn't dead without Chargers BY: KEVIN ACEE San Diego Union Tribune March 31, 2017 It was like attending the memorial for a friend and being the only one who wasn t mourning. Again and again, media members and executives from around the NFL offered their condolences. A sampling of what I got on most of my walks through the halls and courtyards at the Arizona Biltmore during this past week s league meetings: I m sorry. How have you been? Are you OK? What are you going to do now? Slumped shoulders. Tilted heads. Scrunched up faces and lowered voices conveying sympathy in the most sincere way. While I smiled and assured them life is good. I live in San Diego. Freaking SannnnnDiego. 9

10 No, thousands of people don t stand on the sand in La Jolla and cheer for waves while wearing shirts with BEACH across the front. But, you know what, we still get TV here if we really miss the NFL. Look, it was very nice of everyone to express concern. I do appreciate it. And having lived a long time in a world that pretty much began and ended with the NFL, I get how difficult it is for some to fathom an existence without it. Not having the Chargers does stink. I am a native San Diegan. The San Diego Chargers predated me by nine years. I shared in a column and on the radio about one of my few memories of a father I didn t know being of me sitting on his lap watching the Chargers first NFL playoff game. I spent years laughing along with the dad who did raise me, as he would swear he was finished watching that damn team forever Sunday after Sunday. The only athlete I have ever been star struck by was Dan Fouts. Honestly, the first five or six times I talked to him, I gushed and stumbled over my words. That s what happens when you grow up being J.J. or Wes while your buddy, Sean McNamara, was Dan Fouts firing those deep sideline routes. That makes me like thousands of San Diegans for going on three generations. Further, I am a sportswriter who made his living in large part covering the NFL, who got radio and TV gigs because he knew a little something about the Chargers. Certainly, there was a professional challenge presented Jan. 12. Nothing in this town can replace the Chargers on its own. San Diego State football has sold maybe a couple thousand more season tickets since the Chargers departure. We might get an MLS team. The Padres could be above.500 in a few years. The Gulls are going to the playoffs for a second straight season. All of those things together, plus Aztecs basketball getting back to the NCAA Tournament and SDSU and USD baseball making the College World Series and Tiger Woods coming back to win at Torrey Pines in a sudden death playoff over locals Pat Perez, Charley Hoffman and Phil Mickelson wouldn t create the buzz a winning Chargers team did here. And while that a winning Chargers team seems like so long ago and so rare, locals no longer have next year to believe this will be the year Philip Rivers has the supporting cast he deserves and the city will throw the parade it has been waiting for. That s a void. For sure. 10

11 We burned jerseys and cursed out Dean Spanos through January and into February. Now LaDainian Tomlinson joining his old team in its new city has San Diegans searching for stab wounds all over again. It will be weird to have no vested interested in the draft. The schedule announcement in a few weeks will not have such a big bearing on our autumn Sundays. September will likely bring a whole new wave of sadness. So this isn t to say those who still have the NFL are the suckers. No, what we re going through sucks. But we also shouldn t think of this void as un-fillable. The NFL was a universe we loved to be a part of, but it s certainly one we can live without. As I sat in the Union-Tribune newsroom and spoke to my boss about the experience I had at the NFL meetings and the column I planned to write about how San Diego is still a pretty sweet place to live and work and enjoy sports, I could look around the corner and down on Petco Park. That ballpark seems to get more awesome every year. And the Padres announced Friday additional local fare that will be added to the culinary options this season. (If you don t want to come for the.394 baseball team, come for the Pale Ale.394!) We re going to be OK. Look around. The postcards from here didn t have pictures of the local football team before it left. The Chargers didn t abscond with even one of our perpetual 72 degrees. There are a lot of things to do on those 365 days it doesn t snow here. I loved covering the NFL on a daily basis. I would do it again. So many San Diegans loved rooting for the Chargers. Some still will. Others will only have memories of tailgates and rallies and the cannon going off and the Q shaking seemingly more than its old bones should have been asked to take. No one is saying those weren t great times. But it can be true, too, that great times can still be had. Maybe our new kind of enjoyment has to do with sports spectator or participant. I, for one, used to play a lot of golf before the Chargers took over my life. Not to make this my Jerry Maguire moment of liberation, but there is such a thing as a right way off treating people. This is something my brethren in St. Louis understand and those in Oakland will come to appreciate. When you are the conduit between a fan base and its team, you can become a little 11

12 detached. But when you are the conduit between a fan base and the team that pulls its heart out, you gain this thing called empathy. When we consider what Dean Spanos and the rest of the NFL owners value about fans their money, and nothing else maybe it is San Diego that is better off. And no one says we can t still play fantasy football. Eater San Diego: What to Eat & Drink This Season at Petco Park BY: DEREK TOGERSON NBC 7 March 31, 2017 It s time for baseball and good food. This week in our local food and drink scene, Eater San Diego takes a look at fresh new eateries, breweries and more taking over Petco Park as the Padres swing into the 2017 season. Where to Eat at Petco Park: 2017 Edition The San Diego Padres Home Opener is on April 7 and, just in time for the 2017 baseball season, some new spots are joining the ballpark s stellar food and beverage lineup. New locations of popular local eateries, breweries and distilleries including Carnitas' Snack Shack, Wonderland Ocean Pub, Resident Brewing Co., Iron Fist Brewing Co., AleSmith Brewing Co. and Cutwater Spirits, are on the roster at Petco Park, raising the bar on ballgame treats. Eater SD: Popular Italian Eatery Opening in Liberty Station Ballast Point Launches Intimate Restaurant Inside Little Italy Brewpub Freshly tapped in Ballast Point Brewing Company's Tasting Room & Kitchen on India Street is The Kettle Room, a new intimate dining concept currently open Sunday through Thursday within the bustling brewpub. It features its own upscale menu, full table service and a beer pairing list. New Convoy Snack Shop Features Asian Chicken & Waffles Your Story recently opened in Kearny Mesa with a fun and colorful comic-themed design and a menu that features Asian-fusion renditions of trendy dishes including chicken and waffles served with a Taiwanese-style bubble waffle and savory brick toast topped with lobster and cheese. Eater SD: Must-Try Japanese Ramen Opens US Shop 12

13 12 Must-Eat Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in San Diego With National Grilled Cheese Day coming up on April 12, Eater has compiled a drool-worthy list of gooey, must-eat, superstar sandwiches across San Diego, from luxe renditions with lobster and gourmet cheese to melted down-home comfort fare. Brewery, Distillery & Marketplace Headed to Barrio Logan A well-established North Park brewery will expand in a big way in Barrio Logan. Thorn Street Brewery is building a new production facility that will include a tasting room; in an adjacent warehouse, the brewery plans to build a distillery, called Thorn Spirits, along with a large-scale restaurant and spaces for retail vendors. Offseason In Review: San Diego Padres BY: JASON MARTINEZ MLB Traderumors March 31, 2017 While the rebuilding Padres still owe a ton of money to high-priced veterans Matt Kemp and James Shields, who were traded away last season, the players on the current team will make approximately $30MM in That s less than the salary of Clayton Kershaw, who they ll face off against on Opening Day and likely several more times during the season. It s no surprise that they re the favorite to land the No. 1 pick in the 2018 Amateur Draft, but that s all part of the plan. Major League Signings Trevor Cahill, SP: One year, $1.75MM Jhoulys Chacin, SP: One year, $1.75MM Clayton Richard, SP One year, $1.75MM (re-signed) Jered Weaver, SP: One year, $3MM Total spend: $8.25MM Notable Minor League Signings Erick Aybar, Collin Cowgill, Hector Sanchez, Craig Stammen, Brett Wallace Trades And Claims 13

14 Traded C Derek Norris to Nationals for P Pedro Avila Claimed P Tyrell Jenkins from Reds Claimed P Zach Lee from Mariners Lost RP Leonel Campos off waivers to Blue Jays Rule 5 Draft Selected INF Allen Cordoba from Cardinals Selected P Justin Haley from Red Sox; traded to Brewers Acquired C Luis Torrens from Reds via Yankees Acquired RHP Miguel Diaz from Twins via Brewers Extensions 1B Wil Myers: Six years, $83MM, plus $20MM club option in 2023 ($1MM buyout) 2B/3B Yangervis Solarte: Two years, $7.5MM, plus $5.5MM club option in 2019 ($750K buyout) and $8MM club option in 2020 ($750K buyout) Notable Losses Alexi Amarista, Jon Jay, Derek Norris, Adam Rosales, Tyson Ross, Carlos Villanueva Needs Addressed Despite having one of the best farm systems in baseball, the Padres are light on pitching prospects who are ready to contribute at the Major League level in With a talented (if largely unproven) core of young position players, led by first baseman Wil Myers, and a strong bullpen, the top priority of this offseason was to fill out the starting rotation with inexpensive veterans who can eat innings and possibly pitch well enough to draw trade interest. At a cost of just over $8MM, they were able to fill four rotation spots for the upcoming season by signing free agents Trevor Cahill, Jhoulys Chacin, Clayton Richard and Jered Weaver to one-year deals. This rotation won t make them a contender or even a.500 team. But each has experienced a good level of Major League success and should be able to keep games from getting out of hand on a consistent basis. At least that s what the Padres are hoping for. Cahill was once on his way to being one of the better young pitchers in baseball he finished 9th in the AL Cy Young race in 2010 but his career quickly went south. He bounced back in

15 with a terrific season out of the pen for the World Champion Cubs and now the Padres are giving the 29-year-old a chance to prove he can maintain that success while returning to a starting role. Chacin, also 29 years old and a once-promising pitching star for the Rockies, is trying to resurrect his career with a return to the NL West. He had a strong finish to the 2016 season (0.75 ERA over last four starts) and has a strong track record against the Padres division opponents. Richard signed with the Padres late last season after being released by the Cubs and impressed with a 2.52 ERA over 53.2 innings. He has not started more than nine games in a season since 2013, the last year of a four-season stint with the Padres. In Weaver, the Padres brought in a former ace who is trying to succeed with a low-80 s fastball. Luis Perdomo, a Rule 5 success story in 2016, will be the No. 5 starter, although he ll likely have an innings limit after logging less than 150 innings as a rookie. Former prospects Jarred Cosart, Tyrell Jenkins and Zach Lee could also work their way into the mix at some point, as will rookies Dinelson Lamet and Walker Lockett. The Padres pair of elite pitching prospects, Anderson Espinoza and Cal Quantril, are likely slated for High-A and won t reach San Diego anytime soon. The team s highly suspect rotation will likely be one of, if not the worst, in baseball. But when they do hand a lead over to the bullpen, as rare as that might be, the Padres should be able to hold on for the win on most occasions. If Carter Capps can return to his pre-injury form he had a 1.16 ERA, 2.0 BB/9 and 16.8 K/9 in 31 innings in 2015 before an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery the Padres could have themselves quite an effective group of late-inning arms. Along with Capps, who is expected to start the season on the DL, closer Brandon Maurer and lefty setup men Ryan Buchter and Brad Hand will all be highly-coveted by playoff contenders and could prove to be valuable trade chips in July. Veteran Craig Stammen, signed to a Minor League contract in the offseason, could also end up attracting trade interest if his spring performance (11.2 IP, ER, 12 K) is any indication of a return to form. While the Padres are mostly sticking with their young position players, they did make one notable offseason addition in veteran Erick Aybar, who came to camp on a Minor League deal and ended up beating out Luis Sardiñas for the starting shortstop job. He ll be yet another one-year stopgap Clint Barmes and Alexei Ramirez were the team s Opening Day shortstops in 2015 and 2016, respectively as Preller continues his search for the team s shortstop of the future. Aybar s double-play partner will be Yangervis Solarte, who is shifting over from third base, while Ryan Schimpf (.533 slugging percentage in 330 MLB plate appearances) and former 1st Round draft pick Cory Spangenberg are competing for time at the hot corner. Top prospects and NL Rookie of the Year candidates Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe, who each had late-season MLB auditions in 2016, are expected to step into regular roles in the Padres outfield with Jabari Blash, Alex Dickerson once he returns from the disabled list and Travis Jankowski each getting plenty of opportunities to prove that they should be a part of the team s future. Behind the plate, Padres fans will finally get to see Austin Hedges, one of the most highly-touted defensive catching prospects in recent memory, on a regular basis. After spending 2015 as Derek Norris backup and most of last season in the minors, he ll get the bulk of playing time in 2017 with Norris out of the picture, Christian Bethancourt splitting time between the bench and the 15

16 bullpen, and 20-year-old Rule 5 draftee Luis Torrens expected to mostly watch and learn, having never played a game above Low-A ball. More analysis after the break Questions Remaining There s not much sense breaking down the problems on the roster from the perspective of competitiveness in Clearly, that s not the organization s priority at the moment. The upcoming season, rather, will represent a chance to continue adding talent, drive the development of young players at the MLB level, and continue gathering information to inform the team s longterm plans. The Padres won t know how close they are to contending until the 2017 season is winding down and they can assess how much progress their young roster has made. By September, they should have a better idea of which players they want to commit to or even sign to long-term contracts. Margot and Renfroe have that potential, as does Hedges, if he can provide some power to go along with elite defense. Perdomo could also work his way into the conversation if he can build off of last year s success. While Capps and Maurer are only 26 years old and could also be candidates for long-term deals, late-inning relievers have more value on a playoff-contending team. They ll be among the players drawing attention from opposing scouts. Trade rumors will surround this team from the onset of the season. If their veteran pitchers are performing well keep in mind that the Braves traded Chacin to the Angels after five mostly very good starts in 2016 Preller won t hesitate to make a deal. Deal Of Note The Padres signed Myers, their face of the franchise first baseman, to a six-year contract extension in January. Including a club option in 2023, the 26-year-old, who finished two homers and two stolen bases shy of a season in 2016, is now under team control through his age-32 season. He s guaranteed $83MM with a chance to make $102MM. Myers has embraced his leadership role and completely bought in to what the team is doing. The vision that (the Padres) have is something that I m definitely behind, Myers said at a press conference to announce his new contract. It s something that I really feel is something special here in San Diego. The position players that we have right now are really good. People don t know about them. They re not household names yet, but they re very talented and will be very good players at the big league level. Signing Myers to an extension and not trading him before he developed into a star is an indication that ownership is committed to a realistic plan that could put them in position to be competitive sometime around 2019 and beyond. In addition to giving Myers the largest contract 16

17 in team history, they ve also invested heavily on amateur signings in recent years, while Preller has continued to stockpile high-upside talent in trades. Overview A Padres team that hasn t played a meaningful game in years still drew close to 30,000 fans per game in Those fans aren t likely to watch their team play a meaningful game in 2017, either. They will, however, get to watch what could end up being one of the best group of young Padres position players since Roberto Alomar and Benito Santiago were in the same lineup as Tony Gwynn in the late 80 s. Cahill, Bethancourt perfect in spring finale BY: AJ CASSAVELL MLB.com March 31, 2017 LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. -- As the schedule would have it, Trevor Cahill's final tuneup for the regular season came in an exhibition game against Lake Elsinore, San Diego's Class A Advanced affiliate. The veteran right-hander made sure to remind the Storm hitters he was the big leaguer. Cahill was dominant over three perfect innings as the Padres wrapped up their Spring Training slate with a 4-2 victory over the Storm. He struck out six, before heading to the bullpen for a few more tosses, as he prepares to start Wednesday against the Dodgers. "He was outstanding," manager Andy Green said. "I thought he was really good. It was a good last outing before his season starts." Jarred Cosart, Brandon Maurer and Christian Bethancourt tossed a scoreless inning apiece in relief, with Bethancourt fanning all three batters he faced. Bethancourt most likely on Opening Day roster Triple-A righty Walker Lockett started for the Storm, with the bulk of their pitchers not yet fully stretched out. He was sharp over five frames, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out three. That run scored after Austin Hedges led off the third inning with a double and scored on a Travis Jankowski RBI single. The Friars scored two runs in the sixth, including a Dusty Coleman steal of home on a delayed double steal. Collin Cowgill, who is fighting for the final spot in the outfield, added an RBI single in the seventh. For Padres skipper Green, Friday's exhibition marked another opportunity to showcase the club's vastly improved Minor League system. The Padres currently possess the fourth ranked farm, 17

18 according to MLBPipeline. And some of the top prospects who could come through Lake Elsinore in Cal Quantrill, Anderson Espinoza, Javier Guerra, Eric Lauer and Michael Gettys among them -- are a major reason. "This is the lifeblood of our organization. If we're going to be great, the greatness is going to come from what's here right now," Green said. "I probably pay more attention to the Minor Leagues than most managers do. And it's easy to pay attention to these guys because there's reason to be excited about them." Now, Green's focus turns to trimming his roster. The Padres currently have 30 healthy players in camp, leaving five cuts to come before the club unveils its Opening Day squad, likely on Saturday. Padres Up Next: There are no more exhibitions for the Friars; their next game counts. Jhoulys Chacin starts Monday in Los Angeles opposite Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. The first pitch of the Padres season is slated for 1:10 p.m. PT, live on MLB.TV. Mound experiment proves Bethancourt worthy BY: AJ CASSAVELL MLB.com March 31, 2017 LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. -- The "Christian Bethancourt Experiment" is no longer an experiment. For the Padres, who hatched a plan last summer to turn a lifelong catcher into baseball's ultimate utility man, it's very much a reality. It appears likely Bethancourt will be included when the Padres' Opening Day roster is announced Saturday. Manager Andy Green wouldn't quite commit, but when asked what he views as Bethancourt's primary position, he didn't hesitate. "Pitcher," Green said firmly. "That's the way we're looking at him primarily right now.... The eighth bullpen arm, which, when you look at our schedule, is incredibly necessary. He gives us a flexibility that no other bullpen arm can do, which is pinch-hit capabilities, and cover the field capability." Green inserted Bethancourt into the spring finale Friday night against Lake Elsinore, San Diego's Class A Advanced affiliate, and the former catcher struck out all three batters he faced in the 4-2 victory. Bethancourt is going to pitch. He's going to catch. He's going to play the outfield. And he's going to serve as a pinch-hitter (presenting Green with some incredibly unique substitution options). In 18

19 the process, he's going to be baseball's first position player/pitcher hybrid since Brooks Kieschnick for Milwaukee in "You've got to be ready for any situation at any time," Bethancourt said. "I've known since last year my role was going to be different -- pitching, catching, playing the outfield, pinch-hitter. So I see myself just trying to be ready and prepared for anything, anytime." Bethancourt spent nine professional seasons -- the first eight in the Braves organization -- as a catcher. He made his first appearance on the mound in mop-up duty for the Padres last season during a loss to Seattle. Then, he made another against Miami. He hit 96 mph on the radar gun, and threw 1 2/3 scoreless frames. Shortly thereafter, the Padres approached him with the idea of pitching. The experiment began with seven relief innings during the offseason in Panama. Then, he allowed two runs on four hits and four walks in 9 2/3 spring innings. "I'm as comfortable as I can be," said Bethancourt, whose arsenal consists of a fastball, slider and changeup. "I feel pretty confident in my stuff. I've still got more to learn and get more confident pitching in the Major Leagues. But it's not like I've never been there. It's just at a different position, a different perspective. I'm not going to be nervous. It's not like I've never been in the Major Leagues." Are 16 2/3 innings enough to prepare a lifelong position player to pitch regularly in the Majors? Even the Padres admit they'd like more time to work with Bethancourt on the transition, but he's out of options. Bethancourt's usage is not merely some gimmick without a purpose either. Roster space is tight. The club would like to carry three Rule 5 selections. But they also need to navigate the first two months with an iffy rotation and limited days off. "As far as I'm concerned, the first two months of our schedule are as tough a two months of a schedule as I've ever seen in baseball," Green said. "... Two days off from April 3 to May 20, so you need bullpen arms. Christian gives us the ability to navigate that. "He's got to throw the ball well, and he's got to perform. But up till now there's been a lot of things to like." 5 Statcast storylines for '17 Padres BY: MATT KELLY MLB.com March 31,

20 PEORIA, Ariz. -- A year ago, the Padres traded for Drew Pomeranz, told him to throw more curveballs and turned him into an All-Star by midseason. It wasn't quite that simple, of course. But the Friars identified an elite Major League pitch, and they made sure it was being properly utilized. Enter Jhoulys Chacin, one year later. The veteran right-hander will get the ball on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium on Monday at 1:10 p.m. PT. Like Pomeranz a year ago, he hasn't come close to filling his potential over the past few seasons. He also hasn't been getting the most out of his premier breaking pitch -- in this case a slider. "It's an old-school, real slider," said Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley. "There's a lot of variations of sliders -- some go straight down, some are basically cutters now. He's got the oldschool, really tight, spinning slider that covers a lot of ground. It's impossible for a pitch to pick up speed as it approaches the plate -- but it looks that way. The closer it gets to home plate, the harder it bites." Since his strong 2013 campaign, Chacin has largely struggled, limited by injuries and inconsistency. Over the past three seasons, he has posted a 4.81 ERA and was released by both the Rockies and Indians. Chacin split time between the Angels and Braves last year. In 144 innings, he threw his slider at a clip below 22 percent. Yet it yielded triple the swings and misses of any pitch. And of the 362 sliders he threw for strikes, only one was barreled, according to Statcast. Suffice it to say, Chacin should be open to new ideas at this point in his career. And he's been very receptive to the Padres' plan. "My slider, they want me to -- I've used it against righties -- but use it more against lefties," Chacin said. "I've been doing that in Spring Training. My slider has been working well against lefties, and I just want to keep it working during the season." Fifty percent of Chacin's pitches came against left-handed hitters last year. But he threw only 134 sliders to lefty batters, compared with 388 against righties. Chacin's slider is clearly his best pitch against righties. But it's also better than anything else he's got against lefties: Righties vs. Chacin slider:.170 AVG,.202 SLG As the 2017 season begins, so does the third season of Statcast, the state-of-the-art technology that has tracked every play in every Major League ballpark since Opening Day And with 20

21 two full seasons of data now collected, plus advances in applying that data, Statcast is better than ever. New metrics, such as Catch Probability and Hit Probability, will provide a deeper layer of analysis and further our understanding of the game. With that in mind, here are five Statcast storylines to know about the Padres heading into the 2017 season. 1. Blink and you'll miss it It remains uncertain when Carter Capps will return to the big league mound as he recovers from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in March Whenever Capps does return, he will bring one of the fastest arms in baseball with him. On July 19, 2015, Capps (then with the Marlins) fired a fastball to the Phillies' Cody Asche. The pitch was measured by Statcast to have a perceived velocity (which is how fast a pitch appears to the batter) of mph, making it the fastest pitch by perceived velocity in the Statcast Era dating back to In fact, Capps and Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman share the 55 fastest pitches by perceived velocity since Statcast began tracking pitches in earnest two seasons ago. Fastest pitches by perceived velocity in Statcast Era (2015-present) 1. Capps: mph (July 19, 2015) 2. Chapman: mph (Sept.19, 2016) 3. Chapman: mph (Sept. 19, 2016) 4. Chapman: mph (July 18, 2016) 5. Capps: mph (July 7, 2015) Run at your own risk Padres super-utility man Christian Bethancourt figures to play all over the diamond in 2017 including, perhaps, the pitcher's mound. But whenever Bethancourt is catching, San Diego will feature one of the game's strongest arms behind the plate. Bethancourt's average "max effort" throws -- or throws at or above his 90th percentile -- from the catcher position clocked in at 87.4 mph last year. That tied the Yankees' Gary Sanchez for the highest average arm strength of any backstop who had at least five tracked "max effort" throws to anywhere on the diamond. On Aug. 13 of last year at Citi Field, Bethancourt fired a 90.4 mph throw that ranks as the fourth-fastest throw made by any catcher in Fastest average 'max effort' arm strength for catchers in 2016 (min. 5 'max effort' throws) 1. (tie) Bethancourt, 87.4 mph 21

22 1. (tie) Sanchez, 87.4 mph 3. Willson Contreras, 86.0 mph 4. J.T. Realmuto, 85.8 mph 5. (tie) Drew Butera, 85.4 mph 5. (tie) Martin Maldonado, 85.4 mph 3. Speed demon Travis Jankowski served as a leader for San Diego both in the field and on the basepaths, pacing the Padres with 30 steals. Playing in his first full Major League season, Jankowski ranked among the fastest big league players in terms of getting down the line. Jankowski averaged 4.01 seconds on "max effort" runs -- or runs at or above his 90th percentile -- from home plate to first base, tied for 14th-fastest among left-handed batters. Fastest "max effort" home-to-first average time by LHB in 2016 (minimum 75 runs, non-bunt plays) 1. Billy Burns: 3.82 seconds 2. Dee Gordon: 3.86 seconds 3. Billy Hamilton: 3.88 seconds 4. (tie) Kevin Kiermaier: 3.94 seconds 4. (tie) Ichiro Suzuki: 3.94 seconds 6. Norichika Aoki: 3.95 seconds 7. Mallex Smith: 3.97 seconds 8. Three tied at 3.98 seconds 14. (tie) Jankowski, 4.01 seconds 14. (tie) Jarrod Dyson: 4.01 seconds 4. Five-star review Catch probability, a new metric from Statcast, measures the likelihood that a ball will be caught based upon how far a fielder had to travel and how much time he had to do so. MLB.com assigned star ratings to five different percentage buckets in order to rate the degree of difficulty 22

23 catches made over the first two seasons of the Statcast Era, with a "Five-Star Play" representing the hardest catches with a probability between 0 and 25 percent. Statcast: Jankowski's great snag Statcast: Jankowski's great snag Statcast measures the distance covered and route efficiency of Travis Jankowski's sliding grab at the warning track at Dodger Stadium Jankowski proved as adept as almost anyone at pulling off these highly improbable catches last season. The speedy center fielder converted five of 14 "five-star play" opportunities in 2016, for a 35.7 percent success rate that ranked second in baseball to the Reds' Hamilton. Highest pct. success rate on 'Five-Star Plays' in outfielders in Hamilton: 37.5 percent 2. Jankowski: 35.7 percent 3. Keon Broxton: 33.3 percent 4. Kiermaier: 30.0 percent 5. Desmond Jennings: 28.6 percent 5. 'Top' that Luis Perdomo went through some learning curves during his rookie season, but he did show an elite ability. Perdomo compiled a stellar 59 percent ground-ball rate in 2016, second only to the Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman among Major League pitchers who recorded at least 140 innings. But Perdomo bested even Stroman -- and everyone else in baseball -- in getting opposing hitters to "top" the ball, or pound it into the ground where little damage could be done. Perdomo induced "topped" contact on an even 50 percent of the balls that were put in play against him, "tops" among all pitchers who faced a minimum of 500 batters last season. Highest "topped" ball rate for pitchers (min. 500 batters faced) 1. Perdomo: 50 percent 2. Stroman: 49 percent 3. Aaron Sanchez: 45 percent 4. Jaime Garcia: 45 percent 5. Carlos Martinez: 44 percent 23

24 Padres add righty Esch on waivers from Miami BY: AJ CASSAVELL MLB.com March 31, 2017 SAN DIEGO -- The Padres claimed 27-year-old right-hander Jake Esch off waivers from the Marlins on Friday, and in a surprise corresponding move, designated righty Cesar Vargas for assignment. Esch debuted last season and made three big league starts, posting a 5.54 ERA. He owns a 4.02 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in six Minor League seasons. A former 11th-round Draft pick by Miami, Esch averaged 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings in the Minors but limited opponents to 34 homers in 582 innings. "He's a starting candidate somewhere down the line," manager Andy Green said. "He's an optionable starter, who has a feel to pitch. He's going to be a depth guy for us, and there's potential at some point in time he shows up here and affects us at the Major League level." Vargas flashed his potential during an impressive first month in the Majors last year. He became the second Padres pitcher in history to begin his career with three consecutive starts in which he allowed one run or fewer. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 3.34 ERA in his first six starts, before a fateful May 28 outing in Arizona. He didn't make it out of the second inning, while allowing seven runs, and was later diagnosed with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow. Vargas missed the remainder of the season, but fully recovered during the offseason, and was thought to be in contention for one of San Diego's rotation spots. But he was optioned to the Minors on March 6, and now must clear waivers to remain with the organization. "He showed flashes last year, but his velo has yet to return," Green said. "He's been pitching in the [mph] range. I don't think his stuff has come back at this point in time. Those are hard decisions. If the stuff returns at some point in time, we think Cesar Vargas could be an option for us in the future." Esch will likely be a depth starting pitching option for the Padres in the Minor Leagues. San Diego's season-opening rotation is set and it's unlikely the Esch goes to the bullpen, as he hasn't pitched in a regular relief role since 2012 when he was in low Class A. 24