In San Diego, the Padres best bet for the designated hitter is Matt Kemp.
Since Opening Day 2008 Kemp has failed to play in at least 150 games just once, so becoming the DH isn’t about durability or the ability to field his position. But he’s not the most fleet afoot outfielder by any stretch, and for the Padres to contend they have to have speed covering the vast expanse of outfield at Petco Park.
He brings a veteran presence to the DH position, with enough average and power to be a force well into the future. He’ll be 32 when the 2017 season opens, and he’s under contract through the 2019 season. An argument could be made that he makes far too much money to be just a hitter.
Although he’s an everyday catcher, Derek Norris might be a candidate for the job. One of the knocks on Norris is the better runners can steal on him pretty much at will. (Anybody remember the 2014 AL Wild Card game with the Kansas City Royals when Norris was with the Oakland A’s?)
Right now his average is flirting with the Mendoza line, meaning he won’t be a long-term solution anywhere, regardless of city or position, unless he picks up the pace considerably.
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