2020 MLB season: Don’t Sleep On These Teams
San Diego Padres – 2019 record: 70-92
Here’s the deal with the Padres.
Every year they make a transaction under AJ Preller that has me excited and convinced that they could compete. The problem is, I follow that statement with ‘ok but who else are they going to get?’
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Instead of making all of those moves within one year, they spread it out over a couple of years: Wil Myers, Eric Hosmer, Manny Machado and this year the trades they made with the Rays and Brewers put on the finishing touches.
This team has what it needs to push for a wild card spot and a postseason it has not seen since 2006.
Having Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. on the left side of the infield ensures no ball gets into left field; where new addition Tommy Pham will be patrolling.
Chris Paddack broke onto the scene last year and easily has opening-day locked up. The addition of Emilio Pagan makes the back end of the rotation scary paired with Kirby Yates.
Even waiting in the wings, the Padres have some of the most highly touted future big-leaguers in Mackenzie Gore and Taylor Trammell.
Yes, they say patience is a virtue, and we shouldn’t have to be waiting much longer to see what the Padres can accomplish in 2020.