Spring Training Position Battles: Right Field

This edition of the Spring Training Position Battles series will take an inside look at the right field position. Center and left field are set with Cameron Maybin and Carlos Quentin manning those spots, but right field is somewhat suspect.

In the third edition of this series, we will take an in depth look at some of the positions that up for grabs. We will analyze candidates at that position and track each player’s progress throughout the spring.

Here is the right field position battle:

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Situation: The situation in right field has been the same as it has been the past few years, a platoon of Will Venable and Chris Denorfia.

Both players showed their durability by playing in more than 125 games; however, both had decent 2012 seasons.

Venable had one of his better years as he posted a .264 average with nine home runs, 45 RBIs and 24 stolen bases.

Deno batted .293 with eight home runs, 36 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

I have always thought there could be more production in right field. Venable and Denorfia are not every day players, they excel when they come off the bench. For right field, the Padres could use more home runs. The Venable and Denorfia tandem combined for 17 of them last year.

New additions:  The only addition the Padres made to their outfield in free agency was signing former Astros outfielder Travis Buck to a Minor League contract.The Padres also added outfield prospects Yeison Asencio and Jaff Decker to the 40-man roster.

Re-signed: The Padres avoided arbitration with Will Venable by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal for 2013. Kyle Blanks will be a Padre for another year, as he too avoided arbitration when he signed a $650,000 one-year contract in November.

Positional outlook: There is no positional battle here. Will Venable and Chris Denorfia will platoon right field in 2013, and maybe even 2014 now with the injury to top prospect Rymer Liriano.

If there were a battle going on it would be who will play in more games at right-field? History tells us situational match-ups will dictate that.