Top Five Padres Free Agent Options Countdown

Number 4: Mark Reynolds- First Base/Third Base

Jul 28, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Mark Reynolds (7) hits a solo home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Age: 31; Bats/Throws: Right/Right; 2014 numbers: .196 batting average, 22 home runs, 45 RBI

Mark Reynolds may be one of the most interesting players in baseball. He bats for an astronomically low batting average, strikes out a tremendous amount but can go long with the best of them. His 2014 season with the Brewers was no exception.

He split time at first base with Lyle Overbay and played third base often as well. Third base and first base happen to be two weak points with the Padres roster after they traded Chase Headley to the Yankees and Yonder Alonso continuing to struggle with both injury and consistency.

Yeah, Reynolds home run number may go down in PETCO but I wouldn’t be too sure in his case. When Reynolds connects it really goes far and many of his homers wouldn’t stay in Yellowstone National Park let alone PETCO. If the Padres decided to sign Reynolds he wouldn’t have to start everyday but instead split time with Yangervis Solarte (and possibly a combination of other players) at third and Alonso at first.

While it’d be unfair to expect a huge home run season even if his home runs are long he’d hit the gaps more and help to drive in the runs that San Diego so desperately need. Reynolds would provide a veteran presence and can carry the knowledge he’s gathered from the likes of Buck Showalter, Bob Melvin, Terry Francona and Joe Girardi over to this young Padres team. Reynolds would be a very nice low risk/high reward acquisition for this club.