The 5 Best Remaining Free Agents For The Padres

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

#2. Jed Lowrie, Shortstop

The Padres’ makeover continues with a new shortstop to replace the troubled Everth Cabrera. The hope by many, is that the team either DFAs or trades Cabrera this winter, which would open up an opportunity for A.J. Preller to upgrade the position with another versatile bat. Enter Jed Lowrie. Early on in his career, he battled the injury bug, but in each of the past two seasons while with Oakland, he’s played more than 135 games in each. Jed can play both second base and shortstop, and while he doesn’t have the wheels of a Cabrera, he won’t hurt you at the plate either.

Lowrie is a career .261 hitter who averages 14 home runs per season over his seven years in the bigs, but dipped terribly last year, hitting only .249, with 6 home runs but he did drive in 50. He also drew 51 walks, and Bud Black could plug him into the #2 hole in the Padres’ lineup, or in the lower third. What makes Lowrie so attractive is his versatility in the field, his professional bat at the plate, and his affordability. Lowrie just finished a contract that paid him $5.25 million last season. He is far from an elite free agent option, and that could play right into A.J. Preller’s hands. A three-year, $20 million dollar deal isn’t out of the question. At this point, the Padres have added some solid pieces, for a fraction of what Sandoval or Tomas would’ve cost, and the lineup is now deeper than it’s been in several seasons.