San Diego Padres: Bringing up the Rear in Early Power Rankings

At the beginning of spring training, expectations are as low as ever for the San Diego Padres. As far as power rankings are concerned, there is nowhere to go but up.

The San Diego Padres are apparently not impressing many analysts thus far. In several pre Cactus League power rankings, experts have the Padres in the cellar of not only the National League West but in all of baseball.

Of course, there is little to base these rankings off of. No spring training games have even been played yet. The criteria for power rankings at this stage is purely evaluation of talent on the roster. The youth and inexperience of the Padres partially explains why they aren’t seen too favorably among analysts.

Our first power rankings update of 2017 includes four different sets of rankings. As spring training begins and the regular season inches closer, more lists will be released. Maybe, just maybe, the Padres will find themselves out of 30th in one of these.

But for now, expectations are as low as they can get.

Bleacher Report: #30

Just how many rookies will break camp with the San Diego Padres?Top prospects Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe are both slated for starting outfield jobs, a trio of Rule 5 picks are in camp and several other young arms will be vying for spots in the pen as the youth movement will be in full swing.That rotation should speak for itself; it’s a rebuilding year, and player development will trump win-loss record in 2017.

Fox Sports: #30

The Padres did next-to-nothing to move them out of baseball’s cellar — they did, however, spend a ton of bonus money on international prospects, the best being Cuban righty Michel Baez. This is clearly the Friars’ long-term plan — their Moneyball — but it’s unlikely we’ll see the fruit of that process anytime soon.

UPI Sports: #30

The Padres remain in oblivion despite their significant roster changes since the end of the 2014 season. San Diego did little in the offseason, and the team will continue footing the bill for shedding so many prospects early in general manager A.J. Preller’s tenure.

CBS Sports: #30 

Things could be worse, San Diegans: You could live somewhere else.

Next: Who, What and I Don’t Know- The Infield

The Chicago Cubs top each list of rankings, and either the Boston Red Sox or Cleveland Indians take the second ranking. As for the Padres, analysts seem to have come to a general consensus. In the power rankings anyway, there is nowhere to go but up.