San Diego Padres: Grading Friars’ Offseason Lineup Additions

In the last of our San Diego Padres offseason series, this article will discuss the lineup additions made this offseason. With spring training officially upon us let us take a look at the moves made by Friars GM A.J. Preller.

We could just start by giving an incomplete grade, almost by default. With Eric Hosmer (@therealHoz) still lingering on the finally-heating-up free-agent market, the grades being given below could change drastically if he is signed by the San Diego Padres.

For now, we will give the grades based on what’s been done so far. Given all the attention being paid to Hosmer, the Padres have had a very productive off-season on the lineup addition side of things.

The single most important addition in my opinion? Solving the riddle that has plagued the Friars for years; shoring up the shortstop position. Not only have they solved it, but solved it in a very big way.

Freddy Galvis is the best shortstop the San Diego Padres have had since Khalil Greene almost a decade ago. And it’s not even a close race. His defense alone will improve this team dramatically. The pitchers are going to love having his glove behind them for 162 games this year.

Other moves the San Diego Padres have made

Obviously getting Hosmer to come to the San Diego Padres would be the crown jewel of this off-season. However, I will take Freddy Galvis as a consolation jewel for now. There have been other positive lineup additions that the Friars made, as well.

Getting Chase Headley in the deal with Bryan Mitchell for Jabari Blash was downright criminal. He already improves the lineup, the defense, and gives a much-needed boost to this team’s on-base percentage blues of years past.

The front office didn’t have a very long to-do list to begin this off-season to start. Finding an everyday shortstop was by far the most important task of the offseason. Check that box off with an exclamation mark!

What’s to come for the San Diego Padres?

Adding a backup catcher was another of the additions of importance to the San Diego Padres. By signing longtime Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis (not gonna lie, I love this signing) to a contract two days ago, you can now check that box too.

More from Friars on Base

• Jurickson Profar free agency update likely rules out Padres reunion
• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher
• This veteran DH target seems ideal for contending Padres roster

And one of the last things the front office wanted to do, was to reduce the logjam in the outfield, as well as at second and third base.

You could actually check that box off as well if it weren’t for receiving Headley in the trade for Mitchell.

Ridding themselves of Blash in the trade helped to cut some, but not all the options in the outfield race.

Two things are for certain. 1) This team has some real depth in Triple-A and 2) There will be players on that Triple-A team in El Paso who should be on the major league roster.

With that being said, my offseason grade for the Friars’ lineup additions is an A. It could improve to an A+ if we add a certain first baseman in free agency. The reason for an A? Simple. Freddy Galvis.

My projected Opening Day lineup and bench for the San Diego Padres

Here is my projected starting eight for the San Diego Padres heading into the season, along with five bench pieces. Of course, this could all change with any one of the additions that the Friars are rumored to be engaged in.

Starting Lineup:

C-Austin Hedges

1B-Wil Myers

2B-Carlos Asuaje

3B-Chase Headley

SS-Freddy Galvis

LF-Alex Dickerson

CF-Manuel Margot

RF-Hunter Renfroe

Bench:

C-A.J. Ellis

IF-Cory Spangenberg

Utility-Jose Pirela

OF-Travis Jankowski

OF-Matt Sczcur

There is my projected lineup and bench for the 2018 San Diego Padres. Players of note who could crack the final 25-man roster on the positional side include:

1) Franchy Cordero-OF

2) Christian Villanueva-IF

3) Luis Urias-IF

4) Raffy Lopez-C

Next: A Couple of Friars Free-Agent Options

The only negative about the off-season was losing Fan favorite Yangervis Solarte in a trade with the Blue Jays for two prospects.

Please leave in the comments below what grade you would give the swinging Friars for their off-season additions. Let’s Go Friars!