San Diego Padres: Time To Let Go Of Some Things

The San Diego Padres have a 50-79 record and will not take part in MLB postseason activities come October. However, the Padres will look to make the most out of the remaining 33 games.

First on the priority list for San Diego Padres Manager Andy Green will be to address the starting rotation for the 2019 season. Thirty-three games would mean at the least five starts for six starting pitchers. The Friars have already taken advantage of this opportunity over the past few recent weeks, bringing in rookie arms to get their first taste of the big leagues.

Joey Lucchesi and Eric Lauer will definitely hold onto their starting roles in 2019 but watching both young men continue to grow into their role would be an ideal end to 2018.  That still leaves the team with three spots. Have we seen enough of Clayton Richard? Even if the Padres plan to keep Richard in the rotation next season, he is 0-2 with a 7.84 ERA and a 13/11 K/BB ratio across 31 post-All-Star break innings. He’s also allowed six home runs over that span.

At 34, he is not the long-term solution and may not find himself as a short-term option either. Brett Kennedy, Jacob Nix, and Robbie Erlin should continue to see a few more starts, as Erlin has separated himself from the pack. He has yielded just eight earned runs in 21 innings pitched and has pitched at least five innings in each of his last four starts.

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San Diego Padres must identify players who will not play in 2019 season

The Padres have the worst record in National League and the fourth worst record in all of Major League Baseball. They are seemingly locked in for a top five pick in the 2019 MLB Draft and hence can afford a few losses.

It is time for players who have been given enough opportunities to be shown the door. Carlos Asuaje, Jose Pirela, Cory Spangenberg (despite the recent surge), and A.J. Ellis have all seen enough playing time. It is highly likely we see Luis Urias and Francisco Mejia in Padres uniforms come September. At least a name like Javy Guerra should be given a shot at some point this season. He is already on the 40-man roster, meaning adding him to the active roster would much easier than Urias or Mejia, if the team doesn’t feel prepared to bring either up.

Injuries across the board are limiting the number of questions that can be answered over the final five weeks of the season, however, the Padres can decide now, the future of a few fringe players and begin cutting the dead weight.