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Padres new-look OF is improved, but still work to be done

By Jake Mastroianni

SAN DIEGO, CA - APRIL 7: Manuel Margot #7 of the San Diego Padres, right, is congratulated by Wil Myers #4 after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of the opening day baseball game against the San Francisco Giants at PETCO Park on April 7, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - APRIL 7: Manuel Margot #7 of the San Diego Padres, right, is congratulated by Wil Myers #4 after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of the opening day baseball game against the San Francisco Giants at PETCO Park on April 7, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 10: Padres Tommy  Pham #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays flies out against the Houston Astros during the third inning in game five of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 10, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 10: Padres Tommy  Pham #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays flies out against the Houston Astros during the third inning in game five of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 10, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

The San Diego Padres have been busy trying to rebuild the outfield this season. We take a look at what they’ve done so far and what’s left to be done.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres as they try to navigate through the trade market to improve this team for 2020 and the future.

In the past couple of weeks they’ve traded for two outfielders and a second baseman, while also signing a relief pitcher in an effort to make them contenders in 2020.

Coming into the offseason, one of the biggest priorities for Preller was to re-work an outfield that struggled mightily in 2019.

Padres outfielders ranked 20th in all of baseball last season with a combined WAR of 4.4, according to FanGraphs.

They did hit the 10th most home runs as an outfield, but they also ranked third in strikeout percentage at 27.4 percent.

And they ranked 25th in OBP with a .308 mark that the front office is desperate to improve in 2020.

Wil Myers, Manuel Margot, and Hunter Renfroe were the primary outfielders for the Padres in 2019 with Franmil Reyes and Josh Naylor each playing more than 90 games as well.

Only Reyes hit better than .250 and he was traded to the Cleveland Indians during the 2019 season. Myers was the only one with an OBP over .320.

Something had to be done to change this pattern in the offseason, and it’s clear Preller is on his way to fixing this problem.

Let’s take a look at what the outfield could look like right now in 2020, and then what work is left to be done.

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