San Diego Padres 2020 MLB Winter Meetings Preview

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PEORIA, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 22: Executive V.P./General Manager A.J. Preller and Manny Machado #8 of the San Diego Padres address the media at Peoria Stadium on February 22, 2019 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

We take a deep dive into what we could see from the San Diego Padres at this year’s annual MLB Winter Meetings, which is right in our backyard.

A.J. Preller has already been busy this offseason making moves to try and make the San Diego Padres a contender in 2020.

This may be the biggest offseason for the Padres since the last time the Winter Meetings were held in San Diego.

Back in the 2014-15 offseason, Preller made several big moves to try and build a contender for the 2015 season.

While he didn’t make a big move during the actual Winter Meetings in 2014, they did create a lot of buzz and were very active after the meetings.

Soon after they completed trades for Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Justin Upton, and Will Middlebrooks.

Just before Opening Day in 2015 they also traded for Melvin (B.J.) Upton and Craig Kimbrel.

While all of those moves ended up being complete disasters, it did make for a very fun Winter Meetings and offseason.

Interesting to note as Preller starts to trade away some of the farm system, that offseason he traded Zach Eflin, Yasmani Grandal (wasn’t a prospect at the time but worth noting), Joe Wieland, R.J. Alvarez, Jesse Hahn, Jake Bauers, Burch Smith, Joe Ross, Trea Turner, Max Fried, Dustin Peterson, Jace Peterson, Mallex Smith, Johnny Barbato, Jordan Paroubeck, Matt Wisler, and a Comp A pick.

That’s a pretty impressive list of players. Preller traded away almost half of the top 20 prospects in the system.

But in all, only Turner and Grandal have gone on to be great players. Fried could join that list with another good season in 2020.

It just shows you can’t get too hung up on these prospects when the percentages are low that they’ll ever become star players.

I don’t think we’ll see Preller trade away half of the farm system again, but I do think we see him continue to use their depth of prospects to improve this team for the immediate future.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 15: Wil Myers #4 of the San Diego Padres watches his fly out in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 15, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. Colorado won 10-5. (Photo by Joe Mahoney/Getty Images) /

Who wants Wil Myers

I’ve been beating this drum for a while now, but I’m going to continue saying it — the biggest priority for A.J. Preller should be trying to find a trade partner for Wil Myers.

And I personally think with where the budget is at, he really can’t do much else until he’s able to move Myers’ contract.

It would not be surprising at all if Preller is running around the Winter Meetings begging teams to take Myers.

And maybe that’s not fair to say of the outfielder. Myers is not a terrible player, but he is for what the Padres agreed to pay him.

I don’t care if they have to attach a top prospect to him, Preller needs to move him and as much money as he can to any team willing to take Myers.

Most likely it would have to be a rebuilding team that can take on some money and is looking for a good prospect or two.

Teams that fit that mold include the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals (money may be a problem for them), Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and maybe the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Preller needs to be beating down the door of all those GMs at the Winter Meetings trying to make something happen.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 05: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout during the first inning at Fenway Park on September 05, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Can we find a frontline starter in a trade

I would say the San Diego Padres are pretty much out on the free agent starting pitchers — especially the top tier of Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg.

Unless Preller and the front office just shock the world and overpay for Strasburg, I don’t see a free agent deal for a frontline starting pitcher happening.

But could there be a frontline starter out there in a trade that makes sense?

Of the names that have been floated out there, none of them are really that attractive to me.

Starters like Matthew Boyd, Robbie Ray, Chris Archer, Jon Gray, and Caleb Smith are among that group.

Corey Kluber, Chris Sale, David Price, and Jeff Samardzija are all intriguing but come with injury risks and high price tags.

Maybe they can convince the New York Mets to part with Noah Syndergaard, who would be a perfect fit for what the Padres need.

The problem is nobody wants to trade a young, controllable, frontline starting pitcher — go figure.

But that’s exactly what the Padres need.

Preller will need to scour the Winter Meeting floors to see him there is anyone like that available that maybe we haven’t heard of yet.

As I’ve said in other places, if they aren’t going to get a frontline starter, then don’t even bother — just let the young guys pitch.

For me, it’s go big or go home in terms of finding another starting pitcher.

SAN DIEGO, CA – MAY 16: Ian Kinsler #3 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park May 16, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Are they done at second base

More from Friars on Base

Even after the Jurickson Profar trade, I’m not so sure the San Diego Padres are done figuring out the second base position.

Maybe this is wishful thinking because I didn’t love the Profar trade, but I would not be surprised if Preller continues to look for an upgrade there.

Of course, he also got a second baseman in the Tommy Pham trade with Jake Cronenworth being included as well.

That’s five players on the active roster (assuming Cronenworth is added to the 40-man roster) that are capable of playing second base — Profar, Ian Kinsler, Greg Garcia, Ty France, and Cronenworth.

Maybe the Padres are done acquiring second baseman, but they aren’t done moving second baseman.

I know a lot of players in the San Diego clubhouse love Kinsler, but I see no way he is on the Opening Day roster.

If he is, it’s only because of his clubhouse presence and because he’s owed almost $4 million in 2020.

Preller will be trying hard at the Winter Meetings to see if anyone is interested in taking on Kinsler. He may have to make another deal where he attaches a prospect just to get rid of a player and money, and it would be worth it in this case.

I still think second base will be an interesting position to watch for the Padres at the Winter Meetings and throughout the offseason.

Profar isn’t the answer for the future, and after trading away Luis Urias and Xavier Edwards, who do they think is their second baseman going forward?

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 30: Kevin Pillar #1 of the San Francisco Giants hits a sacrifice fly scoring Evan Longoria against the San Diego Padres in the bottom of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on August 30, 2019 in San Francisco, California. The Giants won the game 8-3. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

How about a center fielder

Preller has already made two big moves to try and improve the outfield for 2020 bringing in Trent Grisham and Tommy Pham.

In my opinion, Pham is the only real upgrade here as I view Grisham as a platoon/4th outfielder.

Right now Manuel Margot and Grisham will likely platoon in center, but I’d like to see that combination move to right field.

There aren’t a lot of great center field options on the market this offseason, so maybe they stick with Margot/Grisham in center and look for a right fielder after (hopefully) trading away Myers.

I’m certainly good with that direction as well. Either way, the work in the outfield can’t be done.

Starling Marte is a name I’ve been shouting out all offseason. He has the ability to play center, but he’s a much better defender in a corner spot.

Kevin Pillar was recently non-tendered and wouldn’t be a tremendous upgrade offensively, but he’d bring Gold Glove-caliber defense to center and allow Grisham to move over to his more comfortable position in right.

To me, making one more big splash in the outfield and finding a frontline starting pitcher are the keys for Preller at the Winter Meetings — along with finding a trade partner for Myers.

Next. New-look OF is better, but not complete. dark

Let us know in the comments below what you would like to see Preller get done at the MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego.

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