What San Diego Padres lineup could look like in 2021, 2022

The lineup

The offense should be really fun to watch for the foreseeable future, and that’s not something we’ve been able to say about a San Diego team in quite some time.

Here is what the lineup could look like in 2021:

Taylor Trammell – CF

Tommy Pham – LF

Fernando Tatis Jr. – SS

Manny Machado – 3B

Eric Hosmer – 1B

Jake Cronenworth – 2B

Trent Grisham – RF

Frarncisco Mejia – C

What we know for sure about the 2021 lineup right now is that Pham, Tatis, and Machado will be at the top of the order.

I’m thinking optimistically on Trammell here — someone who I’ve notably been down on as a prospect. But I’m hoping he has a bounce-back year in 2020 at Double-A and proves he’s ready to make the jump in 2021.

For better or worse, Hosmer is our first baseman for the foreseeable future. I think A.J. Preller will see if he can move his contract next offseason, but it’s not likely to happen until after the 2021 season when he’ll still have four years left, but his AAV goes down to $13 from 2023-20205.

I debated between Owen Miller and Cronenworth at second base, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about Cronenworth this offseason and am starting to become a big believer of his.

Here is what the 2022 lineup could look like:

CJ Abrams – CF

Gabriel Arias – 2B

Fernando Tatis Jr. – SS

Manny Machado – 3B

Eric Hosmer – 1B

Trent Grisham – RF

Luis Campusano – C

Taylor Trammell – LF

That top three in the lineup has the potential to be dynamic. I’m really banking high on Abrams and Arias remaining elite hitters as they progress.

Those top three could all be 20-20 guys one day. To me, this is the lineup I dream to see one day.