San Diego Padres: Who is going to play center field in 2020?

Internal Options

We can argue all day about what a “true” center fielder looks like, but in my view there is not currently one on the Padres 40-man roster.

The two most likely candidates are Franchy Cordero and Trent Grisham. I’ve watch a lot of them this offseason and neither look like true center fielders to me.

It’s very (very) small sample sizes in center at the Major League level for both Cordero and Grisham, but Cordero has a career DRS of -2 and Grisham had 1 DRS in 136 innings in center last season.

But Grisham had 3 DRS in just 112 innings in right field last year, which is where he’s much better suited as a defender.

Wil Myers has spent some time in center field as well, but I don’t think anyone would consider him a true center fielder as he had -10 DRS there in 2019.

Could all three of these guys handle center field? Yes.

But it’s not ideal at one of the most important defensive positions on the field.

Taylor Trammell is not currently on the 40-man roster, but he certainly has the speed to cover center field.

However, most scouts believe he’ll end up in left field because he doesn’t have a very strong arm.

But after he was traded to San Diego he spent the majority of his time in center field.

External Options

It’s getting late in the offseason and there weren’t a lot of good center field options available at the beginning of this offseason.

Making a deal now to find a center fielder could be extremely difficult and is not likely.

But there are a couple of options still out there.

Ender Inciarte is someone who has been shopped by the Atlanta Braves at times and I think he would be a great fit in center field.

He’s a Gold Glove defender in center that has the ability to hit .280 with double-digit home runs.

That would be my first choice for the Padres.

Perhaps with their crowded outfield and huge budget the Dodgers look to move A.J. Pollock. I don’t love the idea of that unless the Dodgers eat most of that contract. But perhaps there is a bad contract for bad contract swap there with Wil Myers.

I don’t really view Whit Merrifield as a true center fielder, but he’s another option in trade (albeit, it’s a very long shot).

Maybe San Diego re-engages talks with the Red Sox but this time for Jackie Bradley Jr. That doesn’t thrill me either as Bradley seems like a more expensive Margot.

Kevin Pillar is still out there and would make a lot of sense as a great defensive center fielder who can hit .260 with 15-20 home runs.

He and Inciarte are the most likely choices for me at this point.

But I’m torn on whether or not Preller will actually do something before the season starts.

Part of me wants to believe the Margot trade and stockpiling the bullpen are signs of a bigger move coming.

But the reserved part of me believes Preller will go into spring training with the internal candidates we have and see if one of them can prove they can handle center field.

Let me know who you think plays center field for the Padres in 2020 in the comments below.