San Diego Padres: 5 player improvements needed to contend

We take a look at five players who need to make certain improvements in order for the San Diego Padres to contend in 2020.

The San Diego Padres enter the 2020 season in a very interesting place. They have the pieces in place to contend for at least a wild card spot IF things go right.

However, it also wouldn’t take much for this team to fold and see yet another losing season.

But its spring training so we’re thinking optimistically, and I want to focus on those ‘if’ scenarios going right.

Not much went right for the Padres in 2019, so time for some things to start going our way.

Manny Machado has to be Manny Machado

And we start at the top with the $300 million man in Manny Machado. There is no question that 2019 was a bit of a disappointing year for the Padres third baseman.

But it’s not like it was a terrible season as he hit .256/.334 with 32 home runs and 85 RBI and was 3.1 WAR player.

However, it’s certainly not what we were hoping for from the MVP-type player we signed who had put up three 6 WAR-plus seasons from 2015-2018.

I’m willing to give Manny a pass with him adjustment to a new team and a less hitter-friendly home stadium.

But if San Diego is going have to any chance of contending in 2020, they need Manny Machado to be Manny Machado.

And I fully expect that to happen in 2020. I think he puts up an MVP caliber season and is at least a 5 WAR player.