San Diego Padres newcomers: 1 player to keep, 1 to send far away and 1 to debate

San Diego Padres should keep Garrett Cooper

Acquired from the Miami Marlins, Cooper is a player that produced in South Florida, but because the Marlins were not contending, he flew under the radar a little bit.

His numbers are not going to blow you away, but he’s a contact hitter who is a perfect fit for the bottom of the lineup. He is also depth at first base and, depending on roster change this offseason, he could see his fair share of time there next season.

Combined between Miami and San Diego this season, he has 15 home runs and 56 RBI, while slashing .259/.303/.427. With the Padres, he’s slashing .271/.333/.429 with two home runs and 10 RBI. In his short stints at first base, he has been good defensively.

Where would he fit on the roster next season? It may not take a lot of money to re-sign him, but he could take on a majority of the right-handed DH roles that Nelson Cruz struggled with this season. Certainly, it's a road that Preller needs to explore.