The Padres can count on a veteran mound corps and believe they have a strong infield defense, outfield options and a solid bench as they prepare for spring training, beginning Saturday, Feb. 16.
General manager Kevin Towers and field manager Bud Black laid out the clubs’ targets before fans at a San Diego Hall of Champions luncheon last week.
Towers said his pitching staff, anchored by two Cy Young winners, is one of the finest and stated that the bullpen posted last year’s best ERA in baseball.
"Pitchers and catchers open camp and later we’ll have 62 to 64 players, including some fine prospects," Towers said. "Finally we’re in a position to have great depth in the upper levels of the minors."
In the wake of losing outfielders Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukudome to other teams, he has plugged the hole in center field by trading for veteran Jim Edmonds. That move also ended contract talks with free agent Mike Cameron, who signed with Milwaukee.
"The division has gotten a lot stronger and the teams will be bunched up at the end," he said. "We’ll need to win 90 games, one more than last year. It’ll be the best pitching division in all of baseball."
The GM was encouraged by ex-Cardinal Edmonds’ physical progress after shoulder surgery and believes newly acquired pitcher Mark Prior from the Cubs will be ready by May 1.
Other new arrivals are right-handed pitcher Mauro Zarate (waiver claim from the Marlins), infielder Luis Rodriguez (waiver claim from the Twins), left-hand pitcher Randy Wolf (free agent from the Dodgers), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (free agent from the Phillies), utility Robert Fick (minor league free agent from the Nationals), outfielder Jeff DaVanon (minor league free agent from the Athletics) and right-handed pitcher Enrique Gonzalez (waiver claim from the Nationals).