2010 MLB Season Preview: San Diego Padres

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Jon Garland (SP)
Yorvit Torrealba (C)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (3B)

Key Departures:

Kevin Kouzmanoff (1B/3B)
Jake Peavy (SP)
Cla Meredith (RP)
Brian Giles (OF)
Cliff Floyd (OF)
Josh Wilson (SS)
Eliezer Alfonzo (C)
Chad Gaudin (SP)

Since it is spring break here at GW and it was especially nice here in the D.C., I decided to pick where I wish I was instead and write a season preview of the San Diego Padres. The Fathers were pretty abysmal last season, finishing 20 games back of first. And following the trade of their best pitcher last season I cannot honestly expect much better this season; especially considering how little they did this offseason in the way of improving the squad.

The one player of interest in this Padres team is first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. And the biggest story is when A-Gon will be A-Gone in San Diego. In the 2009 season, Gonzalez hit 40 homeruns, 99 RBIs, for a .277 average in 552 at-bats. Now that's what I call production. Everyone fully expects Gonzalez to be traded by the deadline to the Boston Red Sox, but there are other teams out there that could just as easily nab the Padres' slugger.

Aside from Gonzalez, there really is not much to talk about. I like Tony Gwynn Jr., the Padres young centerfielder, but there is not much else on the roster in the way of exciting young talent. It will be interesting to see how Chris Young does on his return from injury last season. In his last full season in 2007, Young had a 3.12 ERA with 167 strikeouts in 173 innings pitched. Kevin Correia will be asked to do more this season as the Padres' number two starter. Last season Correia was 12-11 with a 3.91 ERA in 198 innings pitched.

All in all, the 2010 season ought to be one to forget for baseball fans in San Diego.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Tony Gwynn Jr. (CF)
2. David Eckstein (2B)
3. Scott Hairston (LF)
4. Adrian Gonzalez (1B)
5. Chase Headley (3B)
6. Will Venable (RF)
7. Nick Hundley (C)
8. Everth Cabrera (SS)
9. Chris Young (SP)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Chris Young
2. Kevin Correia
3. Jon Garland
4. Clayton Richard
5. Mat Latos

Best Reliever: Edward Mujica

Closer: Heath Bell

Predicted Finish: Fifth in the NL West.