Padres Bargain Shopping/Free Agent Leftovers- Catchers & Infielders
First Base
The 33-year-old is an interesting option for a team looking for cheap production. Lind should be able to produce on offense, and would not cost a team and arm and a leg. He is a professional hitter with some decent pop and will have no problem finding a job somewhere. He is probably holding out for a starting gig, but a bench role might be more suitable at this point in his career. He would make an excellent pinch hitter off the bench, or a decent platoon mate with a right-handed hitting first baseman/designated hitter.
Another left-handed hitter that has some value is Logan Morrison. He has battled injuries early in his career, but at the age of 29, he might still have something left to prove. Morrison can play some outfield, though he is more of a first baseman or DH. He put up a .238/.319/.414 batting line last year in 107 games. Morrison hit 14 home runs last year and has decent power potential. A bench role seems like the best fit, but he could earn a DH role somewhere in the American League.
A year after hitting 28 home runs, he is having trouble finding a job. The issue was Moss only managed to bat .225 on the season and amassed a .300 on base percentage. That is the fifth year in a row that his batting average and on base percentage have dropped, and that is not a good sign. He can provide some power and is effective against lefties, but he will have a hard time finding a starting job at this point. At the age of 33, Moss is clearly on the downside of his career. His agents have some work to do in order to find him a decent payday.
Also Available: Mike Napoli, Chris Carter, Ryan Howard, Mark Reynolds, Jerry Sands, Pedro Alvarez
Second Base
The former 2009 rookie of the year has had an adventurous career. He hit .321 in his rookie year as an outfielder on the Marlins, but has never approached those numbers again in his eight-year career. Over the years, Coghlan has proved to be very versatile though. He can play corner outfield, third base, and second base. The left-handed hitter has great plate discipline, and should have no trouble finding a major league job. He hit .252 last year in a bench role with the Cubs, but amassed a .391 on base percentage in 48 games and 103 at bats.
The veteran second baseman is clearly towards the end of his career, but reports are that he would like to play more. At the age of 37 last year, he put up decent numbers, hitting .252 on the season with 14 homers and 52 RBI. Utley played in 138 games and received 512 at bats, so he might still have a season or two left in him. If a team is looking for a gritty, veteran presence and some left-handed thunder, then Utley is your man. He could have a decent couple of seasons as a DH if a team in the American League took a chance on him.
Also Available: Daniel Descalso, Kelly Johnson, Grant Green
Third Base
The right-handed hitting veteran has had a decent career. He has the ability to play either second base or third base and had a productive season last year with Milwaukee and Boston. He produced a .262/.336/.378 batting line with 10 homers and 38 RBI in 125 games, though his production did tail off after a July trade to the Red Sox. He could still get a starting job somewhere, but is more suited to a bench role at this point in his career.
This left-handed hitter is very versatile as he can play outfield, second base, and first base. He was once considered a can’t-miss prospect as he was taken with the #2 selection in the 2009 draft by the Seattle Mariners. He just has not found any kind of consistency with his swing and missed most of last season with a shoulder injury. He was acquired by the Yankees in July of 2015, but only played in 51 games for the team. He hit .148 in limited action last year, but should find a job somewhere.
Also Available: Chris Johnson, Gordon Beckham
Shortstop
The switch-hitting shortstop is the best available option on the open market at the shortstop position. He is 33 and coming off a year where he put up a batting line of .243/.303/.320 in 126 games between the Tigers and Braves. He is slowing down defensively and played some innings at second base last season for the Tigers. The career .270 hitter has little power and little speed and is not much of an option at short presently. He will get a job somewhere though, as the market is extremely weak presently.
The former 1st round pick (14th overall) in the 2004 draft has had an interesting career. He has never quite lived up to the hype offensively, although he has had a decent 11-year career. Anytime you play in the majors that long, you have to say that he had a successful career. In 70 games last season, he put up a .266/.339/.524 batting line with eight home runs and 21 RBI. He might still have something left in the tank and could be in store for a 12th year in the majors.
Also Available: Adam Rosales, Alexei Ramirez, Gregorio Petit
Overview
Presently the Padres have no real need at any of these positions except for the shortstop area. Regrettably, there is not much available, as Drew and Aybar would only provide minimal value at a position that the Padres need help in. Luis Sardinas will be counted on for the majority of the playing time, but it would be wise to get a backup at the position. Right now, Allen Cordoba looks to be the backup and he hasn’t even completed Single-A. Inviting Drew or Aybar to spring on a minor league deal might be an option. If they can show they have something left in the tank, they could earn some at bats. There is no other solution unless the team is able to make a trade for a steady everyday shortstop.
If the team covets a backup to Myers at first base, then Lind or Moss would make sense on an inexpensive deal. Each could man the position and possibly allow Myers to play a game or two in left field when need be. Right now, Brett Wallace and Alex Dickerson are the backups at first base with Hector Sanchez another possibility to get some time there if Myers needs a break, or if the team wants to use his athleticism in the outfield. It’s nice to have options. Moss and Lind have left-handed power which would fit in nicely in the middle of the Padres’ lineup.
Logan Morrison, Chris Coghlan, and Dustin Ackley could be enticing as well, but none of them would get a major league deal with the Padres. They would also each have to beat out other veterans for a potential role with the team. All three are left-handed hitters and could be nice bench additions for the young Padres team. A.J. Preller and the front office will find some veterans to invite to camp. A lot of it will have to do with who is unable to find a job. That is alright, because sometimes a player needs an extra little motivation that playing for a job brings. Be sure to keep an eye out as pitchers and catchers are only weeks away from reporting to camp. Baseball is in the air. The Padres will continue their bargain shopping.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.