Here's how Padres' 2025 roster could shake out

SAN DIEGO -- As ever, the Padres’ roster is an evolving entity. (Hey, last year, their postseason roster featured 12 players who weren't yet on the team when Spring Training began.)

"We know we have some work in front of us," Padres general manager A.J. Preller said in early February. "We’ll enter the season, we’ll always keep looking to add."

Indeed, the Padres have several areas of need, even with pitchers and catchers slated to report this week. Their roster -- a star-studded but incomplete group -- will almost certainly evolve during Spring Training. Nonetheless, here's an early 26-man Opening Day projection, based on the team’s current options:

Catchers (2): Elias Díaz, Luis Campusano
The Díaz signing helped clarify things behind the plate. He and Campusano will presumably compete for the starting role, with Brett Sullivan and Martín Maldonado also vying for roster spots. The Padres seem somewhat comfortable rolling into camp with that group.

That said, a further shakeup is not out of the question. San Diego clearly values Díaz's defensive skill set. And while Campusano has not reached his ceiling, he's still only 26 years old. But the reality is this: That duo was competing for time as Kyle Higashioka's backup last season. There's presently no obvious No. 1 catcher on board.

Infielders (6): Luis Arraez, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, Eguy Rosario, Tyler Wade
Manager Mike Shildt seemed to settle the starting infield with his announcement that Bogaerts would be moving back to shortstop full-time. That means Cronenworth at second and, presumably, Arraez at first.

In any case, Machado-Bogaerts-Cronenworth-Arraez represents one of the league's best infield groups, even if they're getting a bit of a positional shakeup after Ha-Seong Kim's departure.

Wade will remain in his role as a do-it-all utility piece. That could leave Rosario, Mike Brosseau, Mason McCoy and Niko Goodrum among those competing for the final spot.

Outfielders (5): Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Connor Joe, Jason Heyward, Brandon Lockridge
A year ago, the question marks in the Padres’ outfield were much greater than they are now -- and San Diego ended up with three All-Stars in Tatis, Merrill and Jurickson Profar.

Now, Merrill and Tatis, two of the best outfielders in the sport, are back to anchor center and right field, respectively. But following Profar's departure, the Padres are light in left field.

Just before camp, however, the Padres landed the righty-hitting Joe and lefty-hitting Heyward, and it seems likely they’d run with some version of a platoon between the two. That could leave the final spot for Lockridge -- an elite defender and baserunner -- though No. 18 prospect Tirso Ornelas will get a serious look in camp.

Rotation (5): Dylan Cease, Michael King, Yu Darvish, Matt Waldron, Randy Vásquez
For now, the rotation projection is relatively straightforward. It won't remain that way.

Undoubtedly, the Padres will be looking to add to this mix, given Preller's stated desire for a deeper group of starting-pitching options. It also remains possible the club would subtract. Cease and -- to a lesser extent -- King have been rumored as potential trade chips. (Presumably, a trade would be executed with the goal of bringing multiple rotation options back in return.)

Until that comes to fruition, the front three spots in the San Diego rotation are sewn up. They belong to Cease, King and Darvish. But the final two spots are up for grabs. Waldron and Vásquez are the current favorites. But the Padres expect to add to that mix before Opening Day and could even transition a couple of their relievers into starting roles.

Bullpen (8): Robert Suarez, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, Bryan Hoeing, Yuki Matsui, Sean Reynolds, Wandy Peralta
On paper, this is an obvious strength. The Padres have serious high-end talent at the back end, with Suarez, Adam and Estrada. They also have depth, with Alek Jacob, Stephen Kolek and Ron Marinaccio among those not listed in the projected bullpen (not to mention Rule 5 Draft pick Juan Nu?ez).

Bullpens, however, rarely go to plan. Injuries hit. Variance hits. The Padres have positioned themselves to combat that. But they could use another left-hander, with Morejon as their only true late-inning lefty weapon. Perhaps Matsui makes a leap in Year 2.