What's the fit for three newest Padres?

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Busy getting your holiday shopping done this week? So are the Padres, it seems.

It's been an eventful few days for San Diego, with three free agents reportedly agreeing to contracts -- right-hander Seth Lugo, utility man Matt Carpenter and catcher Pedro Severino.

The club announced the Carpenter signing on Tuesday, with the Lugo deal expected to follow later this week. Severino is on a Minor League contract, and he'll be among the team's Spring Training non-roster invitees. Each of the signings addresses a key area of need for San Diego. Here's a look at how the three newest Padres fit with the team's plans for 2023:

Seth Lugo, 33, RHP (3.60 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 65 innings with the Mets in 2022)

The Padres needed pitching -- and Lugo certainly helps fill that void. But where, exactly?

Lugo -- whose contract is for 2023 with a player option for the '24 season, per sources -- spent the past two years pitching exclusively out of the bullpen with the Mets. But the Padres have a much greater need in their rotation, and the right-hander does boast a modicum of starting experience. As such, San Diego will give Lugo a chance to start (though his career numbers have been much better as a reliever).

It’s not much of a risk, really. The Padres need starting pitching, and Lugo boasts a four-pitch mix that makes him capable of handling such a role. If he were to struggle in the rotation, it’s possible he could shift to a high-leverage middle-innings role out of the bullpen.

Lugo owns a 2.91 ERA in 300 career innings as a reliever. If that’s the worst-case scenario, that’s not a bad downside.

Matt Carpenter, 37, UTIL (.305/.412/.727, 15 home runs in 154 plate appearances with the Yankees in 2022)

It’s almost not important where Carpenter ends up playing for the Padres in 2023. This lineup needed some left-handed-hitting depth, and a three-time All-Star will provide exactly that.

The likeliest fit for Carpenter appears to be at designated hitter, especially against right-handed pitching. But if the Padres were to add another bat -- perhaps a fourth outfielder -- they’d have the option of using Carpenter at first base on occasion. In that scenario, Jake Cronenworth could slide to second, with Ha-Seong Kim coming off the bench against tougher right-handers.

On top of that, well, it’s always useful to have depth -- and Carpenter can back up at second, third and both outfield corners. He brings a wealth of postseason experience to San Diego and is coming off a resurgent season with the Yankees (prior to breaking his left foot in early August).

Like Lugo, Carpenter’s deal is for 2023 with a player option to return for the '24 season.

Pedro Severino, 29, C (.248/.308/.383, 11 home runs in 419 plate appearances with the Orioles in 2021)

Severino was suspended for 80 games during the 2022 season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance and only played in eight games with Milwaukee. But prior to his tribulations last season, Severino had developed into a useful backstop with Baltimore and should be viewed as extra catching depth for San Diego.

Austin Nola and Luis Campusano are still expected to serve as the Padres’ top catching options entering the season, but after the team non-tendered Jorge Alfaro, Severino fills a void behind those two.

Severino’s contract is a split deal -- a Minor League contract that would pay him $1.95 million if he were to reach the Majors. There’s a distinct possibility that he will, too. The Padres have plenty of roster flexibility elsewhere, and by adding an extra catcher, it might make them more likely to start Campusano at DH against left-handed pitching (possibly in a platoon with Carpenter).