Rotation additions unlikely for Padres
Preller: 'We like a lot of the pitching that's there'; Paddack impresses throwing to live hitters
AJ Cassavell
@AJCassavellPEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres have found their answer at third base, and they have a young starting lineup that's under team control through 2022. In some ways, the news that Manny Machado is bound for San Diego completes the offensive part of the puzzle.
There's another half to that puzzle. And on the mound, the same questions persist.
The Padres' starting rotation posted the highest ERA in the National League last season, and general manager A.J. Preller has yet to make an acquisition that will impact the 2019 team.
"We like a lot of the pitching that's there," Preller said Tuesday at Cactus League media day. "We like a lot of the guys who can build on last year's season at the big league level. We've got another group of guys coming up through the system that we feel really good about. That's the focus from Andy, myself, [pitching coach] Darren [Balsley] in our conversations."
All spring, sources have indicated it's unlikely that the Padres tack on a veteran pitcher for the sake of adding an innings-eater. They'd prefer to throw their young starters into the deep end.
Prospects Chris Paddack, Logan Allen and Cal Quantrill are going to get a shot at the rotation. Eventually, Dinelson Lamet and Garrett Richards will join the rotation when they return from Tommy John surgery. Things could fall into place nicely by the end of the season.
It seems unlikely that the Padres change their mindset toward their pitching staff because of Machado¡¯s arrival. But Preller, being Preller, seemed to leave open the possibility.
"You're always looking at upgrades," he said. "You're always looking to get better. ... We have a nice group of young pitchers that we feel really good about. When we talk about acquisitions, it's got to be a guy that we feel is better than what we have in the current role for our group. If we have that, we'll be aggressive. ... But there are a lot of guys in our camp that we believe in."
Paddack wows vs. big leaguers
On Wednesday morning, word began to spread that pitching prospect Paddack was slated to face hitters for the first time this spring. Around noon, Padres staff, media and fans alike flocked to Field 1 at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Paddack didn't disappoint.
He threw 25-30 pitches, facing established vets Eric Hosmer and Ian Kinsler and fellow prospects Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Urias. The quartet combined for one ball in play -- a deep fly ball from Kinsler.
"If you're going to face some hitters, why not face the best?" Paddack said. "That was a pretty cool, special moment for me."
"His mound presence and demeanor, to me, that sticks out," Balsley said. "I'm sure he had butterflies, but that didn't look like his first time facing big league hitters."
Paddack is on track for his first Cactus League appearance on Tuesday against Milwaukee. He's been working all spring on honing his curveball, and the Padres seem pleased with its progress.
But Paddack's changeup is still his go-to weapon. By some accounts, it's one of the best pitches in the Minor Leagues.
"It comes out at the same spot as his fastball, but it just never gets there," said Chris Stewart, who caught Paddack¡¯s session. "It's the same angle. The swings on it weren't very good. It's a very effective pitch."
Tatis and Urias -- each of whom swung through a Paddack changeup -- concurred.
"It's nasty," Tatis said.
"It's filthy," added Urias.
Camp notes
? Tatis hit a long home run over the left-field scoreboard to wrap up his batting-practice session, punctuating it with an emphatic bat flip. He gained notoriety during the offseason for doing the same after a walk-off blast in the Dominican Winter League¡¯s postseason. Get used to it, Padres fans.
? Paddack, Robbie Erlin, Bryan Mitchell and Jerry Keel faced live hitters on Field 1. Green is expected to announce a starter for Saturday's Cactus League opener on Thursday.
? Asked whether "Manny" would be playing shortstop or third base this season, Green responded: "Manny's more of a center fielder."
He, of course, was referring to Manuel Margot.