It’s officially been a whole week or so of Spring Training games now. The Padres have a potential log-jam in the outfield. As of this posting, the following are the players battling for slots on the major league roster:
- Kyle Blanks
- James Darnell
- Jesus Guzman
- Travis Buck
If you take into consideration those players who are unofficially on the club:
- Carlos Quentin
- Cameron Maybin
- Will Venable
- Chris Denorfia
- Mark Kotsay
This leaves the Padres in a very good situation. How so ? Well, obviously there is going to a player or two that will be on that border-line of pressing the Padres to make a move. If you take into consideration the status of 3b Chase Headley unknown future as a Padre, this becomes a very legitimate scenario. Coincidentally, the New York Yankees sustain a temporary blow to the line-up with the loss of CF Curtis Granderson for 10 weeks with a broken forearm. So far, the Yankees Front Office have stated they will look from within and perhaps someone will step up. Therefore, if I were the Padres GM, I would be willing to offer the following trade proposal to the Yankees:
- OF Will Venable and OF Jose Guzman for LHP Nik Turley, CF Mason Williams, and RHP Tom Kahnle.
This will open two slots for Blanks and Darnell immediately. If the Padres do decide to trade Headley then Darnell provides a very good 3b as well. As for Blanks, Kyle has shown glimpses of his amazing talent and has very good speed on the basepaths. It’s very rare a ballplayer for his body stature to play this sport. All I can remember is having flashbacks of a younger Pirates OF Dave Parker. Speed, power and the ability to change the game dynamics quickly. Both Darnell and Blanks could be very adequate replacements for Venable and Guzman. In return the Padres will receive two good young arms and an upcoming outfielder from the Yankees. It’s always a good thing to re-stock the farm system whenever you can. That is going to be the San Diego Model and the O’Malley ways of doing business.
Oh Baby ! So far the Boys are feeling good ! Things are looking good for 2013 season and Padres’ GM Josh Byrnes is going to have his hands full with the log-jam in the outfield. Let’s wait and see what Josh does. In the meantime, here’s a blues video featuring kick ass Bluesman Dudley Taft singing “Feeling Good Now”. Hmmm mmmm, yes we are in San Diego.