MLB.com beat writer AJ Cassavell made projections for the San Diego Padres Opening Day roster, and several injuries have spots up in the air for Craig Stammen.
The San Diego Padres and new manager Craig Stammen have plenty of things to figure out before finalizing the Opening Day roster.
Spring training is almost over, and Opening Day is right around the corner, so Stammen, AJ Preller and the front office need to go to the drawing board to see what makes sense for them.
Perhaps the biggest question is in the starting rotation, and right now all of Joe Musgrove, Michael King, Nick Pivetta and Randy Vasquez seem locked in to the rotation, although not in that order.
Stammen could use a six-man rotation, but with Griffin Canning not ready until possibly May or June, the other options are between JP Sears, Triston McKenzie, Walker Buehler and German Marquez, although none of them have really jumped out so far.
Ahead of Opening Day, Padres beat writer AJ Cassavell of MLB.com made his projections for the roster, and here is what he predicted.
Starting Pitchers
Nick Pivetta, Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Randy Vásquez, Germán Márquez
In Cassavell's projection, he has Marquez grabbing the final spot, and while that's a possibility, Stammen could choose to have one more starter with Musgrove coming off Tommy John surgery and King making just 15 starts in 2025.
Relief Pitchers
Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta, Bradgley Rodriguez, Kyle Hart, Logan Gillaspie
Yuki Matsui and Jason Adam probably won't be healthy by Opening Day, which is why Hart and Gillaspie are here. Bradgley Rodriguez is deserving of a spot.
Outfielders
Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Ramón Laureano, Nick Castellanos, Bryce Johnson
Perhaps the surprise here is Nick Castellanos being labeled as an outfielder, but Cassavell wrote that Castellanos will likely play both corner outfield spots, first base and DH this season.
Infielders
Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, Gavin Sheets, Miguel Andujar, Ty France
The big surprise here is Sung-Mun Song, but his oblique injury has raised concerns about whether or not he is ready for Opening Day. This is a tough position group for Stammen to figure out. France has experience, Andujar and Sheets should easily grab spots, and that means it comes down to France and Mason McCoy, but Song being ready also makes things a bit trickier.
Catcher
Freddy Fermin, Luis Campusano
It isn't Ethan Salas time, at least not yet. Blake Hunt is also dealing with an injury, but the Padres holding just two catchers makes sense.
Fermin should get most of the starts, but finally, it is a chance for Campusano to get real playing time, and he could get at-bats at DH as well.