Since trading away Soto and Trent Grisham in early December, the Padres have exactly one starting-caliber outfielder —
Fernando Tatis Jr. — on their 40-man roster.
José Azocar, the only other rostered outfielder, has a career .633 OPS through two seasons. Free agents such as Michael A. Taylor and Adam Duvall are still out there, and the front office has been examining a variety of trade possibilities. Still, the Padres clearly intend to audition a few prospects in camp.
Those prospects are headlined by non-roster invitees
Jackson Merrill,
Graham Pauley and
Jakob Marsee — three left-handed hitters bidding to join a 40-man roster that also is short on lefty bats. Their big-league readiness will be put to a stern test. Merrill, Pauley and Marsee have limited experience above Single A. Merrill and Pauley have limited experience in the outfield. Other non-roster invitees include
Óscar Mercado,
Cal Mitchell and
Tirso Ornelas.
Accordingly, the Padres continue to be in the market for outfield additions. Teams with surpluses — the
Milwaukee Brewers and
Boston Red Sox, to name two — are potential trade partners.