I knew as soon as I did the post on what the Padres lineup was on the day I did it, that the lineup would change. But, it hasn’t messed up this post too much. Cameron Maybin got called back up after his rehab stint and has already improved his .090 batting average 49 points. Kyle Blanks was all set to be sent down until Yonder Alonso was injured and had to go on the 15-day DL. So, without further ado… here is the Padres bench and our likelihood of seeing them in El Paso next year.
Padres Bench (and Cameron Maybin)
Cameron Maybin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1. Cameron Maybin (CF) – Cameron is locked up until 2017 and it appears to be a good thing. Before his recent DL stint he was batting .090/.167/.121 in a pretty small sample size. He went down to rehab at Tucson (which would have been El Paso were this 2014) and returned recently against the Rockies. He appears to be bringing it all together so to speak. His line in his first game back – 2 for 3, 2 RBI, 2 SB, R, BB. Not too shabby.
We won’t see him in El Paso unless something like this happens again. Not wishing anything bad on the guy but, I wouldn’t mind seeing him at some point next year.
2. Nick Hundley (C) – Not having too bad of a year for a back-up Catcher, where he will stay assuming Grandal plays like the Padres believe that he can. .238/.284/.371 with 3 HR and 13 RBI while throwing out 27% of base stealers. There is a team option on in him for 2015.
I think he will be staying in the Big Leagues until his option is declined in 2015 or he signs for the minimum. Sorry if I offend him or any Padres fans with this assumption.
3. Kyle Blanks (1B/OF) – Blanks is playing surprisingly well this season. Unfortunately, it looks like he still may be heading back down to AAA when Yonder Alonso comes back from the DL. Kyle’s line this season is .264/.355/.407 with 3 HR and 14 RBI. He is arbitration eligible after this season so, the Padres may have a little bit of a dilemma upcoming.
I think that a deal will get done this offseason to avoid arbitration. I also think there is a 75% chance that Blanks starts the season in El Paso next year.
4. Mark Kotsay (1B/OF) – Kotsay can still hit. Probably will the rest of his career… which should end after this season. He ranks in the 20’s in pretty much every career statistical category for active players. Dude’s been around a long time. .268/.328/.286. A lot of people believe that he should be DFA’d rather than Kyle Blanks being demoted. I think the Padres may want to consider it. It’s time to get a good look at Blanks prior to arbitration, whereas you are probably going to lose Kotsay no matter what this offseason.
o% chance of Kotsay playing in El Paso next year. I think he will retire this offseason. That being said, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he came to town as a roving hitting instructor for the Padres to work with people like Kyle Blanks down here with the El Paso Whatever’s.
5. Alexi Amarista (IF/OF) – .265/.301/.444, 4 HR, 15 RBI – He’s a pretty solid bench guy/glove.
There’s always a chance that you will see these guys dip down to AAA for weeks at a time. It’s going to be so awesome to have AAAA talent coming back and forth to El Paso all season! Seriously… not joking. You guys who haven’t watched AAA baseball have no idea how much this is going to put to shame any level of baseball that has been played in El Paso in the past.
Kyle Blanks in 2010 spring training with the Padres. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Future El Paso 1B.
6. Jesus Guzman (IF/OF) – Guzman has appeared in 43 games this season which is a pretty good amount. However, his .195/.275/.280 line to go along with his 23 K to 8 BB is going to mean that he may stay at 43 a while. He has a career slash of .266/.330/.418 and hasn’t been down to AAA since 2011. He is arbitration eligible this year.
I don’t think he will be with the Padres to come down to El Paso next year… unless something drastic happens.
That’s it for the Padres bench, and that whole Maybin/Blanks thing. My next post in this series will be about the Padres pitchers and then on to the minor leagues. Time to get back to the draft! See y’all soon!
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