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San Diego Padres: Grading 3 Biggest Offseason Signings So Far

By Pete Schauer

Aug 17, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) prepares to bat in the fourth inning of their game at Turner Field. The Braves won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) prepares to bat in the fourth inning of their game at Turner Field. The Braves won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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We hand out grades for some of the San Diego Padres’ biggest offseason signings this winter.

The San Diego Padres haven’t finished a season above .500 since 2010, but that’s all going to change for the 2015 MLB season.

The Padres have made a flurry of offseason additions—highlighted by the acquisitions of big bats like Matt Kemp and Justin Upton—to take control of an offense that ranked 30th in the league in runs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage last season.

San Diego, now looking like the most improved team this offseason—and they’re not even done—could now even be considered favorites to win the NL West division, which would be the first time since 2006.

With that, we assign grades for some of the Padres’ biggest signings this winter.

Sep 23, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Derek Norris (36) hits a single against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Derek Norris (36) hits a single against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Derek Norris, C

It’s always nice when a club is available to take advantage of a fire sale from another team, and that’s what the Padres did when they added Derek Norris from Billy Beane’s Oakland Athletics squad.

Norris came to San Diego along with right-hander Seth Streich and an international signing slot in exchange for Jesse Hahnand and R.J. Alvarez.

The 25-year-old catcher is still finding his stride in the big leagues, but he’s a much-needed addition for San Diego.

The catcher position was a sore spot for the Pads last season, as Yasmani Grandal and Rene Rivera both manned the backstop and combined to hit .238.

Norris isn’t going to wow anyone with his power—especially in Petco Park—but he is the type of catcher who can command the pitching staff and be a leader on the field for the defense.

With some big bats now in the lineup, Norris will have more opportunities to see better pitches and produce at the dish.

Grade: B

Sep 8, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) jogs to first base after being walked during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Washington Nationals defeated Atlanta Braves 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Justin Upton (8) jogs to first base after being walked during the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Washington Nationals defeated Atlanta Braves 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Justin Upton, OF

Continuing the onslaught of improvements this offseason, San Diego was able to get Justin Upton from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Jace Peterson, Max Fried, Mallex Smith, and Dustin Peterson.

Upton is fresh off a 2014 campaign that saw him drive in a career-high 102 RBI—the first time in his eight year career that he breached the 100 RBI mark.

What makes this signing extremely beneficial for the Padres is the fact that Upton is open to signing a long term deal with San Diego, according to Bill Baer of NBC Sports.

The 27-year-old outfielder is entering the last year of his six-year, $51.25 million extension that he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010, and he’ll make $14.5 million this upcoming season.

As long as Upton has a productive season in San Diego—and let’s be honest, most of us are expecting him to—then the Padres could be the team that Upton spends much of the second-half of his career with.

Grade: A

October 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp (27) reacts after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
October 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp (27) reacts after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Matt Kemp, OF

Arguably the biggest splash the Padres made in the offseason pool was the acquisition of slugger Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After a down season in 2013—Kemp played in just 73 games for L.A. due to injury and hit only six home runs and drove in 33 RBI while batting .270—the 30-year-old saw a resurgence in 2014.

Kemp got back into the groove last season, hitting .287, and finding the power again, launching 25 homers and driving in 89 runs in 150 games.

In an earlier column, I graded this deal an A-, but I’m going to bump that up to an A following the addition of Justin Upton.

Kemp now has more protection in the lineup with the addition of Upton, and I think we see an MVP-like season from the slugger in 2015.

On top of it all, the Dodgers will pay $32 million toward Kemp’s deal with the Padres, meaning that San Diego will only shell out $3 million of its own money this season for the All-Star.

Grade: A

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