5 dark horse teams for 2015 MLB playoffs

These are five teams that few expect to make the MLB playoffs, but could be there in the end

5. San Diego Padres

Few expected the Padres would be the winner of the James Shields derby, but that is what happened when Shields signed a four-year, $75 million deal to stay with his hometown, revamped Padres.

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Give first-year general manager A.J. Preller props for bringing in a winner on the largest free-agent contract in team history. Preller also acquired nearly every outfielder available trading for Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers, which should pay huge dividends for the seemingly forever offensively challenged Padres.

26-year old catcher Derek Norris is known more for his bat than his defensive prowess, but Preller liked Norris enough to trade two young arms to get him. Norris has been active getting to know his new pitchers with Shields leading a rotation that also boasts Andrew Cashner, Ian Kennedy, Brandon Morrow and Tyson Ross, who Norris knows well from his time in Oakland. Norris could also play some first base.

The Padres still don’t have a traditional lead-off hitter (few do) and are in the same division with the powerhouse Dodgers. But, they have to score more runs than they did last year and should at least contend of a wild card spot.

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