MLB Power Rankings: Post Winter Meetings

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: Giancarlo Stanton is introduced as a member of the New York Yankees during the 2017 Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort on Monday, December 11, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals at bat against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

26. San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres have made one relatively minor move this winter, acquiring Chase Headley and Bryan Mitchell from the New York Yankees. It was a salary dump for the Yankees and a chance for the Padres to see if Mitchell can stick in the big leagues as a starting pitcher. The right-hander will be 27 in April and has yet to complete a full season in the big leagues.

Headley has one more year left on his current contract worth $13 million and is coming off a so-so tenure with the Yankees. He never quite lived up to the $52-million deal, hitting .262/.339/.387 with 43 home runs in 501 games. The deterioration of his power was the biggest disappointment. Headley’s best MLB season came with the Padres in 2012 when he hit 31 home runs and drove in 115 runs and won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove. The Padres may look to flip Headley again or hold him until the trade deadline and hope he hits well in the first four months of the season.

There have been rumors that the Padres would like to make a play on first baseman Eric Hosmer, but he would be by far the most expensive player in franchise history. Hosmer might be willing to play in a smaller market like San Diego after spending the first seven years of his career in Kansas City. The big problem that comes with signing a player like him is that the Padres would be forced to overpay to convince the World Series champion to join a perennial rebuilder. There is also the issue of finding a place for Wil Myers to play if Hosmer is willing to come aboard. Myers is a bad defensive first baseman but a worse outfielder.

San Diego had one of the worst offenses in all of baseball last year, and it will be more of the same in 2018. It was interesting to see them listed among the finalists for Shohei Ohtani’s services. A.J. Preller and the front office had worked hard to try and cultivate a relationship with Ohtani and it nearly paid off for them.

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