MLB season preview: Can the Padres’ pitchers make them relevant?

Editor’s Note: With the arrival of baseball season we’re previewing each MLB team, from worst to best. We’ll look at their key offseason moves, projected lineup, best and worst possible outcomes plus examine the team’s fantasy implications. Our daily series continues with No. 25: The San Diego Padres.

After being the splashiest team of the 2015 offseason and having that blow up in their face quite embarrassingly, the Padres were much more understated this past winter. Win the offseason they did not, but they did address some needs — particularly adding Alexei Ramirez to play shortstop.

[2016 Yahoo Fantasy Baseball is open for business. Sign up now]

The Padres, though, play in what could be baseball’s most competitive division this season and it’s hard to imagine them getting it done with the Giants and Dodgers leading the division and the D-backs trying to catch both of them. What could improve San Diego’s fortunes is a big step forward for their pitchers. In 2015, many predicted the trio of James Shields, Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross could be among the best in baseball. it didn’t happen. Not even close. The Padres had the 10th worst ERA in baseball.

Cashner and Ross are still young enough that their best is ahead of them, so if they tap into their talent in 2016 and San Diego’s offense beats expectations, the Padres could be better than expected. Seems like a longshot — particularly for a team that went 74-88 last season then lost their best power hitter and their closer. 

Key additions: Alexei Ramirez, Fernando Rodney, Jon Jay

Key subtractions: Craig Kimbrel, Justin Upton, Ian Kennedy

The Padres lost a fair amount of talent this winter, and did little to replace those players in the majors. The team was fine getting draft picks for Upton and Kennedy, which may signal that they value the future over the present. The Kimbrel deal sent that same message, as the club dealt an excellent closer for four future prospects. It was a strange offseason, especially after the club went all-in last year. There are still talented players in tow, but the Padres could be candidates to sell off more parts at the deadline if the club fails to contend. (Chris Cwik) 

Wil Myers: Once upon a time, Myers was the headliner in a blockbuster trade. In fact, that trade was even called “The Wil Myers trade” for some time. Since then, injuries and ineffectiveness have caused analysts to rewrite history. Wrist issues can be devastating for hitters, and Myers has now had surgery on both of his wrists.

[Previously: Are the Phillies bad enough to lose 100 games?]

When he was healthy last season, he started to show some promising signs. His average was slightly up, and his power started to come back. At age-25, it’s far too early to write him off. If he can finally stay healthy, and avoid wrist issues, there’s a chance he can live up to his former reputation. We’re talking about a player who was once considered a consensus top-10 prospect. Unless injuries have completely wrecked him, there’s still a huge amount of talent in that bat. (Cwik)

Lineup:
1. Cory Spangenberg, 2B (.271/.333/.399, 38 R, 4 HR, 21 RBI)
2. Wil Myers, 1B (.253/.336/.427 40 R, 8 HR, 29 RBI)
3.  Yangervis Solarte, 3B (.270/.320/.428 63 R, 14 HR, 63 RBI)
4. Matt Kemp, OF (.265/.312/.443 80 R, 23 HR, 100 RBI, 12 SB)
5. Derek Norris, C (.250/.305/.404 65 R, 14 HR, 62 RBI)
6. Alexei Ramirez, SS (.249/.285/.357 54 R, 10 HR, 62 RBI, 17 SB)
7. Jon Jay, OF (.210/.306/.257 25 R, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
8. Travis Jankowski, OF (.211/.245/.344 9 R, 2 HR, 12 RBI)

Rotation:
1.  Tyson Ross (10-12, 3.26 ERA, 196 IP, 212 K)
2.  James Shields (13-7, 3.91 ERA 202.1 IP, 216 K)
3.  Andrew Cashner (6-16, 4.34 ERA, 194.2 IP, 165 K)
4. Brandon Maurer (7-4, 3.00 ERA, 51.0 IP, 39 K)
5. Colin Rea (2-2, 4.26 ERA, 31.2 IP, 26 K)

— compiled by Kyle Ringo

A.J. Preller fails to undo the damage he did in his first season as general manager and the Padres remain irrelevant. If that happens, they may have to reconsider everything they’re doing, beginning with following Preller’s lead. (Townsend)

Can James Shields bounce back?: Most pitchers see their fantasy value increase after moving from the American League to the National League, let alone ones joining Petco Park, but Shields finished with his highest ERA (3.91) and WHIP (1.33) since 2010 during his first season in San Diego. Petco Park has played more home run friendly of late, but it was still surprising to see Shields give up 33 dingers, including 19 in 98.1 innings at home. He’s thrown 200+ innings in each of the past nine seasons, so maybe all that mileage is catching up to him (his velocity dipped), but there were some encouraging signs last year that suggest otherwise. Shields’ K% (25.1) and SwStr% (12.4) were both career highs, so it’s possible all the homers he surrendered was just some bad luck. Shields is unlikely to receive much run support by the Padres, but there’s a good chance he returns to being a highly valuable fantasy starter.

[Elsewhere: See which players are being undervalued in early fantasy baseball drafts]

Jon Jay is new to the Padres after being acquired in an offseason trade, so what better way to get to know him a little bit than to follow him on social media. His Twitter and Instagram handle is @jonjayU. Why the U? Well, Jay is proud of his Miami roots, and especially proud of his days at the University of Miami. Many of his tweets and Instagram posts are about the Hurricanes’ baseball, basketball, and football teams. He’s thrilled to be in San Diego, though, and ready to patrol the outfield at Petco Park as well as explore the west coast. (Israel Fehr)

You know who likes pupplies? Pretty much everybody. You know who else? The Padres. They brought puppies out to their annual Photo Day this year, and it was quite adorable. 

Things can get ugly in San Diego this season. And if they’re out of the playoff hunt by August, they’ll still have that spring training day with the puppies.

PREVIOUSLY IN THIS SERIES: 
#30: Philadelphia Phillies | #29: Atlanta Braves | #28: Milwaukee Brewers | #27: Colorado Rockies | #26: Cincinnati Reds

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

– – – – – – –

Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz