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At long last Spring Training is upon us. Following a busy off-season for A.J. Preller and the Padres it is time to put a product on the field.
A few of the major story-lines in Padres camp this spring will be the position battles at third base, the 4th and 5th outfield spot and the final starter that will round out the pitching rotation.
At third base the competition will be between Will Middlebrooks and Yangervis Solarte.
Middlebrooks was acquired in an off-season trade with the Boston Red Sox. He had become the odd man out following the signings of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez. In his rookie season, Middlebrooks batted .288, smashing 15 home runs and posting a slugging percentage of .509. Since then he has struggled mightily hitting only .227 in the 2013 season and an abysmal .191 in 2014. His failure to make contact is evident in his alarming strikeout/walk rate. He strikes out 4.8 times for every walk he acquires. The Padres are hoping a change of scenery ignites Middlebrooks and he can produce similar numbers to what he put up his rookie season.
Solarte was another acquisition that was made over the past year. He was involved in the trade that sent long-time Padres third basemen Chase Headley to the New York Yankees. In 56 games as a member of the Padres he hit .267 with a .336 on-base percentage and a great strikeout-to-walk rate. With the great plate discipline and versatility, Solarte would likely hit at the top of the lineup should he win the starting job.
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