Un-Crowding the Padres Outfield

(Photo via @CPHSox )

Carlos Quentin
Reports suggest Quentin, a lifetime .252/.347/.484 hitter in 3,247 plate appearances, might be used at first base this season. Put simply, that’s an awful idea. The 32-year old has a career -9.2 defensive WAR in the outfield, and he’s never played first professionally.

The Padres have issues in the infield already; bringing a career outfielder – and a poor one at that – to first base is not smart. Yonder Alonso is a decent defensive first basemen light years ahead of Quentin.

In addition, Quentin has a daunting injury history, only playing a career high 131 games in 2010 when he was with the Chicago White Sox, and could start at DH a significant portion of the time. Spending time in the infield, which is more physically grueling than a corner outfield position, isn’t wise based on his history or his age.

In three seasons in San Diego, Quentin has played 86, 82, and 50 games, hitting .177/.284/.315 in 2014 with a 21.3% strikeout rate in 155 PAs. That’s very poor production and too many games missed for a player on a 4-year, $37 million contract that expires after he earns $8 million in 2015 (and a mutual $10 million option for 2016 that almost certainly will not be exercised).

Trade Quentin. Since he’s in the last year of his contract (no one, Padres or otherwise, should want to pick up the option in 2016), Quentin could be a rent-a-player as a fourth outfielder, DH, or pinch hitter. He’s got a power bat, with 173 career doubles and 154 career home runs and a decent eye, with a 9.2% career walk rate.

Should he stay healthy, there’s no reason to believe Quentin couldn’t land on a team that needs some offensive firepower. In return, the Padres could try to land an infielder with either a decent glove, or a decent bat (or both!). It looks as though all sides are in agreement.