The Padres – and many observers – believed they had the right type of team to win the World Series last year. They had thunder in the lineup, but didn’t strike out. And they built a bullpen loaded with power arms.
They lost in the division series to the eventual champion Dodgers, who shut them out in Games 4 and 5. But they still believe they had the right idea, as reflected in today’s deal with the A’s for closer Mason Miller and starter JP Sears.
Remember that this Padres team was already the first to ever send three relievers to the All-Star Game: Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Robert Suarez. Now, they add Miller and his 13.9 K/9, to go with the three All-Stars and Jeremiah Estrada (12.2 K/9). No bullpen is that loaded.
The rotation still has questions. But Yu Darvish looked great against the Mets on Wednesday, and with Sears joining Nick Pivetta, Dylan Cease and Michael King (assuming he returns in mid-August, as expected), those are five more quality arms. Cobble together the innings however you want, but those 10 pitchers would seem to have the kind of stuff that plays in October
The offense is more concerning. San Diego hitters still have the fewest strikeouts in the National League, but they’re not slugging like they did last season; only one NL team, the Pirates, has fewer home runs than the Padres. AJ Preller has five more hours to address that weakness, but his day is off to a great start.