The No-Name Padres Offense

It’s no surprise that a team sporting a 45-60 record has been selling off pieces over the past month. That’s exactly what has happened for the Padres, who now trots out a starting offense that includes many names most baseball fans and fantasy owners would have to search for on these very pages to learn more about (including me). So let’s dive into this no-name offense and see if we could find any hidden treasures.

Now that Matt Kemp has been sent packing, in addition to Melvin Upton Jr. who was traded nearly a week ago, the Padres outfield has been in flux. This, of course, spells opportunity.

Travis Jankowski has solidified himself as the leadoff man, which has resulted in a near 94 runs scored pace over 650 plate appearances and a fantastic 61 steals. Unfortunately, he’s been an asset in only those two categories, and has been quite the negative in the other three. What’s scary is that .220 batting average comes with a .327 BABIP, so it’s not even like he has been suffering from some poor fortune on balls in play. The good news is that an elite walk rate has kept his OBP in good territory, he has posted significantly better strikeout rates in the minors, and his current SwStk% is actually much better than the league average, so a strikeout rate improvement seems likely. His issue has simply been that he isn’t swinging, as he has been far too passive.

I discussed Alex Dickerson last week when recommending him as a deep league waiver wire option, and now his playing time is even more secure. Of course, I seemingly jinxed him as he hasn’t even played since the day I posted the recommendation due to injury. His combination of power and contact ability is intriguing.

The latest beneficiary of the Padres selloff is Jabari Blash, acquired from the Athletics in the offseason as part of the Yonder Alonso trade and owner of a super cool name. Blash is already 27, so he’s no top prospect, but he has shown immense power everywhere he has played in the minors and strong walk rates. Just looking at the stats, I have no idea why he was available in the Rule 5 draft to begin with (how the Athletics acquired him from the Mariners) as he looks like a potentially solid hitter. He does strike out a lot, but when you possess the power and patience he does, it’s acceptable. He’s an immediate add in deep leagues.

Who the heck is Ryan Schimpf?! He sounds more like the silent third partner of Bubba Gump Shrimp Company than a baseball player, but the humorously named Schimpf has already knocked nine homers in just 127 plate appearances and sports a robust 23.1% HR/FB rate. And he has displayed that power while qualifying at a typically power-starved position, second base. Interestingly, he boasts nearly identical walk and strikeout rates as Jankowski, but unlike the latter, his weak batting average is suppressed by a .230 BABIP. All those fly balls (he leads baseball in FB% among those with at least 100 plate appearances) is going to make it unlikely his BABIP jumps to league average (.300), but you would certainly assume it’s going to rise at least a bit from here. He has always shown power in the minors, and patience too, but never this good. Still, even if he is playing a bit over his head, he’ll be hitting in the middle of the order and contributing power from a middle infield spot. He shouldn’t remain unowned in even 12-team mixed leagues.

So the Padres are running out four players totally off the mixed league radar heading into the season that could earn some value in those formats over the rest of the year. The team is also expected to call up top prospects Manuel Margot, a speedy, high contact bat, and Hunter Renfroe, a power guy who has cut his strikeout rate to the best mark of his minor league career, at some point as well.