Team-by-team outlooks

Adrian Gonzalez is so good, he could single-handedly change this opinion, but if you're looking for Fantasy players in San Diego, it should be a pitcher.

Jake Peavy is a potential Cy Young winner. Chris R. Young is a big-time third-year starting pitcher breakout. Greg Maddux is a solid veteran who should be bouyed by Petco Park. Clay Hensley is quietly one of the best starters you might have never heard of. (Forget David Wells, he's just here to take up innings and space -- a lot of it.) Trevor Hoffman remains one of the steady veteran closers worth trusting -- especially behind that rotation and solid bullpen -- which will have the added expertise of new manager (ex-Angels pitching coach) Bud Black.

We do like Khalil Greene as a 27-year-old breakout candidate and he might even qualify as a sleeper, too, because he could go off the board after 10 other shortstops on Draft Day.

But, he better be good, because that Padres lineup won't scare anyone if Gonzalez cannot get pitches to hit.

Spring position battles

Third base -- Kevin Kouzmanoff vs. Russell Branyan, Todd Walker and Chase Headley

If the Padres gave up Josh Barfield to start Branyan or Walker, the GM deserves to be fired. Kouz, the 2006 prospect surprise who flirted with .400 in Double- and Triple-A, has good offensive potential and ranks in our top 10 rookies to target on Draft Day. He's going to start the season as a low-end option at third base in a standard mixed league, but he could finish as a surprisingly productive one and as an NL Rookie of the Year -- even in that pitcher's park. Branyan and Walker are nothing more than NL-only reserves, while Headley is a long-term keeper prospect worth keeping an eye on. He could push the defensively shaky Kouz to the outfield.

Left field -- Terrmel Sledge vs. Jose Cruz, Paul McAnulty and Jack Cust

Sledge should easily win this position battle, but the question is how healthy can he stay and how productive can he be? Frankly, he looks like a reserve outfielder who will get more at-bats than he really deserves. His open opportunity makes him a sleeper for deeper NL-only leagues at least, though. McAnulty has a sneaky-good bat as a flier for the deepest of NL-only formats, while Cruz and Cust should be in your Fantasy rear-view mirror now.

San Diego Padres Outlook
Projected lineup Pos. Projected Rotation
1 Marcus Giles 2B 1 Jake Peavy RH
2 Terrmel Sledge LF 2 Chris R. Young RH
3 Brian Giles RF 3 Greg Maddux RH
4 Adrian Gonzalez 1B 4 Clay Hensley RH
5 Khalil Greene SS 5 David Wells LH
6 Mike Cameron CF Alt Mike Thompson RH
7 Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B Top bullpen arms
8 Josh Bard C CL Trevor Hoffman RH
Top bench options SU Scott Linebrink RH
R Russell Branyan 3B/OF RP Cla Meredith RH
R Todd Walker UTL RP Scott Cassidy RH
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2006 high Destination
1 Kevin Kouzmanoff 25 3B Majors Majors
You don't trade a Josh Barfield unless you have a conviction here
2 Cesar Carrillo 22 RH SP Triple-A Triple-A
If he doesn't need elbow surgery, he's a big-time sleeper prospect
3 Chase Headley 22 3B Class A Double-A
He could turn Kouz into an outfielder before the start of 2008
4 Paul McAnulty 26 1B/OF Majors Majors
Very good bat, but one without a position; he could surprise us
5 Will Venable 24 OF Class A Class A
Max Venable's son projects as a reserve outfielder at this point
Best of the rest: LHP Sean Thompson, 24; OF Chad Huffman, 21; C Nick Hundley, 23; RHP Jared Wells, 25; LHP Royce Ring, 26; LHP Cesar Ramos, 22; OF Cedric Hunter, 19; 3B Matt Antonelli, 21; C Colt Morton, 24; 3B David Freese, 23; LHP Wade LeBlanc, 22; SS Matt Bush, 21; 2B Luis Cruz, 23; RHP Andrew Brown, 26; 1B Kyle Blanks, 20.

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