Over the last few months we’ve been hearing a lot about the Padres embarking on a youth movement. Now we’re getting a good look at just how much they’re committing to the plan.
On Friday the Friars filled out their 40-man roster and the age range of the players on it is not exactly vast. The Padres selected the contracts of outfielder Franchy Cordero, infielder Javier Guerra and right-handed pitchers Walker Lockett and Jose Ruiz.
Guys they lost include right-handed pitcher Leonel Campos, who was claimed off outright waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays; infielder Brett Wallace, who was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso and elected free agency; and outfielder Oswaldo Arcia, who was designated for assignment.
Now that Wallace is gone the eldest San Diego Padre is left-handed pitcher Ryan Buchter, who is just 29 years old. The youngest is shortstop Javier Guerra, who just turned 21 at the end of September.
The Padres 40-man roster has 24 guys that were born in the 1990’s. Yes that’s right more than half of the San Diego roster was not alive when Pearl Jam was formed. I know … I feel old, too.
But perhaps this is a good thing. The Padres have finally fully committed to the rebuild. No more of this trying to fight on two fronts (winning at the MLB level while still building the minor league system). That can work if you have the kind of cash the Cubs or Yankees or Red Sox bring in. But it’s simply not viable in a market the size of San Diego.
Of course this does not include any free agent signings or trades the Padres might be making in the coming months. You would think the team would almost have to, just out of sheer happenstance, end up with at least one player in his 30’s this season (and they are talking to LHP Derek Holland, who is a dinosaur at the age of 30).
But for now the youth have inherited the Padres, and with a skipper in charge who is not yet 40 (Andy Green is 39 until July) we'll see if they're all able to grow up together.
