The Padres have to name their final 25-man roster by Sunday. It appears they’re going to take as much time as they possibly can to make their final decisions. We know who 22 of the guys on the 2016 Opening Day roster are and the man most Friars faithful were hoping to see is on the list.
Outfielder Jabari Blash made the cut. As a Rule 5 draftee he will have to be kept on the big league roster for the entire season. Blash owns the kind of raw power that doesn’t come along very often, especially in the Padres organization.
If there were any doubts about his status at the end of Cactus League play they were erased when Blash went to El Paso and went 4-5 with two home runs, two doubles and five RBI in an exhibition game against the Chihuahuas. Padres manager Andy Green says Blash is “easy to dream on,” meaning his potential is off the charts.
Blash makes his first MLB Opening Day roster, as does fellow outfielder Travis Jankowski, who earned a spot on the team for his defense and speed. Along with Matt Kemp, John Jay and Melvin Upton Jr. the Padres are carrying five outfielders. At the beginning of the year Blash and Jankowski will be used as late-inning options, with Blash pinch-hitting from the right side and Jankowski coming in to protect leads on defense.
The Padres decided to keep another Rule 5 player in the pitching staff. Luis Perdomo, a 22-year-old right-hander who has tremendous upside but has never thrown a pitch above Single-A, is sticking with the big club. He’ll also be around for the entirety of 2016. Perdomo will start as a long reliever.
So all we’re waiting for now is a decision on the 5th starter, the final reliever and a reserve infielder. Here is your nearly-full 25-man roster:
PITCHERS
Tyson Ross
James Shields
Andrew Cashner
Drew Pomeranz
Fernando Rodney
Brandon Maurer
Kevin Quackenbush
Luis Perdomo
Carlos Villanueva
Matt Thornton
CATCHERS
Derek Norris
Christian Bethancourt
INFIELDERS
Wil Myers
Cory Spangenberg
Yangervis Solarte
Alexei Ramirez
Brett Wallace
OUTFIELDERS
Matt Kemp
John Jay
Melvin Upton Jr.
Jabari Blash
Travis Jankowski
General Manager A.J. Preller will reveal the team’s final decisions on Sunday. With him at the helm it is entirely possible a trade is in the works, as well.
