On Thursday, the Padres will officially introduce their next manager, Jayce Tingler. The following weekend they will unveil the highly-anticipated return of brown-themed uniforms. Consider both events the prologue to the fifth offseason for General Manager A.J. Preller in San Diego, likely his busiest yet if the Padres are truly going to finally open their window to contend in 2020.
Here’s a look at the business at hand:
A MATTER OF RECORD
- 2019 finish: 70-92, 5th in NL West
- At home: 36-45
- On the road: 34-47
- 2020 draft position: Eighth
WHAT’S NEXT
- A call to arms: Only the D-backs, with 73, asked rookie pitchers to start more games than the Padres (68), who set a club record with eight rookies making starts in 2019.