The San Diego Padres aren’t known to really do “quiet” offseasons. They do something more like: “A.J. Preller disappears into a back room with 47 phones and re-emerges with something chaotic.” However, in early January, the vibe around San Diego is pretty clear: the roster is close… but it’s definitely not finished. AJ Cassavell noted pitchers and catchers are about five weeks from reporting, and he guessed Preller is only about halfway done with his winter work.
The latest breadcrumb came via MLB.com executive reporter Mark Feinsand: the Padres were in the bidding for Japanese corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto before he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.