There are two kinds of teams in October’s afterglow: the ones shopping for certainty, and the ones shopping for innings. The San Diego Padres need both — but above all, they need to harden the rotation with controllable, mid-tier starters who don’t break the farm. That’s why the Cincinnati Reds should be circled in red ink at the top of A.J. Preller’s winter board. Cincinnati’s problem isn’t arms; it’s run creation.
San Diego’s problem isn’t only bats; it’s durable, bankable starts that keep the bullpen from melting by August. The fit is obvious: match an MLB-ready hitter to a club chasing offense and pull back a starter with years of control.