Jake Peavy is one of the top pitchers in fantasy this season.

Catchers – Josh Bard, Michael Barrett, Colt Morton

Josh Bard is great defensive catcher, and that is about all he has going for him as a baseball player.  Bard will get some hits, and he will hit some home runs, but he will not make it worth a roster spot on a fantasy team.  Michael Barrett will compete for the starting job this spring, but, along with his teammate Josh Bard, he will not produce enough to make reasonable to draft either one.  Colt Morton will likely spend the season in the minors until the September call-ups. 

First Base – Adrian Gonzalez, Tony Clark, Brian Myrow

Adrian Gonzalez took time in the off-season to work with Padres great Tony Gwynn to work on his approach at the plate, and hopefully this will help to cut out some of the strikeouts.  Gonzalez last season hit .282 with 30 home runs and 100 RBI.  Gonzalez is worth being drafted as one of the top first basemen behind Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard.  Gonzalez will have a .300/30/100/100 year.  Tony Clark is still capable of hitting the long ball, but he will not play everyday.  Clark will go undrafted in many leagues, and will only get used as a pinch hitter and as a designated hitter for inter-league play.  With the recent addition of Clark, Brian Myrow will likely spend the year in the minors.

Middle Infielders – Tadahito Iguchi, Khalil Greene, Oscar Robles, Craig Stansberry

Tadahito Iguchi’s power numbers fell last season and don’t expect him to turn that around in the pitcher friendly park in San Diego.  Iguchi is worth a late round pick at best as a middle infielder and unless they’re no other options, he should be a reserve for most of the year.  Khalil Greene has trouble being consistent at the plate, but he did manage to hit 27 home runs and he drove in 97 RBI.  Watch for Greene to hit .290 with 30 home runs and 100 RBI.  Greene will be a good option as a number one shortstop this year and will be one of the early picks at shortstop after the big names are taken.  Robles and Stansberry will be non-factors in the fantasy leagues as both will struggle to stay with the parent club.

Third Base – Kevin Kouzmanoff, Chase Headley

Kevin Kouzmanoff made great strides last year after the All-Star break proved that he could be worth a mid to late draft pick at third base.  Look for Kouzmanoff to continue his progress and hit .285 with 25-30 home runs.  Chase Headley has a good chance to take the starting third base job from Kouzmanoff.  Headley is considered one of the best prospects at third base and has the potential to be a .300/30/100 guy.  In keeper leagues it may worth a draft pick to go out and get Headley for the future, as he will start for a major league club in next year or so.

Outfielders – Brian Giles, Jim Edmonds, Scott Hairston

Brian Giles suffered a knee injury last year that may affect his career.  Even though he underwent surgery to fix a microfracture in his knee, he wont regain the power he once had.  Along with his power Giles will struggle to steal bases and his swing could be affected so much due to his knee, that he wont get the proper push needed to get a solid swing.  Giles may prove everyone wrong, but it’s unlikely.  Giles should be left to the later rounds of the deepest of fantasy drafts.  Jim Edmonds is old and brittle.  Is there anything else to say about the 37 year old centerfielder that has seen his playing time and numbers plummet due to injury.  Scott Hairston is the only outfielder for the Padres that has a chance to produce any kind of fantasy numbers.  Hairston has good power and has a decent eye when at the plate.  Hairston would be a good sleeper in the later rounds of the draft.

Starting Rotation – Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux, Randy Wolf, Mark Prior

Jake Peavy is a must have pitcher.  The Cy Young Award winner was 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA and 240 strikeouts.  Peavy is a lock to win 20 games with a sub 3.00 ERA and 200 plus K’s.  Peavy will be one of the top pitchers taken in the draft.  Chris Young will stay healthy this year and have a breakthrough season.  Watch for Young to win 15 or more games with a strikeout per inning and a 3.50 ERA or better.  Young will hang around in the draft for a while due to his frailness, but jump on him if the opportunity arises.  Greg Maddux does not get the strikeouts needed to be a good fantasy pitcher and wont win as many games as he has in years past.  Both Randy Wolf and Mark Prior are too much of an injury risk to bother with in the draft.  Mark Prior’s risk of another injury out weighs the potential more than any other injury-plagued player in major league baseball.

Bullpen – Trevor Hoffman, Heath Bell, Cla Meredith, Kevin Cameron, Justin Hampson, Carlos Guevara

Trevor Hoffman is one of the best closers in history, but he is 40 years old and coming off surgery.  Hoffman’s experience could help him bounce back from a down year, his age and body might have something else planned.  Hoffman is still a viable number two option at closer and will go in the middle of the draft.  Heath Bell, Cla Meredith and Carlos Guevara are all must have middle relievers.  The rest of the bullpen is for the deepest NL-only leagues.

Projected Lineup

Brian Giles, Right Field

Tadahito Iguchi, Second Base

Adrian Gonzalez, First Base

Khalil Greene, Shortstop

Jim Edmonds, Center Field

Kevin Kouzmanoff, Third Base

Josh Bard, Catcher

Scott Hairston, Left Field

Projected Rotation

Jake Peavy

Chris Young

Greg Maddux

Randy Wolf

Mark Prior

Closer

Trevor Hoffman