Draft prep: San Diego Padres outlook

Jake Peavy went into last year as a consolation prize for pitching-hungry Fantasy owners who missed out on Johan Santana on Draft Day. Then Peavy went out and dominated the NL and wound up being the best in baseball for a year.

But just for one year.

Now, we don't see him outscoring the new Mets ace this year, but he can knock out hitters with the best of them. If only the Padres had a more intriguing offense.

It is just so hard to score runs in bunches in San Diego -- which is the reason Fantasy owners will like picking up the Padres' pitchers more than their hitters on Draft Day. Adrian Gonzalez, Khalil Greene and Kevin Kouzmanoff are potential sleepers, though, if owners downgrade them too far on the merits (demerits) of the spacious ballpark.

Young hitters might find opportunities wide open for them, too, so watch Chase Headley and Matthew Antonelli if they find their way to the big league roster and wind up getting at-bats.

Spring position battles

Left field -- Chase Headley vs. Matthew Antonelli, Scott Hairston, Jeff DaVanon, Chip Ambres and Jody Gerut

Headley, a third baseman blocked by Kevin Kouzmanoff, and Antonelli, a second baseman now blocked by Tadahito Iguchi, were both shagging flies in the outfield this winter as the Padres have serious opportunities in their corner outfield spots. Headley might prove to be a capable third baseman, too, which might move Kouz to left. Headley might not be the elite prospect Antonelli is -- it's debateable either way -- but he is a year more mature at least. Consider him an NL Rookie of the Year candidate and a sleeper in deeper leagues. Antonelli winning the job would be even better news for Fantasy purposes because he opens with eligibility at second base, which is a much thinner position than third or outfield. The other losers of this wide-open derby will be relegated to nothing more than reserve duty and the deepest of NL-only leagues.

No. 5 starting pitcher -- Mark Prior vs. Justin Germano, Tim Stauffer and Wade LeBlanc

Prior isn't expected to be ready for the start of the season, but if he's healthy, there is big-time injury-risk sleeper potential here -- especially in that big pitcher's park. He signed a cheapo deal to pitch near his hometown and in an effort to build his shoulder back up. LeBlanc has long-term potential, but he's a long shot to make the opening-day rotation and isn't as big of a prospect as some of the Padres' other arms in our book. Germano and Stauffer would be nothing more than high-risk NL-only options if they get starts this season.

Catcher -- Michael Barrett vs. Josh Bard

Barrett took a huge step back last season and wound up taking a seat to Bard down the stretch. Barrett is closer to being a potential mixed league Fantasy starter than Bard, but we have a hunch these guys will share too many at-bats to be useful outside of NL-only leagues this season. Consider them last-resort catcher options on Draft Day.

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