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“Padres-Roster Traffic Jam”

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We’re a week away from starting the baseball season.

It’s snowing in Cincinnati, 5″ on the field at Great American Ballpark.

There are still unsigned free agents out there, led by power hitting veteran Jason Werth and others.

The Angels have a tough decision to make on Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese free agent, who is (3-24) as a DH, with a 27.00-ERA on the mound.

The Dodgers are bravely trying to tell everyone they can survive two months without power hitting 3rd baseman Justin Turner, as he recovers from a fractured wrist.

So there’s lots going on in different places, and the Padres camp is one of those places.

Interesting decisions coming with the 25-man roster cut.

It appears they want both Jose Pirela in the lineup at the same time as Will Myers, so that means Hunter Renfroe is an extra piece. Upcoming decision, keep him as the 4th outfielder, or let him go back to El Paso and polish his game. Somebody plays left, somebody right, and somebody sits or goes elsewhere..

Renfroe can hit home runs, but his batting average and strikeouts still seem to be an issue. I would not trade him yet.

There’s also a roster overload with utility outfielders, and what they might do with Travis Jankowski or Franchy Cordero, who has hit everywhere but in the majors yet.

The Padres are on the hook for 13M in the final year of Chase Headley’s contract from the Yankees, and his trade value is limited unless somebody loses a key 3rd sacker somewhere else.

Christian Villanueva can hit, can play 3rd, and is out of options. If they put him on waivers, he likely gets claimed by someone else. Headley could also play some first if necessary, but star Eric Hosmer wants to play all 162-games. Villanueva has been tested as a possible backup shortstop, but who knows about his defense.

Move to the starting rotation, and it appears that Tyson Ross has pitched his way into a slot behind Luis Perdomo, Clayton Richard and Donelson Lamet. Ross claims the 4th spot.

Who knows about the 5th slot. Chris Young is (39)-would he go to El Paso to start the season? Robbie Erlin has had limited good outings, coming off elbow surgery? Jordan Lyles has not had a good spring starting? Matt Strahm does not appear physically ready coming of knee surgery.

And then to the kids. Joey Luchessi has been superb, in his spring starts, coming off 2-strong years in the minors. Eric Lauer could be a half season away from being part of the rotation.

Do they gamble with a kid pitcher, or hope a journeyman veteran can give them enough ‘bridge starts’ till the kids are really

So as they shovel snow in Boston-Cleveland and Cincinnati, here in San Diego we await the decisions they have to make.

The Padres have a traffic jam on the roster. Not that any decision will take them from 75-wins to 90-wins this year, but the right decision will allow them to maybe be a .500-team and maybe get into the wildcard playoff race.

Interesting to see who gets the green light to start the season here, and who gets red-lighted to start in the Pacific Coast League.

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