San Diego Padres DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The San Diego Padres would like to keep outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Platinum Glove in right field in 2024, but they haven't ruled out the possibility of moving him over to center field after trading both Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees this offseason. Most of the potential outfield trade candidates are limited to a corner outfield spot, and the free-agent center field market is a wasteland of options. Although the 24-year-old hit .225 with nine home runs and 15 steals in the second half of the season, he managed to stay healthy all year and played 141 games after serving a 20-game suspension to begin the year. It might be optimistic to expect him to return to his pre-PED form, but Tatis is better than his second half would suggest and offers fantasy managers plenty of upside offensively.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (elbow) is recovering from right-elbow extensor tendon repair surgery in early October and might not be ready to play defense by late March. It means that Machado might have to serve as the team's primary designated hitter to open the 2024 regular season. If that's the case, Gold Glover Ha-Seong Kim would be the likely replacement as the regular third baseman at the hot corner until Machado can return to play defense. Despite playing most of the year with his elbow injury, the 31-year-old six-time All-Star hit .258/.319/.462 with 30 home runs, 91 RBI and 75 runs scored in 601 plate appearances over 138 games played. There's a little more risk on Machado because of the fact that he might not be ready for Opening Day, but when healthy, he should continue to be one of the most consistent producers in fantasy at the hot corner.

San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano is poised to take over as the team's primary catcher in 2024. However, the 25-year-old backstop needs to stay healthy after being limited to 49 games in 2023. Campusano had an .847 OPS in his 49 games. No other Padres catcher has had an .800 OPS over at least 80 games since Nick Hundley in 2011. Kyle Higashioka, who was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade, could take some pressure off of Campusano by catching around 70 games. Campusano doesn't offer much defensively, but he has offensive upside in fantasy after clubbing seven home runs, driving in 30 and scoring 27 runs while hitting .319/.356/.491 in 174 plate appearances.