Padres News: Bob Melvin Weighing Going with 6 Man Starting Rotation

Bob Melvin talks Padres rotation before addition of Michael Wacha.

The San Diego Padres are heading into the 2023 season with some new faces, star returners, and a chip on their shoulder after a playoff run ended short last year. However, one of the biggest questions looming over the coaching staff heading into training camp is: Will the team go with a six-man rotation?

San Diego ran with this lineup last season and saw success throughout. Joe Musgrove, Blake Snell, and Yu Darvish all return to eat the bulk of innings to start games. They're joined by offseason addition Seth Lugo and reliever-turned-starter Nick Martinez as the primary five heading into spring. 

At least, that was until the news of the Michael Wacha signing.

Before the Wacha news, manager Bob Melvin spoke with media on Monday about the possibility of running with a six man rotation this season.

Bob Melvin was asked if he's mapped out what his starting rotation could look like and if there's a race for a 6th starter spot: pic.twitter.com/kOAgeqeIAB

— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) February 13, 2023

"We've mapped out the five that we know are going to be in the rotation," Melvin said. "Then there are going to be some spots where other guys are going to get an audition. ... As of right now, there's no decision on whether we're going five- or six-man rotation."

Those words yesterday now change a bit today with the signing of the veteran right-hander. Wacha likely slots into that number four spot in the rotation and adds enough depth to see a six man now become a reality.

With Lugo and Martinez both pitching mostly in relief over the last few seasons, it was clean an addition like Wacha was needed for the Pads. Additionally, Adrian Morejon could likely add his name to the mix to eat innings early in 2023.

Morejon came back from Tommy John surgery last season and he was eased back into the flow, usually only playing for about 2-3 innings at a time. Nick Martinez served as the sixth pitcher in the rotation in 2022 at times and carried a similar workload. 

This race for the sixth spot in the rotation will be quite interesting and very important to the Padres' development into a (hopeful) championship team.