Padres Unlikely to Acquire Another Outfielder Before Spring Training: Report

San Diego is looking at its internal options to start the season.

After trading away star outfielder Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees, the San Diego Padres are lacking outfield depth. Beyond Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres have two open spots in their outfield.

They do have a few internal options to look at, such as Jose Azocar, Cal Mitchell, Bryce Johnson and Oscar Mercado, among others. And it seems that San Diego may be looking to stay internal to solve their issues.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal is reporting that San Diego plans to look inside the organization for their outfield help, rather than making a trade or signing.

"The signing of a free agent such as Michael A. Taylor is still possible. So is a trade with a team deep in outfielders like the Milwaukee Brewers. But neither option seems particularly likely, making it quite possible the Padres will spend the spring auditioning young players such as Jackson Merrill, Jakob Marsee and Graham Pauley."

— Ken Rosenthal via The Athletic

The Padres want to keep their payroll as low as they can while still fielding a competitive team in 2024. If they can get the chance to see what some of their younger players can do, it will better suit them moving forward.

Marsee's name has swiftly made its way through the baseball world. He was recently chosen MVP of the Arizona Fall League, and became the first minor league player to hit 15 home runs, draw 90 walks and steal 40 bases since 2005.

The 22-year-old could be an intriguing option for the Padres, and his production in Spring Training will tell the story of his chances.

Merrill can play both infield and outfield, giving the Padres some added flexibility if he can make the roster. He is a top-30 prospect in the game according to every list, and the Padres are very high on his upside.

Either way, San Diego looks to be going with a youth movement in the outfield. The rival Los Angeles Dodgers did the same last season, and it worked out well for them. 

San Diego is in a unique position right now. Their best major league players are household names; their best prospects are also highly ranked but have yet to establish themselves in the major leagues. 

It's a unique arrangement, but the Padres are doing what they can to maintain balance and remain competitive.