PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — San Diego Padres pitchers and catchers reported
to spring training on Tuesday morning. This year more than any other,
that's one huge group.
The Padres will have 37 pitchers in camp this week, a total that is significant in several areas.
The volume will help the Padres navigate a spring training extended
by the World Baseball Classic, which features a franchise-record 38
games. It allows manager Bud Black to keep his veterans out of the early
exhibitions. And, perhaps most importantly, it gives the Padres a deep
well to fill a shallow starting rotation.
"We've talked about the need for some arms to handle the early
schedule and the length of spring training," Padres manager Bud Black
said. "With the number of games and the competition we have for a couple
of spots, it's an opportunity to run some guys out there a few more
times during the spring."
Right now, only Clayton Richard and Edinson Volquez have secured
spots in a rotation without a true ace. Veteran Jason Marquis, a 2012
midseason signee who re-signed with the club, is a strong candidate for
another spot.
Several starters will battle for the remaining few. Anthony Bass,
Eric Stults and Casey Kelley were used as fill-ins in last season's
injury-riddled rotation, and are considered front-runners to become
full-time starters. Freddy Garcia was also signed as a non-roster
invitee.
The Padres used stopgap starters following a run of injuries that
sidelined several, including starters Tim Stauffer and Cory Luebke for
most of the season.
"There are positives to be taken from our injury struggles last
year," Richard said. "It was difficult at the time, but so many guys
gained invaluable experience that will help us now. It should be an
interesting spring for the pitchers in camp."
The Padres tried in vain to bring in an impact free-agent starter
this offseason. The Padres were priced out of the market for several
free agents, but Black believes there is talent in camp to fill the
rotation's glaring holes.
"I like the names we have," Black said.
Unheralded prospects will get a long, early look. Exhibitions start
on Feb. 22, and Black said Tuesday that pitchers expected to make the
club could skip several early games.
"Our roster size is well thought out," Richard said. "We have a lot
of games, so we need a lot of bodies. More spring innings need more
pitchers, and that will help us get through this stretch as ready and as
complete a pitching staff as we can be."
Notes: Catcher Yasmani Grandal, suspended 50 games because of a
positive test for testosterone, is in camp but will not speak with
reporters until later in the week. . Padres manager Bud Black said
starter Edinson Volquez's workload will be monitored closely this
spring, especially when he's with the Dominican Republic during the
World Baseball Classic. . Pitcher Jose DePaula was the only no-show
among Padres required to report to spring training Tuesday. He spent the
2012 season on the restricted list dealing with visa issues. The team
said he's expected to report Thursday.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
