Padres News: Bob Melvin Talks Final Friars Roster Spot
The Padres have most of their roster locked up on the position player side. With 13 available spots, they have 12 of them filled by catchers Austin Nola and Luis Campusano, infielders Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, Ha-Seong Kim, and Manny Machado, outfielders Trent Grisham, Juan Soto, Adam Engel, and Fernando Tatis Jr. (when he's done with his suspension), and designated hitters Nelson Cruz and Matt Carpenter.
That leaves just spot, with several players battling for it. San Diego can let the battle drift into the regular season a little bit because Tatis won't be eligible for the first few weeks, but at some point they'll have to call it.
Friars manager Bob Melvin talked with the media recently about that last spot and how Brandon Dixon might have an advantage over the competition.
"Versatility in a bench spot for a big league team is paramount these days, so when you get a guy that can play the outfield and the infield, it certainly is a leg up."
A reporter noted that Dixon has gotten a lot of opportunities this spring and asked if that will continue, and that's where Melvin got into the difficulty of the decision.
"Yeah, well, [David] Dahl's doing pretty well, too, and [Taylor] Kohlwey's a guy that we like, as well. You know, Sugar [Jose Azocar], there's gonna be a lot of opportunities for all these guys, and then see how, you know, with Juan going away, Fernando probably playing a little bit more, we'll just see what we think our needs are, and that usually comes right down to the wire as far as that last spot."
Dixon and Azocar are both on the 40-man roster, but both have minor-league options available. Dahl signed a minor-league deal this offseason, and Kohlwey is a 2016 draft pick of the Padres who played in Triple-A the last two seasons.
As Melvin said, these decisions often do come down to the last day or two of spring, and with Tatis's suspension, this one could drag on even into the regular season.
