SAN DIEGO - The 2013 San Diego Padres look almost exactly like the 2012 version that finished fourth in the NL West, 18 games behind the World Series champion San Francisco Giants.
Many fans don't think that's a good thing. They expected the owners, including four members of the third generation of the O'Malley family, to make a big splash to pump up a team with an underwhelming rotation and a lineup already affected by injuries and a PED suspension.
It didn't help that the previous owners made off with the bulk of the $200 million upfront fee paid by Fox Sports San Diego as part of a 20-year, $1.2 billion TV deal.
The new owners, though, felt that barely making a ripple was the right way to begin their stewardship, even though the Padres are coming off their fourth losing record in five seasons.
"I hope the descriptions of our team as a sleeper that will compete effectively is accurate, because we think it is," executive chairman Ron Fowler said
Fowler is the control person in a group that includes former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley's sons Kevin and Brian, and nephews Peter and Tom Seidler.
"We will make prudent long-term decisions, but to come in and make a splash for the sake of making a splash, we're not going to do that," said Fowler, nicknamed "The Sultan of Suds" after making a fortune from his beer distributorships. "We are convinced we can have a methodical build in terms of increasing payroll and increasing performance and we think we have done a pretty good job of understanding how baseball works. We feel good about the way we set things up. We feel good about our financial strength. Now, we're going after it."
Following an awful start, the Padres went 42-33 after the All-Star break last year to finish 76-86. Even so, they lost 10 of their last 15 games.
While welcoming impressive rookie infielder Jedd Gyorko (pronounced JER-ko), the Padres also still have third baseman Chase Headley, at least for the time being.
Headley will be a litmus test for the new ownership group's pledge to keep young talent.
While the Padres held onto Headley at last year's trade deadline despite interest, they didn't give him a long-term contract as they have other young players, such as centre fielder Cameron Maybin, catcher Nick Hundley and pitcher Cory Luebke.
Headley had a breakout season that included 31 homers, an NL-high 115 RBIs and his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. Headley and the Padres avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on an $8,575,000, one-year contract that gives the third baseman a $5.1 million raise.
Many fans think the owners are inclined to trade Headley rather than give him a big deal, just as previous ownership traded Jake Peavy and Adrian Gonzalez. The Padres control Headley's rights through 2014, although their leverage in trade talks will decline the closer he gets to free agency.
"I know two years is a long time," general manager Josh Byrnes said. "If he's meant to remain beyond two years, it gives us time to work through that. We made an attempt this off-season and it didn't work out. Again, we have a fair amount of time to make the decision. At least in my history, when a player wants to stay and the team wants to keep him, it usually works out that way."
Headley broke his left thumb sliding into second base in a spring training game and is expected to miss at least the first two weeks of the season. Logan Forsythe, expected to play third while Headley heals, has had health issues of his own 鈥� plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
"Every player would ultimately like to be under a long-term contract," Headley said. "Who wouldn't enjoy that type of security? That's not always the case and it's not always possible. We're very happy with the one-year deal that we got done. Regarding a long-term contract, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. It's the least of my worries right now."
Headley said "it stinks" being hurt. "Being on the disabled list is really frustrating, especially at the start of the year and after such a good spring. You have to find ways to stay sharp and mentally involved. That said, there's no reason to get too down. It's not the end of the world. I'll be back soon enough and I know it could've been a lot worse. You try to look at the bright side and stay positive. That's really all you can do."
Gyorko is expected to start at second base. He had three homers and nine RBIs in his first five spring training games, including a grand slam in his first spring at-bat.
Gyorko has a .319 batting average with 62 homers and 255 RBIs in 2 1-2 minor league seasons. He batted .328 with 24 homers and 83 RBIs last year at Triple-A Tucson.
"He's always hit," Byrnes said, "and he's played really well at second. He's come in and done what we hoped he'd do. He's ready to contribute at the major league level."
Left fielder Carlos Quentin has been slowed this spring after undergoing off-season knee surgery, and right-hander Casey Kelly, the key player in the Gonzalez deal in December 2010, will have reconstructive elbow surgery next week.
Catcher Yasmani Grandal will miss the first 50 games after testing positive for testosterone, putting a question mark next to his nice rookie stats. That gives Hundley the chance to atone for his abysmal 2012 season, when he slumped badly and was hurt.
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AP freelance writer Scott Bair contributed from Peoria, Ariz.
