Padres reliever Andres Munoz walks off the field after a scoreless ninth inning against the Rangers on Sept. 27, 2018, at Petco Park.
General Manager A.J. Preller flipped one closer for Manuel Margot, Logan Allen, Carlos Asuaje and Javy Guerra. He turned one into Chris Paddack and another into Francisco Mejia. At some point, Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen could find themselves following Craig Kimbrel, Fernando Rodney and Brad Hand out the door.
A rebuilding team should move relievers for bona fide prospects.
It's made even easier when you've got an assembly line-like collection of hard throwers waiting in the wings. The Padres pushed Jose Castillo and Robert Stock into regular duty in 2018, minor leaguer Trey Wingenter made his debut in August and perhaps the best young arm in the organization could be knocking on the door before too long.
San Diego Padres relief pitcher Trey Wingenter works against a Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, in San Diego.
Need to know: A high school catcher when he began to pitch in travel ball, Wingenter threw a handful of high school no-hitters to land a scholarship to Auburn, pitched out of the bullpen in college and saw his velocity bump up to triple digits in pro ball. In 17 2/3 innings in the majors this year (4.08 ERA), Wingenter is averaging 97.6 mph with his four-seamer, 86.2 mph with his slider and 89.7 mph with the change-up. As the Padres moved further and further from the Brad Hand trade, Wingenter has received a long look in the back of Andy Green's bullpen. He is striking out 13.3 batters per nine innings – but walking 5.1 – as he looks to carve out a full-time role next year.
San Diego Padres relief pitcher Miguel Diaz looks on as he walks off the field during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, in San Diego.
Need to know: The first player selected in the 2016 Rule 5 draft, Diaz stuck all year in the majors in 2017 despite posting a 7.34 ERA in 41 2/3 innings. He started 2018 at Double-A San Antonio, where he struck out 66 in 65 innings (2.35 ERA). Diaz was wild in 13 1/3 innings at Triple-A El Paso (8.10 ERA, 13 walks) and shaky at times in 17 2/3 innings in the majors (4.58 ERA). However, his stuff – a four-seamer that's up to 99 mph, a slider and a change-up – remains as tantalizing as ever as the Padres continue to dream on a future in their big league bullpen. The biggest obstacle: Walking 4.1 batters per nine innings in 385 innings as a pro.
San Diego Padres pitcher Rowan Wick throws during a spring training practice in Peoria on Feb. 19, 2018.
Need to know: Selected in the ninth round by the Cardinals in 2012, Wick was a catcher and then an outfielder before hitting .198 in 2015 in the Florida State League. His rise on the mound included an invitation to the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League before the Cardinals removed him from the 40-man roster in spring training. The Padres scooped him up, started him at Double-A San Antonio (3.16 ERA) and promoted him to Triple-A El Paso (1.99 ERA). In 7 1/3 innings in the majors (7.36 ERA), Wick is averaging 94.4 mph with his fastball, 88.8 mph with his slider and 75.6 mph with his curve.
The Padres' Brad Wieck pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the fourth inning at AT&T Park on September 26, 2018 in San Francisco, California.
Need to know: The player to be named later in the Alex Torres trade, Wieck boasts a low-90s fastball – as well as a slider and change-up – that plays up because of both the angle and extension he gets from his tall, lanky frame. He was added to the 40-man roster after the 2017 season and has struck out seven in his first six innings in the majors (1.50 ERA) as a September call-up.
Other names to know: RHP Colten Brewer (AAA, 3.75 ERA, 11.8 K/9), RHP T.J. Weir (AAA, 2.89 ERA, 8.0 K/9), LHP Kyle McGrath (AAA, 2.75 ERA, 7.2 K/9), RHP Trevor Megill (AA, 3.35 ERA, 10.0 K/9), RHP Jordan Guerrero (A, 1.70 ERA, 9.8 K/9), RHP Dylan Coleman (A, 3.18 ERA, 11.5 K/9), RHP Elliot Ashbeck (AA, 3.22 ERA, 9.4 K/9), RHP David Bednar (A+, 2.73 ERA, 12.5 K/9), RHP Gerardo Reyes (AA, 2.77 ERA, 11.2 K/9), RHP Jason Jester (AA, 4.33 ERA, 8.4 K/9), RHP Caleb Boushley (AAA, 2.71 ERA, 8.9 K/9), RHP Joe Galindo (A, 2.73 ERA, 10.6 K/9), RHP Dauris Valdez (A+, 4.39 ERA, 12.8 K/9), LHP Dan Dallas (A, 2.27 ERA, 14.1 K/9).