Three questions the Padres still face heading into season opener

The Padres are set to start their regular season on March 20 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Seoul, South Korea. Despite such little time between now and then, there's a few uncertainties that linger in the air.

After a disappointing 2023 season (82-80 record) where they missed the playoffs, spirits among fans are already low as the 2024 season looks to be just as troublesome. Of course if the Padres can attempt to address these three questions as quickly as possible that could all change.

Who rounds out the rotation?

One more spot in the Padres starting rotation was filled when it acquired Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox. Now a group that also has Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Michael King needs just one more player. 

As of now the race for the spot seems to be coming down to Matt Waldron and Jhony Brito.

So far this spring training Brito has put together 13 innings through four games with a 2.08 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 16 strikeouts. His 11.08 K/9 and 2.08 BB/9 especially jump out on the stat sheet.

Waldron has arguably played even better than Brito this spring. A 1.35 ERA, 11 strikeouts and a .098 WHIP in 13.2 innings speaks for itself. What makes Waldron all the more intriguing is he throws the rare knuckleball.

Who takes left field?

When San Diego originally inked Jurickson Profar to his one-year deal, it was thought he'd be a reliable player to have coming off the bench. Ultimately it seems as though the Padres are planning on having him be the Opening Day left fielder. With a career OPS of .706 in his 10 years of service, having him as an everyday starter is less than ideal.

What makes the situation worse is that Profar sustained an injury in the Padres latest spring training game against the Oakland Athletics. He was however able to walk off under his own power after staying down for quite some time. Now it becomes unclear if he will even be ready to play come Opening Day.

If he's unavailable, it leaves just Jose Azocar to fill the role as the only other outfielder on the roster of then Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. who will be in center and right field. Azocar is entering his third year in the majors and has accumulated a slash line of .249/.292/.363 in 293 career at-bats.

Who opens up at third base?

With Manny Machado expected to start the season at DH as he recovers from an elbow injury it remains to be seen who will take his spot at third for the time being. The two most likely options being Graham Pauley and Tyler Wade.

Pauley, who has yet to record any time at the MLB level, played well this spring with a .886 OPS and 11 hits in 35 at-bats. He is also the Padres No. 11 prospect (per MLB.com).

Wade on the other hand does have experience in the majors even if it might not be too productive. In his seven years so far he has a lowly .592 OPS. However he made a strong case as well in spring training with an OPS of .822 with 10 hits through 34 at-bats.