Melvin gets face time as Padres ponder roster

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Bob Melvin has done his homework on his new roster -- he knows the names, the numbers, the strengths, the weaknesses. But earlier this week, the new Padres manager lamented that he doesn't know the people. At least not yet.

"There's only so much you can do without being on the field and watching your team work out, getting to know them in that fashion," Melvin said. "You can look at all the video you want. You can look at all the stats and numbers. But I want to have my own interpretation, too. I don't want too much from other people. ... I want to form my own opinions."

• What decisions remain for Padres?

At long last, it’s time to start.

Padres players reported to the Peoria Sports Complex on Sunday, with the team's first workout slated for Monday. Given the nature of the quick turnaround from the CBA ratification on Thursday to report day on Sunday, the Padres expected a late arrival or two, based on travel logistics. It wasn’t immediately clear which players hadn’t reported on time.

Additionally, the Padres unveiled their Spring Training roster on Sunday, with 24 non-roster invitees (including outfielder Trayce Thompson, who recently signed a Minors deal).

Some quick takeaways from the first Padres roster announcement of the season:

A pared down squad
Typically, Padres big league camp starts with more than 70 players, and sometime around early March, the staff begins paring that number down.

That number, for all intents and purposes, has already been trimmed. The Padres, in an effort to jump-start their preparation for the season, invited 64 players to big league camp, including only 25 position players.

"You want to condense the roster, because you have to get guys ready quickly," Melvin said shortly before the lockout ended. "It's: How far along are guys?"

Perhaps that’s a bit tough on prospects like Robert Hassell and Brandon Valenzuela, who might have otherwise gotten to spend a few weeks in big league camp before eventually transitioning to the Minors side. But it's the nature of the situation, and those Minor Leaguers should still see Cactus League game action at some point.

Outfield a glaring need
The full list of outfielders on the Padres' 40-man roster this spring: Trent Grisham and Wil Myers.

And that's it. Both Jurickson Profar and Jorge Alfaro are listed as "utility," and they're more than capable of playing an outfield corner. But if there's one area the Padres need to address before the start of the season, it's their outfield.

That's fine. There are plenty of outfield options available on the open market. And more than any specific position, the Padres need a bat for the middle of their lineup. The easiest position to find a bat? Corner outfield.

Indeed, the Padres will be extremely active in the coming days (hours? minutes?) as they search for an outfield bat. It's their top priority ahead of the season.

Bench spots available?
Some quick roster math: The Padres have at least three catchers, in Austin Nola, Victor Caratini and Alfaro -- all of whom are capable of playing other positions.

Barring trades, their infield features the usual suspects -- Eric Hosmer, Jake Cronenworth, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado -- with Ha-Seong Kim as the primary backup at multiple spots.

Grisham, Myers and Profar occupy the three outfield spots, but it's a safe bet that the Padres will add at least one name to that mix.

For now, there’s a bench spot available -- at least one. Judging by the spring roster, Luis Campusano, Eguy Rosario, Matthew Batten and Nomar Mazara are in the mix. A standout spring from top prospect CJ Abrams might see him join that group, too (though the Padres wouldn’t rush him to the big leagues unless there’s playing time available).

Then again, it’s probably far too early to be divvying up roster spots on a roster that might imminently get a shakeup.

40-man flexibility
The 40-man roster remains full, but with the opening of camp, the Padres have the option to place players on the 60-day injured list, freeing up room for acquisitions.

Michel Baez and Adrian Morejon are obvious candidates to land on the 60-day IL. Both underwent Tommy John surgery last spring, and the Padres certainly aren't going to rush their return. (Though the team seems pleased with their recoveries, with optimism that both will play a part in the pitching plans this season. Both have already thrown off the mound.)

That leaves at least two roster spots available. Pitcher Nick Martínez -- who agreed in principle to a four-year deal just before the lockout but couldn't finalize in time -- likely will occupy one of those spots. The other would seemingly go to whichever bat the Padres sign. Should they add two bats -- a distinct possibility, according to a source -- they'll need to further free up space.