Who's San Diego's Opening Day 3B? Jury's still out

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Padres appear to be in need of an Opening Day third baseman.

Recently, Manny Machado took a few days off from his throwing program, putting a heavier emphasis on the hitting side of his recovery, manager Mike Shildt said. (That increased focus on the bat paid immediate dividends, as Machado went 3-for-3 on Saturday following his 2-for-15 start to camp.)

Machado, of course, is coming off October elbow surgery. He’s on track to start Opening Day on March 20 against the Dodgers in Korea. But it has always seemed likeliest that he’d do so as a designated hitter.

“I think that’s probably pretty safe,” Shildt said Saturday.

Machado has been throwing in camp, but his workload has been limited and he’s dealt with some soreness in his buildup. It shouldn’t be long before he returns to the hot corner. But when he does, Shildt noted that Machado might not do so on an everyday basis to start. The Padres might be liberal in their use of the DH spot with Machado early in the season.

Which brings us to the vacancy at third base -- and the candidates to fill it:

Graham Pauley
Numbers-wise, Pauley has put forth the best spring of the contenders, hitting .308/.419/.538. He’s also coming off a remarkable Minor League season in 2023, skyrocketing to No. 11 in MLB Pipeline’s latest ranking of the Top 30 Padres prospects.

“I feel like I’ve competed really well this spring,” Pauley said. “Whatever happens is outside of my control. I’m just looking to play hard and compete for whatever team I’m on.”

If Machado were fully healthy, Pauley would be the favorite for the vacant DH spot, with the ability to back up at both infield corners. But his glove at third base remains something of a question mark. (Not a negative, mind you. Just a question mark. He hasn’t been tested there much this spring.)

Eguy Rosario
Rosario has logged more innings at third base than any other Padre in the Cactus League, which is probably an indication that he’s being seriously considered there. He hit a booming two-run double in Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Rosario, who has been sliding between second and third this spring, still qualifies as a prospect, ranking 16th in the San Diego system. But he got a decent run at third base last September when Machado was limited, posting a .770 OPS with a pair of homers in 11 games.

Matthew Batten
Batten entered camp alongside Rosario as the primary candidates for a super-utility role on the bench. He’s been solid with the glove, as per usual. But his performance at the plate has been poor. In 11 games, Batten is 3-for-24 with one walk and no extra-base hits -- and is running out of time to make his roster case.

Tyler Wade
The Padres still have three openings on their 40-man roster -- and could have a few more with future IL placements and cuts. As such, they’d have no hesitation whatsoever about adding a few non-roster invitees. Among those non-roster players, Wade has been a standout. He’s played third, short, second and even a small amount of center field, while hitting .321 this spring.

“I’m basically a Swiss Army knife,” Wade said after he tripled and walked while playing third base on Sunday. “I’m not really worried about the construction of the roster. If I do my part, that’s the only thing I can take care of.”

When they signed Wade to a Minor League deal, the Padres probably didn’t envision him as their starting third baseman. But if that role is only temporary -- and then Wade assumes a super-utility bench role -- he’ll have been a worthwhile pickup. He’s also a lefty hitter, which could prove useful as the Padres expect to face a pair of Dodgers righties in Korea.

Manny Machado
Unlikely, sure. But it’s still possible Machado plays third base on Opening Day. He’s refused to put any timetable on his return to the field.

Machado’s latest throwing hiatus almost certainly indicates that he’s a longshot for Opening Day. But there’s a reason Shildt wouldn’t speculate all that much on his third-base options.

“I don’t want to get too deep in the weeds with that,” Shildt said. “Because Manny could come back and say, ‘I’m ready to go every day.’”