Ian Kinsler’s retirement over the weekend opened up both a spot on the 40-man and active rosters. The Padres have also moved Luis Urias and Xavier Edwards this offseason, clearing the way for the likes of middle infield prospects CJ Abrams and Gabriel Arias to rise to prominence in the organization.
A more immediate name to watch: Esteban Quiroz.
The 27-year-old Quiroz mashed a career-high 19 homers in the hitter happy Pacific Coast League in 2019 and has already tallied four through 19 games this winter in Mexico.