The unknowns far outweigh the certainties for the Padres as they head to Peoria, Ariz., for spring training this week: new manager, new faces replacing proven commodities, new questions as to whether the club will ever climb out of the division basement, etc. Here are seven things to watch for when pitchers and catchers report Thursday:

Is General Manager A.J. Preller done making moves?

It's not a stretch to say much of the roster continues to be on the table, with recent trade rumors involving Matt Kemp , Andrew Cashner , Derek Norris and others. Preller won't strike a deal unless he feels he's getting significant value, but as we've seen, the second-year GM is liable to make moves at any time.

"We're still getting calls, but I think at this late stage this (roster) is most likely what we're going into (spring training) with," Preller said last week. "But it has been somewhat active in the last week, so we'll see."

How will the players respond to rookie big-league manager Andy Green?

Green isn't that much older than some of his players, and he may have as much energy as any of them. The 38-year-old already has taken the important first step of touching base with the majority of the roster; after Christmas, he flew around the country meeting some of the more established players before holding a prospect mini-camp at Petco Park.

The early feedback has been positive, but this is a new skipper who won't be afraid to challenge anyone. For instance, Green has spoken of "practicing fast" as camp progresses. Adding to the intrigue are new coaches such as Mark McGwire .

"The reality is, if you don't make it hard enough," Green said, "they're going to make the mistakes in April and May rather than March."

Key dates Thursday: Pitchers and catchers report Friday: First official workout for pitchers and catchers Feb. 23: Full squad reports Feb. 24: First official full-squad workout March 2: First Cactus League game, vs. Seattle March 26-27: Spring training games in Mexico City, vs. Houston March 30: Final Cactus League game, vs. Seattle March 31: Exhibition game in El Paso, vs. Triple-A El Paso April 1-2: FanFest and exhibition games at Petco Park, vs. Chicago White Sox April 4: Regular-season opener, vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Who will play left field and center field?

Preller says Kemp is the man in right -- the Padres believe new first-base coach/outfield instructor Tarrik Brock can get the most out of a 31-year-old with diminished range -- but the race to replace Justin Upton in left and, by extension, to fill center looks wide open.

Melvin Upton Jr. and left-handed-hitting newcomer Jon Jay primarily have been center fielders throughout their careers, but either could wind up an option in left depending on how things shake out in the middle ( Travis Jankowski 's another option). A number of inexperienced players could vie for the corner opposite Kemp: Jabari Blash, Alex Dickerson, Jose Pirela and even Hunter Renfroe , though the prospect would need a huge spring to justify having his service-time clock started early.

Can Wil Myers stay healthy and set himself up for a breakout season?

The Padres' hopes of fielding a competent offense rest largely on the shoulders of the tremendously talented Myers. A poor fit in center field last year, he's now the starting first baseman, and the hope is, focusing on one position can help him elsewhere.

The Padres are also hopeful that: 1) Myers' wrist problems are behind him, and 2) he can stick at first.

How will the catching situation play out?

If San Diego goes into the season with all three catchers currently on the 40-man roster, it seems likely that Norris will start and be backed up by Christian Bethancourt (out of minor league options). Austin Hedges, the best defender of the trio, has all his options left and could return to Triple-A for a bit more seasoning.

But this is an area of surplus, and it's possible one of the backstops will be moved before opening day.

How much will the defense improve?

In theory, the Padres should get better at run prevention. Upton Jr. and Jay should play regularly, new shortstop Alexei Ramirez should represent an upgrade, and Myers and second baseman Cory Spangenberg are more athletic than last year's options. Also, one of Green's specialties when he coached third base for Arizona was employing defensive shifts.

In 2015, the Padres' defense was one of the worst in baseball. In 2016, just how much will it improve?

Can the Padres get back to pitching like the Padres?

Start with the bullpen. Craig Kimbrel and Joaquin Benoit are gone. New closer Fernando Rodney , almost 39, isn't close to Kimbrel's level, but at least he has experience. The same can't be said for most of the other rostered and non-roster relievers; figuring out who pitches the eighth inning, the seventh and so on will be a significant challenge.

More starts deep into games certainly would help. While Tyson Ross and James Shields , who'll look to rebound from a middling season, form a respectable duo at the top of the rotation, Cashner might be facing the most pressure. After a frustrating 2015 campaign, he's entering his final season before free agency.