SAN DIEGO -- The Padres dismissed Andy Green on Saturday, and that move sure feels like a precursor for a busy offseason. With the Friars sitting 16 games below .500, a roster overhaul awaits. In the last Padres Inbox of the season, let’s take a look at what might change

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres dismissed Andy Green on Saturday, and that move sure feels like a precursor for a busy offseason.

With the Friars sitting 16 games below .500, a roster overhaul awaits. In the last Padres Inbox of the season, let’s take a look at what might change over the coming months.

What kind of additions to the starting rotation can fans reasonably expect? It seems they need a lot more depth to protect against bullpen days next season. Garrett Richards and Dinelson Lamet will be there, but counting on them would be a mistake.

-- Matt K., Alaska

As Matt (accurately) points out, the absence of front-line arms was only half the issue in 2019. The Padres' lack of depth was equally problematic. It forced them into several unsuccessful bullpen days and premature callups. If they truly have their eye on contention in ‘20, the Padres need a much deeper pitching staff.

To be fair, San Diego's rotation gets deeper by default with Garrett Richards and Dinelson Lamet back from Tommy John surgery. But general manager A.J. Preller has made it clear that starting pitching is a top priority.

So here's what I'd expect in the offseason: One front-line rotation addition and one veteran depth addition. In that scenario, there's still room for a young starter or two to rise up and win a spot. But it would foster serious competition, and it would force some fringe rotation pieces to the Minor Leagues, where they'd be available if a need were to arise.

That is the very definition of rotation depth. Not your fault if you'd forgotten -- it's been a while since the Padres had it.

What does the Opening Day rotation look like next year?

-- Steve S., Rocklin, Calif.

You want specifics? Fine, we'll get into specifics.

First, let's address the front-line starter. The Padres need to decide whether they want to spend money or prospects. On the open market, Gerrit Cole is the biggest name, and San Diego State’s Stephen Strasburg can opt out of his deal with the Nationals as well. But that duo should have plenty of suitors around the league. It's fairer to expect a trade, and there's one name that keeps popping up: Noah Syndergaard.

As for the veteran depth option, there are plenty of choices in free agency. It's hard to settle on one guy. But the Padres are optimistic about their Minor League arms, so it's reasonable to think they might add a pricier vet on a short-term deal. Let's go with Rancho Bernardo native Cole Hamels. (Don’t read too much into that; it’s pure speculation, at this point.)

That leaves us with:

1) Noah Syndergaard

2) Chris Paddack

3) Cole Hamels

4) Garrett Richards

5) Dinelson Lamet

Pretty solid, huh? In this scenario, MacKenzie Gore gets a bit more seasoning in the Minors before his callup. Eric Lauer and Cal Quantrill fight with Lamet for the No. 5 spot in camp (and they provide big-league caliber depth at Triple-A). Joey Lucchesi gets dealt to the Mets, along with prospects, as part of the package to acquire Syndergaard. (After all, the Mets expressed a desire for big league-ready pitchers at the Deadline.)

On paper, that's the best Padres rotation since the Jake Peavy era.

Which outfielders do you think make the 2020 Opening Day roster?

-- Michael W.

Wil Myers is the biggest question mark here. The Padres are going to shop him (and the $68.5 million remaining on his contract) this offseason, and they might need to package a prospect or two into a deal. Generally speaking, Preller isn't the type to give up prospects for salary relief. But with Myers off the books, he could seek out a different outfield bat. Right now, Myers’ return is something of a 50/50 proposition.

Let's say Myers stays. He's actually quite useful in the current mix, given that his platoon splits are the most even of anyone. The Padres aren't going to carry six outfielders, and they need someone to hit against both lefties and righties. Myers and Hunter Renfroe might share time in a corner against righties.

Against lefties, a Myers-Margot-Renfroe alignment clearly works. Padres outfielders have slashed .257/.346/.472 vs. LHPs this year.

But against righties, it's a trickier question. I'm not willing to give up on Franchy Cordero (who now has an offseason to get healthy). But the current left-handed mix of Nick Martini, Josh Naylor and Travis Jankowski leaves much to be desired. Expect the Padres to pursue a lefty-hitting outfield bat during the offseason.

Final answer: Renfroe, Myers, Margot, Cordero and a fifth left-handed-hitting outfielder TBD.

What is Taylor Trammell’s timetable and how does the organization feel about the trade, looking back?

-- Eric E.

Taylor Trammell’s timetable hasn’t changed, though his strong finish to his first season in the Padres’ organization is certainly encouraging. Trammell batted .310/.356/.643 in the postseason during Double-A Amarillo’s run to a Texas League title, and he sealed Game 5 with a go-ahead ninth-inning grand slam. The club remains optimistic that Trammell will break into the big leagues next summer, then begin making a serious impact in 2021.

Trammell’s impending arrival will impact the way the Padres shape their 2020 outfield. He and Naylor are still only 22 years old, and both have high ceilings. In that regard, it would make sense for San Diego to land a veteran lefty bat for a season or two, filling the void in 2020, but allowing space for two young lefty bats to emerge down the road.

As for the trade, the Padres remain pleased with the way Trammell might help them balance their long-term offense. But some people within the organization feel as though parting with Franmil Reyes was a critical factor in the team’s second-half demise. That was somewhat predictable. Reyes was one of the club’s best hitters during the first half and an important clubhouse presence.

Still, if Trammell becomes the player the Padres think he can become, they’ll still be perfectly comfortable with the decision they made in July.

AJ Cassavell covers the Padres for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell.