PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 28: Ty France #11 of the San Diego Padres fields a ground ball in the first inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 28, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) +

Internal Options

The Padres currently have three players on the 40-man roster who are capable of playing second base.

That list includes Ian Kinsler, Greg Garcia, and Ty France.

Kinsler is set to make $3.75 million in 2020 in what is likely the last year of his contract.

Garcia is projected to make $1.7 million in arbitration for 2020 and is under control through 2021.

France is still pre-arbitration eligible but has spent more time at third base in his career.

If it were me, I’d try hard to trade Kinsler. And then if you think France can do the same as Garcia, I’d non-tender, option, or trade Garcia and let France play the super-utility role from the bench.

Needless to say, I don’t think any of them start at second base for the Padres on Opening Day next season.

Other potential internal options for 2020 include Esteban Quiroz and Owen Miller.

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Jon Morosi, who is addicted to the international game, pointed out that the emergence of Quiroz possibly made Urias more expendable.

The 27-year-old (will turn 28 in February) Quiroz was signed by the Red Sox two offseasons ago and the Padres traded for him last offseason.

In 2018 he hit .299 with Boston’s Double-A team and hit 7 home runs in 87 at-bats.

This past season with the Padres Triple-A team he hit .271 with a .384 OBP to go along with 19 home runs. He also played well in the Arizona Fall League finishing with a .452 OBP.

San Diego thought they were getting a high on-base guy with Urias, maybe they think they can get that with Quiroz.

Miller finished 2019 at Double-A where he hit .290 with 13 home runs in 130 games. The 23-year-old likely needs some more grooming in the minors, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him get a chance in 2020.

In the future

If none of those options work out, the Padres still have two guys in the system who could be the second baseman of the future.

The first is 19-year-old first-round draft pick CJ Abrams. He’s listed as a shortstop and is several years from the big leagues.

But if he lives up to his potential, he could very well take over at second base in the future.

However, there are some who believe he converts into a center fielder down the road.

Xavier Edwards played 51 games at second base in 2019 as the Padres groom him to be their future second baseman.

The 20-year-old who was the 38th overall pick in 2018 split time between Single-A and High-A in 2019 hitting .322 with a .375 OBP.

The 5-foot-10 175 pound second baseman has just 1 home run in 168 Minor League games. It would be nice to see him grow into a little more power.

But if Quiroz and Miller don’t pan out, Edwards is the best bet to become the second baseman of the future for the Padres.