Scott Boras began to describe a baseball team. Then, as only he can, the super-agent meandered into topography.

Sitting beside top draft pick MacKenzie Gore in late June, Boras was in a celebratory mood. Gore, his client, was the new recipient of a $6.7 million signing bonus.

“The idea, I think, with this organization is kind of like when you fly over an island and you see a big mountain and you think it’s a mountain,” Boras said. “But I think San Diego is going to be a volcano, because there’s a lot underneath that’s coming.”

Boras, if you haven’t heard, has his share of detractors, but his point was, and continues to be, salient.

For better or worse, the Padres appear to be on the verge of something noteworthy. Relatively soon, their farm system could fuel the rise of the franchise’s first sustainable playoff contender. Or, their plans could go awry once again, only in more spectacular fashion than usual.

Considering the resources poured into young talent, the investments in the front office and scouting, the search for relevance in a city with no other major sports teams, the stakes are high. The privilege of chronicling these efforts is one I’ve had for the last four seasons.

I’m thrilled to say that, beginning today, I’ll continue reporting on the Padres for the newly opened San Diego branch of The Athletic. I’ll also assist in our coverage of the Angels, who beat out the Padres and several other finalists in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes.

My focus, to be clear, will remain on the Padres. But my work will no longer be dictated by the pressure of nightly deadlines. At The Athletic, I’m fortunate to be joining a wonderful, growing team of journalists who are afforded unusual freedom to serve their readers.

A glance at The Athletic’s website should tell you about our priorities. There are no ads or auto-play video. Instead, a subscription will grant you access to thoughtful analysis, in-depth features and other comprehensive coverage from knowledgeable writers around the country in a reader-friendly environment.

In addition, this will all evolve based on your tastes. I plan to make this an interactive community for Padres content. Reader mailbags, which I supplied for the San Diego Union-Tribune, could become a regular feature. I’ll be accessible on Twitter and in the comments sections of stories.

If you’d like to read about something in particular—say, the Padres’ approach to new data, or a profile of an interesting personality—there’s a decent chance we will touch on it. The goal isn’t to inundate you with game stories, injury updates or content you can find anywhere else.

Yes, I’ll still strive to keep you up to date on day-to-day developments with the big-league club, but there will be many opportunities to go deeper and more time to do it. Prospect features, for instance, will be a regular thing.

The best part of this venture? A subscription grants you full access to all of the content at The Athletic, including the tireless work of MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.

This should be a fun and interesting ride. I hope you’ll join us with this special 25% off + free t-shirt launch week offer.

(Top photo of Wil Myers: Denis Poroy/Getty Images)