On March 26, when a new decade at Petco Park begins with a visit from the Colorado Rockies, the Padres can deploy a group of position players led by Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., an infield tandem with elite potential. They can draw further confidence from the addition of Tommy Pham, the ongoing development of Chris Paddack and the late-game credentials of Kirby Yates. They can be, for the first time in years, a handful in the National League West.



The other 21 roster spots, however, are marked by significant volatility. The Padres have sought to address a number of needs since last season ended, most notably by acquiring Pham, fellow outfielder Trent Grisham and reliever Drew Pomeranz. But this remains a club with a wide range of outcomes.



The ceiling for 2020, given the Dodgers’ continuing might, appears to be a wild-card berth. The floor is harder to project, but despite recent transactions, the roster isn’t drastically different from the one...