The annual meet-and-greet known as FanFest is five days away, and the Padres’ most extravagant winter purchases have been a pitcher who probably won’t pitch for them in 2019 and a second baseman who isn’t much younger than Andy Green. While baseball waits for Bryce Harper’s and Manny Machado’s decisions, the Padres front office must balance a desire to accelerate the rebuilding process with the need for further restraint after 96 losses. Restraint, of course, isn’t sexy. Reliable talent is, and the Padres, for all their abundance of minor-league riches, remain deprived. Let’s get to your rants, er, questions.



What on earth are the Padres doing? They’re in on everyone (supposedly) and they have a gaping hole at third and holes in the rotation. Are the Padres going to make any moves to improve this team or are we going to be stuck with another 90-loss team and watch ownership move the goalposts a little further? —Ian...