2007 Padres Projected Lineup

2007 San Diego Padres

Batting Order

1. LF Terrmel Sledge
2. 2B Marcus Giles
3. RF Brian Giles
4. 1B Adrian Gonzalez
5. CF Mike Cameron
6. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
7. C Josh Bard
8. SS Khalil Greene

Gonzalez, who led the Padres with a .304 average and had 24 homers and 82 RBIs, moves into the cleanup slot. Things are much more unsettled at the top of the order. The Padres are pulling for Sledge to win the job over Jose Cruz Jr. If not, they might have to turn to Brian Giles, who has a .400 on-base percentage over the past two seasons. If Kouzmanoff doesn't pan out -- and the Padres are sure he will -- Russell Branyan will be at third. He may end the season batting fourth or fifth if he lives up to his potential. The Padres need Greene to stay healthy for a full season.

Rotation

1. Jake Peavy
2. Greg Maddux
3. Chris Young
4. David Wells
5. Clay Hensley

The Padres believe the rotation is the deepest in the National League, if Father Time doesn't all of a sudden catch up with 333-game winner Maddux and Wells. There will be questions about the health of Peavy (frequent shoulder pain last year) and Young (back) as well as Wells, who has pitched through everything from back and knee surgery and gout since turning 40. The Padres need Peavy (11-14, 4.09 ERA last year) to return to his form of 2004-05 (combined 28-13, led the NL in ERA in '04 and strikeouts in '05). Hensley had a 2.66 ERA after the All-Star break last year and is much better than most No. 5 starters. Should there be injury problems, the Padres have above average fill-ins at Triple-A Portland in Mike Thompson and Tim Stauffer.

Closer: Trevor Hoffman

Hoffman passed Lee Smith as the game's all-time saves leader last season and will be effective as long as hitters don't catch onto the difference between his mid-80s fastball and change.