By Eric Gold, MLB Editor (My Sportsbook)

2002 FINISH (66-96) - Last Place (NL West)

KEY OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS: Deivi Cruz (SS); Jeremy Fikac (RHP); Ron Gant (OF); Gene Kingsale (OF); Tom Lampkin (C); Ray Lankford (OF); Brett Tomko (RHP); Bubba Trammell (RF)

KEY OFFSEASON ADDITIONS: Gary Bennett (C); Luther Hackman (RHP); Dave Hansen (INF); Mark Loretta (INF); Jesse Orosco (LHP); Rondell White (LF); Jay Witasick (RHP); Jaret Wright (RHP)

PROJECTED LINEUP: Ramon Vazquez (SS); Sean Burroughs (3B); Mark Kotsay (CF); Ryan Klesko (1B); Rondell White (LF); Brian Buchanan (RF); Mark Loretta (2B); Gary Bennett (C)

PROJECTED ROTATION: Brian Lawrence (RHP); Jake Peavy (RHP); Oliver Perez (LHP); Adam Eaton (RHP); Mike Bynum (LHP)

PROJECTED CLOSER: Brandon Villafuerte (RHP)

MANAGER: Bruce Bochy

OVERVIEW

The San Diego Padres head into their final season at Qualcomm Stadium in 2003 with several changes, which may be tough to overcome, especially from a last place finish in 2002. Shortstop Deivi Cruz, starting pitcher Brett Tomko, catcher Tom Lampkin, outfielders Ron Gant, Bubba Trammell, Gene Kingsale and Ray Lankford have all departed.

Leftfielder Phil Nevin is expected to miss the entire season after dislocating his left shoulder during a spring training game. He underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery and likely won't be back until 2004.

The Padres made a move just before the start of the season by trading rightfielder Bubba Trammell to the New York Yankees for fellow outfielder Rondell White, who is expected to get the bulk of the action in Nevin's absence.

Trevor Hoffman, one of the best closers in the game, is expected to miss the first half of the season as he recovers from surgery on his right shoulder. That leaves manager Bruce Bochy to probably go with 27-year-old righthander Brandon Villafuerte as the possible closer going into the season.

INFIELD

Mark Loretta, who was signed as a free agent from Milwaukee, is expected to take over at second base, and bat lead off against lefthanders. That means, Ramon Vazquez will move full-time to shortstop and probably lead off against righthanders.

The 31-year-old Loretta hit a combined .304 with four homers and 27 RBI over 107 games last season. He spent the first 7 1/2 seasons of his career in Milwaukee before being dealt to Houston in 2002.

Vazquez, who spent time at second, short and third last season, hit .274 in his first full season in the majors. He is also a solid defender.

First baseman Ryan Klesko, who was an All-Star in 2001, had another steady season last year as he batted .300 with 29 homers and 95 RBI. He's a decent clean-up hitter and is reliable defensively on a team that will need time jelling in the infield.

Lefthanded hitting Sean Burroughs played in just 63 games last season for San Diego due to a previous rotator cuff injury and he was shuttled to the minors to work on his skills at second. He isn't known for his power, but has good hand-eye coordinator and can make contact, as evidenced by his .377 average in September last year for the parent club.

Gary Bennett will likely get the nod as the starting catcher with Wiki Gonzalez and Mike Rivera serving as backups. Gonzalez played in 56 games, but hit just .220. Rivera played in 39 games last year for Detroit, while Bennett was in 90 contests for Colorado.

OUTFIELD

White, who is due to make $5 million this season, will become a free agent after 2003. The Padres may have acquired him because Trammell had a long-term deal, and that may free up some money for San Diego to sign potential big name free agents after this season.

Two years ago, White hit .307 while playing with the Chicago Cubs, but last season his average dipped to a career-low .240 and his production was limited as he hit 14 homers and drove in 62 runs over 126 games. He was also set back by an injury to his left hand.

Mark Kotsay may receive All-Star consideration this season, especially since he will probably be the best outfielder on the club and will be able to pad his stats hitting third in the lineup. Last season, the lefthanded hitting Kotsay batted .292 with a career-high 17 homers and had 61 RBI.

Xavier Nady is untested and has played in just one game at the major league level, in 2000 with San Diego, but was considered for a starting spot in right field. He hit .283 at the Triple-A level with Portland last year.

Brian Buchanan is now the likely starter in right field. He played a combined 92 games last season for Minnesota and San Diego and hit .269.

STARTING ROTATION

Despite a 12-12 mark last season, righthander Brian Lawrence is the No. 1 man in the rotation going into 2003. Lawrence had an ERA of 3.69 and led the club in wins. Lawrence has shown to have difficulty getting through the late innings, but he will be counted on because of an injury-depleted bullpen this year. He was one of incredible 37 pitchers used by the Padres last season.

Adam Eaton is a promising young talented righthander and the 25-year-old will get to showcase his skills more often than the six games he played in 2002. Eaton had Tommy John surgery in 2001 and didn't return until last September, but has shown flashes of brilliance.

Righthander Jake Peavy is the likely No. 3 guy. Peavy failed to get support from a weak offensive club last season and went 6-7 with a 4.52 ERA, and that trend may continue this year.

Oliver Perez and Mike Bynum are slated the lefthanders in the rotation. Perez was pressed into action and went 4-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 16 games. Bynum started in three of the 14 games in his first season in the majors and had a 5.27 ERA.

BULLPEN

In 31 games for the Padres last season, Villafuerte had a sparkling ERA of 1.41. He will apparently be one of the few healthy relievers Bochy will have going into the season. Righthanders Jay Witasick, Kevin Jarvis and Jaret Wright are all banged up. Witasick has a strained forearm, while Wright has an oblique strain and Jarvis is trying to overcome soreness in his surgically repaired elbow.

Without Hoffman available and with the health in question of several other relievers, that may leave Bochy no choice but to use Jesse Orosco more often. Orosco, who will be 46 in late April, still has a decent arm and pitched in 56 games for the Dodgers last season.

Clay Condrey will also help out in the bullpen, as will lefty Kevin Walker, who is being counted on to continue his return from a devastating elbow injury in 2001. Walker made 70 appearances in 2000, but has just 27 outings in the last two seasons combined.

BENCH

Dave Hansen and Buchanan will be counted on as key reserves. Hansen is known as one of the top pinch-hitters in baseball, ranking sixth all-time with 120 career pinch hits. He had spent 11 of his previous 12 big league seasons, including the last four, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Buchanan could see some time as a defensive replacement in the outfield.

OUTLOOK

Since winning the NL West in 1998, San Diego has either been fourth or in last each season. Expect that trend to continue, especially knowing the starting rotation is rocky, the bullpen is hurt, and Nevin is out for the season. Need we say more?