DEPARTURES: RHP Trevor Hoffman (free agent, signed with Brewers), SS Khalil Greene (traded to Cardinals), C Josh Bard (free agent, signed with Red Sox), C Michael Barrett (free agent, signed minor league deal with Blue Jays), RHP Clay Hensley (non-tendered, signed minor league deal with Astros), LHP Shawn Estes (free agent, signed minor league deal with Dodgers), OF Chip Ambres (free agent, signed minor league deal with Red Sox).

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Jake Peavy

2. RHP Chris Young

3. RHP Cha Seung Baek

4. RHP Mark Prior

5. RHP Kevin Correia

If Prior is healthy, and that's an "if" that stretches over two seasons and two major rounds of shoulder surgery, the Padres have a solid rotation. But aside from Peavy and Young, there are questions everywhere, although Baek has the No. 3 spot going into spring. There are eight candidates for the final two spots, including RHPs Josh Geer, Jae Kuk Ryu and Cesar Carrillo and LHP Cesar Ramos.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Heath Bell (closer)

RHP Cla Meredith

RHP Mike Ekstrom

LHP Justin Hampson

RHP Scott Patterson

RHP Jae Kuk Ryu

RHP Edwin Moreno

Can Bell handle the pressure of succeeding Trevor Hoffman? If he can, the Padres might go with one fewer reliever because Bell can work more than one inning, while Hoffman has been a one-inning specialist. RHP Mike Adams would be in the seventh- and eighth-inning mix had he not had should surgery. He is expected back at midseason.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Jody Gerut

2. 2B David Eckstein

3. RF Brian Giles

4. 1B Adrian Gonzalez

5. 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff

6. LF Chase Headley

7. C Nick Hundley

8. SS Luis Rodriguez

On a team that lost 99 games, Gonzalez finished third in the National League with 119 RBIs. Eckstein in the No. 2 slot will make the top of the lineup even better. But there was considerable drop-off last year after Gonzalez. Kouzmanoff had 23 homers and 84 RBIs in the No. 5 slot, but he had a .299 on-base percentage. And it was downhill from there.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

OF Scott Hairston

OF Cliff Floyd

C Henry Blanco

INF Edgar Gonzalez

INF/OF Chris Burke

Hairston and Jody Gerut had developed into a good platoon in center last year until both were hurt late in the season. Hairston has pop from the right side and Floyd from the left, although Floyd's days as an outfielder are likely over. Blanco is an upgrade offensively and defensively at catcher over what the Padres had last season with Josh Bard and Michael Barrett -- and Blanco is a better mentor for Hundley, too. Gonzalez is a good hitter, but defensive shortcomings could make him an endangered species here. Burke can play a number of positions in the infield and outfield.

TOP ROOKIES: OF Will Venable likely will open the season in Class AAA Portland but could become the Padres' right fielder if Brian Giles is traded. Venable made great strides last season (.292, 14 homers, 58 RBIs at Portland, and .264 in 110 at-bats with the Padres). LHP Wade LeBlanc was 11-9 with a 5.32 ERA with Portland last year and 1-3 with a 8.02 ERA in five appearances with the Padres. But the Padres believe he could break through if he's able to do a better job spotting his fastball to go with an excellent change.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Mark Prior (right shoulder surgeries in April 2007 and June 2008) is hoping to pitch this year for the first time since 2006.

RHP Mike Adams (right shoulder surgery in October 2008) will be out until the All-Star break.

RHP Mark Worrell (sore right elbow) will have Tommy John surgery on March 25. He will miss the entire season.

RHP Chris Young (elbow tendinitis) was scratched from his scheduled March 18 start. He said the ailment was minor.