1. RHP Jake Peavy

2. RHP Chris Young

3. RHP Cha Seung Baek

4. RHP Kevin Correia

5. RHP Walter Silva

ROTATION ANALYSIS: Peavy missed much of spring training while with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, where he didn't exactly wow 'em. Plus, there are still trade rumors floating him.

Young is on track.

Manager Bud Black says Baek will be in his rotation, although Baek's spring ERA was 9.95 with two starts to go. Correia could wind up in the bullpen. Silva, who is in the Padres' camp on the recommendation of brothers Adrian and Edgar Gonzalez, has been one of the pleasant surprises of spring training, but he has never pitched a regular season game in the United States. He had allowed one run in six Cactus League innings through March 27.

RHPs Shawn Hill and Eulogio De La Cruz were getting late-spring shots, and the Padres were still interested in acquiring another starter from outside the system, the most interesting names being RHP Jeff Niemann (Tampa Bay) and RHP Jason Jennings (Texas).

BULLPEN:

RHP Heath Bell (closer)

RHP Cla Meredith

RHP Duaner Sanchez

RHP Luke Gregerson

LHP Justin Hampson

RHP Eulogio De La Cruz

RHP Edwin Moreno

BULLPEN ANALYSIS: It's going to be a seven-man bullpen, but only three spots are safe.

GM Kevin Towers likes Gregerson, whom the Padres acquired from St. Louis to complete the trade that sent SS Khalil Greene to the Cardinals. Kevin Correia would be in the bullpen if any of the starters the Padres are auditioning pan out.

With all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman opting to continue his career in Milwaukee, Bell gets his first shot at closing. And Meredith, who spent part of last season at Class AAA, is the leader for the setup job. Sanchez gives the Padres some much-needed experience in the bullpen.

But the back end of the bullpen is anyone's guess.

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

LINEUP ANALYSIS: Offensively, the Padres likely will be improved over 2008 when they ranked at (or near) the bottom in most categories. The biggest change might be the acquisition of pesky Eckstein, who was hitting .439 this spring through March 27. He gives the Padres the No. 2 hitter they've desperately lacked. Eckstein will be the ninth Opening Day second baseman for the Padres over the past 11 seasons.

Giles gives the team a solid on-base bat at No. 3, although his power is now below average and there is always the possibility that he will be traded as soon as the Padres find a taker for his $9 million salary.

Gonzalez was an All-Star on merit last season. He drove in 19 percent of all the Padres' runs in 2009. But Kouzmanoff and Headley must do a better job behind him or pitchers will walk Gonzalez with regularity.

Kouzmanoff has pop (23 homers in 2008), but he struck out 139 times last season while having a woeful .299 on-base percentage. Strikeouts also plagued Headley (104 in 331 at-bats last year) and Hundley (52 in 198 at-bats) in their rookie seasons. New batting coach Jim Lefebvre has been working overtime with both young players this season.

Rodriguez would appear to be a major drop-off at short from Khalil Greene, who was traded to St. Louis. Defensively, that is definitely the case given Greene's range. But Greene hit only .213 last year before breaking his hand to end his season.

RESERVES:

C Henry Blanco

OF Cliff Floyd

OF Scott Hairston

INF Everth Cabrera

INF Edgar Gonzalez

RESERVES ANALYSIS: Hairston, who spent much of last season platooning with Gerut in center, gives the Padres a right-handed power bat on the bench. Look for him to be a semi-regular.

Floyd was signed to be the Padres' left-handed pinch hitter and a designated hitter for interleague games in American League parks. However, he is a .171 career pinch hitter. "I've been awful as a pinch hitter," admitted Floyd, who sought the counsel of Lenny Harris and John Vander Wal to help prepare him for the task -- which given the Padres' pitching promises him almost an at-bat a game.

Blanco was signed to both mentor Hundley and start as many as 50 games. He can hit and has a great arm -- something the Padres have seriously lacked in recent catchers.

Cabrera gives the Padres an element of speed they have desperately lacked. Gonzalez is a solid hitter with defensive shortcomings.

ROOKIE WATCH: The most exciting Padres prospect is 22-year-old 1B Kyle Blanks, who had an outstanding spring. But he is backed up behind Adrian Gonzalez, and he will open the season at Class AAA Portland. Rule 5 acquisition Everth Cabrera is the only rookie who will make the team, and he deserves the opportunity. He can run, which is a commodity sorely lacking elsewhere on the roster. And he came on late in the spring at both the plate and in the field.

MEDICAL WATCH:

RHP Cha Seung Baek (strained right forearm) was hurt during the March 29 game. He won't pitch for a week, leaving him questionable for his first start of the regular season.

RHP Mark Prior (right shoulder surgeries in April 2007 and June 2008) had yet to face hitters through March 27. However, he was progressing, and he could pitch to batters before the Padres break camp. "If he's healthy, Mark's my ace in the hole," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. If Prior continues to advance, he could join the Padres in May.

RHP Mike Adams (right shoulder surgery in October 2008) had not resumed throwing from the mound as of March 27. He will not be ready until late May or June.

3B Kevin Kouzmanoff (twinges in left side) was slowed in spring training but was expected to be ready for Opening Day.