Wil Myers surrounded by host of youngsters in San Diego

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up on Feb. 15, the first day all teams will have their pitchers and catchers on the field for workouts.

2017 fantasy baseball team previews

With no position players (and only two pitchers) over 30 years old on their projected roster, the San Diego Padres will be relying on their youth to carry them this season. That could be a dangerous proposition for second-year manager Andy Green, who will have only four of his top eight players from last season (by WAR) returning in 2017.

2016 at a glance

Record: 68-94 (5th in NL West)
Hitting: 21st (4.23 R/G)
Pitching: 23rd (4.43 ERA)

Arrivals

SP Jhoulys Chacin
SP Trevor Cahill

The Padres' top priority this offseason was finding starting pitching after they traded away Drew Pomeranz and lost both Robbie Erlin and Colin Rea to elbow surgery. But with the team not expected to contend or the playoffs, the search focused on pitchers who can eat up innings. Chacin had a pair of 190-inning seasons earlier in his career and Cahill has three 190-inning seasons (although he's been used mainly in relief the past three years). They'll likely claim two of the Padres' five rotation spots.

Players to watch

1B Wil Myers
OF Travis Jankowski

No major leaguer had 30 homers and 30 steals last season, but the three players who came closest were Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Myers. The 26-year-old is clearly the Padres' best player after posting career-highs in runs (99), home runs (28), RBI (94) and stolen bases (28). The question is: will he have enough help on offense to make a difference for fantasy owners?

Jankowski had only 383 plate appearances and hit .245, but he went 30-for-42 in stolen base attempts. If you're looking for cheap speed, he could be your man -- especially if he hits near the top of the order.

Sleepers

OF Hunter Renfroe
OF Manuel Margot

The two young outfielders could be opening day starters as rookies. Both were selected to the All-Star Futures Game last year in San Diego and got a taste of the majors before the season ended. Renfroe, 24, is the power hitter with 30 homers and 105 RBI at hitter-friendly Class AAA El Paso.

Margot, 21, is the speed merchant, who hit .304 (with a .351 OBP) at El Paso with 98 runs scored and 30 stolen bases. The Padres will give both a chance to make the big club out of spring training, but could decide to limit their service time and send them back to the minors if they happen to struggle.

Bullpen

Closer: Brandon Maurer
Next: Ryan Buchter

Maurer took over the closer's job after the Padres traded Fernando Rodney, converting 13-of-15 save chances and pitching to an ERA of 3.09. That's good enough to put him as the front-runner to close entering the season. Buchter is a solid setup man after finally sticking on a major league roster last season at the age of 29. He posted a respectable 2.86 ERA and 11.1 K/9 rate in 63 innings.

Keep an eye on Carter Capps, who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery. With his unique hop-and-throw delivery, he posted a 1.16 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 31 innings (16.8 K/9) in 2015. He hopes to be ready for opening day, roughly 13 months after surgery.

Position battles

Career minor leaguer Ryan Schimpf, 28, was an unexpected find last season, hitting 20 home runs in 89 games after he was promoted from the minors. The main reason: Schimpf's 65% fly-ball rate (albeit in 276 AB) dwarfed MLB leader Todd Frazier's 49%. However, he'll have to compete with speedy Cory Spangenberg, who missed almost all of last year with a quadriceps injury.

The shortstop spot looks like a three-way competition among Luis Sardinas, Jose Rondon and Rule 5 pickup Allen Cordoba. The most interesting of the group is Cordoba, 21, who hit .362/.427/.495 last season for the Cardinals' rookie league team. However, he'll have to stay on the major league roster all season and learn on the job if the Padres want to keep him.

Every spot in the starting rotation could be up for grabs this spring. Luis Perdomo led the team with nine wins last year, but he has minor league options left and could start the season there. Lefties Clayton Richard and Christian Friedrich will likely get spots, leaving Paul Clemens, Jarred Cosart and Zach Lee as possibilities for the No. 5 job.

Prospects

SP Anderson Espinoza

With Renfroe and Margot likely playing in the majors this season, the biggest name in the Padres farm system is Espinoza, the 18-year-old phenom they acquired from Boston in the deal for Drew Pomeranz. Just 6-feet and 160 pounds, Espinoza held his own at High Class A, even though his 4.49 ERA doesn't really reflect it. As one of the youngest players at his level, the left-hander struck out 100 batters in 108 1/3 innings (8.3 K/9). He's drawn comparisons (however unfairly) to Pedro Martinez for the mid- to upper-90s velocity he can generate despite his small frame.

Projected batting order

1. LF Travis Jankowski
2. CF Manuel Margot
3. 1B Wil Myers
4. 3B Yangervis Solarte
5. RF Hunter Renfroe
6. 2B Ryan Schimpf
7. C Austin Hedges
8. SS Luis Sardinas

Projected rotation

1. RHP Luis Perdomo
2. LHP Clayton Richard
3. RHP Jhoulys Chacin
4. LHP Christian Friedrich
5. RHP Trevor Cahill