Or so it would seem.

Padres fans have been waiting for the 6’6″ 265-pound 1B/OF to finally turn a corner and hit at the major league level but injuries have impeded his development. The 26-year-old made his debut in June 2009 but was sidelined with plantar fasciitis August of that year. 2010 saw him have Tommy John surgery at the end of July in a season where he hadn’t played since May 17. Sprinkle in the fact Blanks had to adjust to the outfield due to Adrian Gonzalez and now Yonder Alonso blocking him from his natural position, one kind of starts pulling for the guy.

Now would seem like the time for him to make his move to solidify a spot on this roster, and this Spring he has taken every opportunity he’s had, batting .339/.431/.593 with 13 RBI (possibly 14, I think he had one more today), and 3 HRs in 59 ABs. But there doesn’t seem to be room on the roster for the guy. Jesus Guzman crushes lefties and has proven to be steady at the plate even though he is a one man circus on the field. Will Venable and Chris Denorfia are going to platoon in RF and there is no way they put Blanks out there.

So what to do with a guy crushing the ball this Spring?

Send him down to AAA. Blanks has been crushing the ball every Spring he has been able to fully participate in but has failed miserably at the major league level.

Spring Training:

2009: 30 G/69 AB .319/.415/.580

2010: 20 G/59 AB .407/.478/.729

2011: *

2012: 15 G/40 AB .325/.386/.593

Regular Season :

2009: 54 G/148 AB .250/.355/.514

2010: 33 G/102 AB .157/.283/.324

2011: 55 G/170 AB .229/.300/.406

2012: *

*His 2011 Spring Training numbers are not listed because he only had 5 AB and his 2012 Regular Season numbers are not listed because he only had 5 AB. 

The numbers he is putting up this Spring are nothing new. I highlight this because I noticed people wondering what was going to happen with Blanks and if he would make our roster. There is no need to make room for a player that has not proven he can hit at the highest level. Believe me, I want Blanks to succeed as much as the next Padres fan but I would not replace Alexi Amarista, Mark Kotsay, Guzman, Venable, and Denorfia on our bench for Blanks.

Yes Blanks needs a chance to prove himself and will only do that with more at bats but I would rather see what he has in September when we know how good we are (or are not) than at the start of the season. For the sake of health on the team, Blanks not getting called up this season would mean no injuries the key members on the team. So here’s to wishing Blanks a great season…in the minors.

2013 Committed Salaries: Huston Street ($7M), Carlos Quentin ($9.5M) Nick Hundley ($2M), Yonder Alonso ($1M), Chris Denorfia ($2M), Yasmani Grandal ($750K), Cameron Maybin ($3M), Cory Luebke ($500K), Mark Kotsay ($1.3M). Total committed: $27 million.

September 28, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Xavier Nady (12) slides into third base with a triple past San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley (7) during the fourth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

The Padres are pretty light on the commitments, and they do not have any bad contracts. The Quentin deal could be questionable, but at $9.5 million, the Padres probably could not do much better on the free agent market. The Maybin deal will start to get more expensive in the coming years.

Arbitration-eligible Padres(estimated salaries): Chase Headley ($8.3M), Clayon Richard ($5M), Edinson Volquez ($4.6M), Will Venable ($2.5M), Tim Stauffer ($3.2M), Luke Gregerson ($3.2M), Dustin Moseley ($2M), Joe Thatcher ($1.1M), Micah Owings ($1.2M), Everth Cabrera ($1.2M), John Baker ($900K), Kyle Blanks ($600K) : Projected Arbitration costs: $33.8 million.

I expect many non-tenders in this class. I think it is safe to say that Stauffer, Owings, and Moseley will all be non-tendered. All are coming off injuries, and the Padres would be better served going in a different direction. I could see Thatcher and Baker non-tendered as well. The Padres will go into 2013 with Nick Hundley as the backup, and the Padres simply will not have a place for Baker. I think Kyle Blanks will get another look as well.

Free agents: Jason Marquis: Marquis need a nice job for the Padres in 2012, and I would like to see him brought back, if the price is right. Marquis made $3 million in 2012. If the Padres can sign him for less, it would be worth exploring.

From my estimation, the Padres have between $50-55 million committed to next year’s squad. The Padres had a payroll of $55 million this year. In order for the team to acquire talent from outside of the organization, they will need to raise the payroll. The Padres could look to make other moves, but on the surface, it would seem like they do not have a lot of financial flexibility. San Diego is expected to target starting pitching, and it will be interesting to see in what direction they will go in.

The Padres announced that they have resigned Kotsay to an extension through 2013. According to Jon Heyman, the Padres will pay Kotsay $1.3 million in 2013. Kotsay makes $1.25 million this year.

July 17, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Mark Kotsay (right) with first base coach Dave Roberts (10) after hitting a single during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

Kotsay has been solid as a part-time player in 2012, posting a triple slash line of .275/.333/.375, with one homer and and nine RBI’s. He has had a number of key hits off the bench, and gives the Padres a veteran presence they sorely need. The Padres made a solid move to keep a solid role-player around in 2013.