Click Here to see Previews of all 30 MLB Teams

Offseason Movement: The Padres didn’t make a ton of moves this offseason, but they did add 2B David Eckstein to help mentor a young club and hopefully provide a boost at the top of the lineup. San Diego also signed free agents Cliff Floyd, Henry Blanco, Chris Burke, Kevin Correia and traded for RHP Mark Worrell, formerly of the Cardinals.

Top Prospect: Matt Antonelli, 2B
The Padres selected Antonelli with the 17th overall pick in the 2008 draft and while he played third base at Wake Forest, the club envisions him as a second basemen at the next level. Thus far in spring training, Antonelli is hitting .348 in 23 at bats and although the club signed David Eckstein to play second base, they could move him to short to make room for the 23-year old prospect. Antonelli has flashed a decent combination of pop and speed, which is certainly two things the Padres would love to add to their lineup.

The Big Question: Has the offense improved?
No team scored fewer runs last year than the Padres, who didn’t do much to upgrade their lineup in the offseason. First basemen Adrian Gonzalez is one of the best young hitters in the game, but he doesn’t have much around him. Brian Giles’ skills are declining but he can still rake (he hit .306 last year and added 12 dingers), while Kevin Kouzmanoff has above-average pop but doesn’t offer much in average. If this club expects to have better offensive production this year, then guys like Jody Gerut and David Eckstein have to be solid table setters at the top of the lineup.

Outlook: The Padres have one of the better 1-2 punches in all of baseball with ace Jake Peavy (whom the club decided to hang onto despite talk of him being traded to the Cubs this offseason) and Chris Young. Henry Blanco also offers a slight upgrade at the catcher position in terms of defense, although he won’t do much for San Diego’s weak offensive production. The bottom line is that the Pads didn’t do much to upgrade their offense and even though their starting pitching is solid, the bullpen could be a major issue and their defense is weak up the middle. This team isn’t void of talent with Gonzalez, Peavy, Giles, Kouzmanoff and Young, but on a whole there are just too many holes and the basement of the NL West is probably calling San Diego’s name.

Projection: 5th NL West.

Anyway, as Manny Ramirez remains unemployed, there were a few other smaller signings and moves this past week….

Okay, this isn’t small but just announced on Friday, Prince Fielder has agreed to a 2-year, $18 million deal with the Brewers that will keep him firmly entrenched (and who could move the guy?) on first base in Milwaukee through 2010. I’m glad for the Brew Crew since they lost out to the mighty Yankees in the CC sweepstakes.

Catcher Gregg Zaun re-signed with the Orioles, the team that drafted him back in 1989. The journeyman player signed a deal worth $1.5 million with a $2 million option for 2010.

The Phillies signed outfielder Jayson Werth to a two-year, $10 million contract and also inked reliever Chad Durbin to a one-year deal worth $1.635 million.

Young right fielder Nick Markakis of the Orioles came to terms on a six-year, $66.1 million deal, covering his first three arbitration-eligible years as well as his first three free agency eligible seasons. Clearly the O’s believe in this kid and want to keep him away from the Yankees and Red Sox.

Two other catchers signed this week—Brad Ausmus reached agreement with the Dodgers on a 1-year, $1 million deal; and Henry Blanco signed a $750,000 deal for one year to back up Padres’ catcher Nick Hundley.

Shortstop Omar Vizquel, who at 41 still looks like he’s 25, has been invited to spring training by the Texas Rangers. Vizquel signed a minor league deal that will allow him to mentor 20-year old Elvis Andrus, and to possibly become the team’s utility infielder. In order to make room for Andrus on the field, the Rangers are planning to move all-star shortstop Michael Young to third base. In addition, the Rangers are said to be casually wooing free agent pitcher Ben Sheets, who lives in Dallas.

Meanwhile, Tom Covill of Yahoo Sports posted this great summary of the remaining big name free agents still looking for work. It’s really kind of mind-boggling, but looking at these tiny deals being signed this past week, it’s clearly about economics and nothing more.