Padres roster review: Drew Pomeranz

DREW POMERANZ

• Position(s): Left-handed reliever
• 2022 opening day age: 33
• Bats / Throws: Right / Left
• Height / Weight: 6-foot-5 / 249 pounds
• How acquired: Signed as a free agent in November 2019
• Contract status: Will earn $10 million in the third year of a four-year, $34 million deal
• Key 2021 stats: 1-0, 1.75 ERA, 0 saves, 30 strikeouts, 10 walks, 1.13 WHIP, .211 opponent average, 25 2/3 innings (27 games)

STAT TO NOTE

• 104 — The number of games lost to stints in the injured list since signing with the Padres before the 2020 season, including 97 in 2021. These do not count the games in which he was considered “down” as was the case a handful of other times over the last two seasons. Officially, Pomeranz missed time with a shoulder strain in 2020 (Aug. 21-28), as well as a shoulder impingement (May 10-June 29) and forearm inflammation (July 7-17 and Aug. 11 until the end of the season). Pomeranz ultimately required season-ending surgery to repair a flexor tendon.
  

TRENDING

• Down — An All-Star with the Padres in 2016, Pomeranz returned to San Diego as a reliever via a four-year, $34 million deal that raised eyebrows throughout the industry after the converted starter struck out 45 batters over 26 1/3 innings (2.39 ERA) to close 2019 in the Brewers’ bullpen. When healthy, Pomeranz has certainly performed as an elite reliever, striking out 59 batters over 44 1/3 innings over the last two seasons in San Diego (1.62 ERA). The problem is Pomeranz has required four stints on the injured list over that stretch (see stat to note), marring any player’s best ability — availability. The last injury stint required surgery to repair his flexor tendon, ending another season in which he’d been effective when available. Although he wasn’t quite as dominant as he was a year ago (.145/.260/.194), Pomeranz held the opposition scoreless in 22 of his 27 appearances (41 of 47 since signing) and held hitters to a .211/.284/.333 batting line while working almost exclusively in one-inning bursts. He was toughest on lefties (.410 OPS), while righties saw their OPS jump from .454 in 2020 to .732 last year.
  

2022 OUTLOOK

• Pomeranz saved four games in 2020 but gave way to Trevor Rosenthal in the ninth after the latter arrived via trade that year and then to Mark Melancon as the closer in 2021. As the highest-paid player in the bullpen this year, it stands to reason a healthy Pomeranz warrants a look as the closer as new manager Bob Melvin — who deployed Pomeranz as a starting pitcher and a reliever in Oakland from 2014-15 — works out just how to use Pomeranz, newcomers Robert Suarez and Luis Garcia and the other holdovers. Wherever he lands, Pomeranz will be a go-to arm in leverage situations.
  

The Padres’ Drew Pomeranz delivers against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field on April 10, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Padres won 7-4.

(Getty Images)

ROSTER RANKINGS

• No. 15 | LHP Drew Pomeranz
• No. 16 | C Austin Nola
• No. 17 | C Luis Campusano
• No. 18 | 1B Eric Hosmer
• No. 19 | RHP Robert Suarez
• No. 20 | RHP Pierce Johnson
• No. 21 | RHP Craig Stammen
• No. 22 | OF Jurickson Profar
• No. 23 | RHP Luis Garcia
• No. 24 | LHP Tim Hill
• No. 25 | INF Ha-seong Kim
• No. 26 | RHP Emilio Pagán
• No. 27 | RHP Austin Adams
• No. 28 | RHP Reiss Knehr
• No. 29 | C Victor Caratini
• No. 30 | RHP Michel Báez
• No. 31 | LHP Ray Kerr
• No. 32 | RHP Javy Guerra
• No. 33 | RHP Nabil Crismatt
• No. 34 | RHP Steven Wilson
• No. 35 | C Jorge Alfaro
• No. 36 | RHP Efrain Contreras
• No. 37 | RHP Adrian Martinez
• No. 38 | RHP Pedro Avila
• No. 39 | INF Eguy Rosario
• No. 40 | RHP James Norwood