Happy New Year to you. It should be an especially happy time in San Diego.

In picking up power hitting OF Carlos Quentin, the Padres just inched their way into credibility in a vastly improving National League West. Quentin represents a major bat in a previously quiet, (to say the least,) Padres lineup. He will add a big time threat in the middle of the batting order, a quality the team desperately needed. But the Padres have much more work to do. I'm not drinking their victory potion yet, but I like this move.

I have watched Quentin since his days at Stanford, but especially with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox. While he found a way to put fear in pitchers, he also found his way to the disabled list with regularity. That is the big question mark looming over his head. Will he get his at-bats? What ailment will send him to the sidelines?

With the Dbacks, Quentin got off to a nice start and then side pain kept him out of the lineup for long stretches at a time. When he did play, he was so intense that he got himself out far too often. Quentin was harder on himself than management, his teammates or fans. He wanted to show the world that he was every bit the power hitter the Dbacks drafted in the first round in 2003. He has been dealing with injuries in every season of his career.

Like everyone else playing in San Diego, Quentin will suffer from the pitcher friendly dimensions. In Quentin's case, he is strong enough and powerful enough to reach the seats. It won't be as often as he could in Cellular Field, but he'll still hit his share of homers. And he'll be playing numerous games at Chase Field and Coors Field, parks that fantasy players should consider when Quentin's name comes up in auction or during the draft. He should thrive in both those parks. Add Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh to the mix and it bodes well for Carlos Quentin. I think he can be a fantasy dream at a mid round or a reasonable auction price. But here's the problem. If I pitch against San Diego, I work around Quentin. I stay away from cookie fastballs. If I fall behind in the count, I don't much care. There still isn't much around him that can bust open a game. Change will evolve with the introduction of Yonser Alonso and even Yasmini Grandal to the lineup. It may take an entire season or even until next season, but those bats around Quentin will help. It makes Quentin a very strong keeper league candidate. But it's still San Diego so I can't get overly hyped. I just like the deal. I like what it does for San Diego and I like what it does for fantasy.

Pitchers Simon Castro and Pedro Hernandez are longer term prospects. Neither figured prominently in the Padres plans for 2012. Castro is closer than Hernandez. Castro is a big, strong right-handed starter or long reliever. At 6'5" 220 pounds, Castro is a mid to higher 90's strike thrower. He still has to harness command. I see him as a back of the rotation starter, but not in 2012 with the White Sox unless they decide to move one of their starters. At some point, however, he could work out of the White Sox pen next season.

Martinez is much more a high control pitcher with a sinking change up. I see him eventually as a back end of the rotation starter or a situational lefty. We've seen many 5'10" 200 pound stocky situational lefties before. But a lefty throwing strikes is intriguing. His fastball is in the 88-90 range. He also throws a good split. Keeping the ball down in the zone has been and will be his ticket to the big leagues.

I took another look at the Rockies depth chart this week. I was surprised at the massive difference in their club this year from last. They have quietly kept up with the moves made by Arizona and I think their offense will be much stronger this coming season. Picking up Michael Cuddyer was a huge move. Casey Blake improves their depth tremendously. Ramon Hernandez takes over behind the plate and he could be real force in Coors. Take another look at the Rockies and consider them again when you prepare for your draft. All those new bats could mean much more lineup protection for Cargo and Tulo. That's a component they missed last season. I like protection in a lineup. Cuddyer in particular offers that in Coors.

Joe Saunders is an attractive left-handed starter still in the market. Where are the Yankees? He fits. He can give them innings as a good 5th starter.

Is it the market for Prince Fielder that is holding up Carlos Pena, Casey Kotchman and Derrek Lee? Once Prince signs, do they fall into place? I'm just askin. If they don't land Prince, the Rangers seem a nice landing spot for Pena. They are one of a few teams that can handle his batting average while maximizing his power and defense. I'm just sayin'. I still think the Rangers have a slight, not major, slight hole at first base.

Want steals next season? Don't forget Dee Gordon. I remember writing about him in my RotoWire column early, early as a minor league player. I was totally impressed with his speed at that point. Now with coaching and experience I think he'll be a menace on the bases. I also think he'll get on base more than people think. He's working hard in the off season. You're right, he's not a secret. He's a known commodity, but lots of people tend to forget him in conversations with Michael Bourn, Jacoby, Gardner, etc.

I hope you have a great 2012. I wish you good health, prosperity, great drafts, wonderful auctions and lots of good luck. I'll be here to share some thoughts with you.

Follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff, on MLB.com at "voices" and catch up with me talking with Jeff and Dalton on Wednesday mornings on Sirius/XM. We have lively discussions every week. Hope you'll join us.