SAN DIEGO ---- On the day he was fired, ex-Padres general manager Kevin Towers credited his predecessor, Randy Smith, for leaving him a strong foundation from which to work ---- one that led to quick success.

Towers' hope is that one day his successor will say the same. Considering the current state of the Padres, it's an easy guess that whomever CEO Jeff Moorad selects as the new GM will be lauding Towers' efforts for years to come.

Not that it will all be easy. The Padres have several big decisions looming, including what to do with franchise cornerstone Adrian Gonzalez.

But whenever Moorad makes his choice, the Padres' new GM will walk into one of the most promising setups in baseball:

-- The Padres have only $12 million in guaranteed money committed for 2010 after Towers unloaded Jake Peavy's $56 million contract

-- The pitching staff was completely overhauled through the trades of Peavy and Scott Hairston and several other minor deals

-- The 40-man roster is loaded with affordable, controllable talent.

Even with a payroll that will "begin with a four," according to Moorad, the Padres should have a little spending flexibility this offseason. That wasn't the case last offseason when Towers was instructed to trim the Padres' payroll from a franchise-record $73.6 million to the mid-40s. Towers was forced to let closer Trevor Hoffman walk away via free agency and dump shortstop Khalil Greene's $6 million contract on the St. Louis Cardinals. He also had to explore trading Peavy, a deal that finally came to fruition nine months later with a July 31 trade to the Chicago White Sox.

This offseason, the new Padres GM could bring back a team that posted a 37-25 mark over the season's final 10 weeks in its entirety. Even with raises due to third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, closer Heath Bell and starter Kevin Correia, the Padres' payroll would be unlikely to surpass $40 million if the entire roster returned.

The likelihood of that occurring, however, is low as any new GM will probably want to make their own mark. And they will have plenty of chances. After getting a good, hard look at a number of young players this season, the Padres will be sufficiently armed to make several key decisions for the future.

---- Should they extend Gonzalez's contract, which includes a team option for 2011, or trade him while he has maximum value and move Kyle Blanks back to first base from the outfield? Gonzalez's ability has drawn the interest of a number of high-powered teams who would offer the Padres a sizable return. But the first baseman has begun developing into a leader in the clubhouse and what he means to the franchise off the field nearly rivals his value on it. Unless he's signed long term ---- the organization is likely to soon determine if it can afford him ---- Gonzalez may be as good as gone.

---- What do they do with Bell? The loquacious closer is a clubhouse leader and was outstanding in 2009, but he turns 33 next September and is due a healthy raise. Bell would have monster trade value at the nonwaiver trade deadline in July, perhaps more than he would this offseason.

---- Who's on third? Should the Padres move forward with Kouzmanoff, their best right-handed bat, who could earn up to $4 million in arbitration? Or should they try to trade him to several teams looking for help at third base (the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, Oakland A's or San Francisco Giants) and move Chase Headley from the outfield to his natural position at third base?

---- Is Nick Hundley the catcher of the future or should they look elsewhere? Hundley showed he may have a decent bat, but he must clean up a number of facets defensively to be a steady backstop.

---- Can Tony Gwynn Jr. be considered an everyday center fielder or should the Padres bring in a veteran right-handed hitting outfielder to help out?

---- Although they have a plethora of arms to compete for the 2010 rotation, including a ---- hopefully ---- healthy one attached to Chris Young, should the Padres consider bringing in another starting pitcher to solidify the staff?