RSS Padres Team Notes

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: A.J. Preller may need to dig deeper into the farm system to acquire talent this offseason

For a time, it seemed like the only news this offseason concerning the San Diego Padres was bad news. That changed this week. Other than a couple players being signed to minor league contracts with invites to Spring Training, there has been no news about the Padres.

With so many things in flux in San Diego, this offseason may continue to be forgettable for the Friar Faithful. If financial constraints keep the Padres from being players in the free agent market, perhaps they can make a splashy trade that lands a piece for the major league club.

Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball looked at what San Diego might have to offer if A.J. Preller looks to acquire talent via trade.

Baseball News:

It’s not just Padres news that has been scarce, baseball news in general seems to have come to a grinding halt. However, ESPN’s Jeff Passan delivered surprising news Sunday with the announcement of a trade between the Texas Rangers and New York Mets. Just looking at the names involved, it appears the Mets just got a whole lot better and are trying to guarantee themselves a playoff berth in 2026.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...-farm-system-to-acquire-talent-this-offseason

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey: San Diego has many areas to improve, which is the most important to address?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The finances of the San Diego Padres have been a topic of discussion for fans and media members alike through this point in the offseason. There are sites where you can see what the current and projected payroll will be, but without knowing what the organization is willing to spend its all speculation. Of course, with the announcement that the Seidler family could consider selling the team, it would appear the Padres will have another offseason of one surprise acquisition, like Nick Pivetta, and that will be surrounded by a litany of smaller moves, such as Jason Heyward, Martin Maldonado, Yuli Gurriel, etc.

Shopping in the bargain bin is not the most exciting experience, but it may be the most prudent for a team that is saddled with big contracts that will see many of the players making large sums of money into their late 30s and early 40s. This expected financial constraint has caused some fanbases from teams like the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and New York Mets, to dream on the thought of a trade involving their team and the Padres in which they end up with Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego has said it will not trade the two-time Platinum Glove-winning right fielder.

So when Padres general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller decides to make a run at a free agent this offseason, who should it be? Should it be a player who can address the lack of slug and home runs that saw the Padres drop to 28th in major league baseball in that category in 2025? Should it be an arm that could take the place of Michael King or Dylan Cease, who reportedly agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, Wednesday? Should it be a player who fills a defensive need, such as first base?

Gaslamp Ball would like to know, if you were in charge of the finances for the Padres and could take one big swing in free agency, where should that money be spent?

Results of the poll will be provided later in the week.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...mprove-which-is-the-most-important-to-address

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Winter leagues provide Padres players with opportunities, Dylan Cease lands with new team

The San Diego Padres have made a couple minor league signings, but there has not been any activity or reported contract discussions with any of the free agents, to include their own. While the offseason work in the front office has yet to be seen, but is surely taking place, Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball wrote the players in the various Winter leagues have been staying active, looking to improve and hoping for a chance to show their big league club they deserve to compete for a spot on the major league roster.

Finances are always a hot topic when it comes to the Padres and that is something no one in the front office will ever talk about publicly. That provides the Friar Faithful with plenty to speculate about but also allows for some optimists to dream on the possibility of signing a big-name free agent. Gaslamp Ball asked its readers to decide how they would spend San Diego’s money.

More Padres News:

• If anyone was hoping the Padres might try to bring back one or both of right-handed pitchers Dylan Cease or Michael King, you can scratch Cease off the list. Several outlets and media members reported Wednesday that Cease had agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal with the American League Champion Toronto Blue Jays. After seeing the reported contract numbers for Cease, King may be destined for another team as well in 2026.
• Former Padres manager Mike Shildt has apparently decided he has been retired long enough. Shildt is returning to baseball in a player development role with the Baltimore Orioles. The move itself is not all that interesting, but the timing of it all will surely raise some eyebrows.

Baseball News:

• The Los Angeles Angels and Anthony Rendon are discussing a possible buyout, which would end a rocky relationship between the third baseman and the franchise. It may also bring about the end of Rendon’s career as he is expected to retire.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...tunities-dylan-cease-lands-deal-with-new-team

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Craig Stammen adds two familiar faces to his coaching staff

If you have concerns about new San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen’s lack of experience at the position, your fears may be tempered a bit with the recent hires to the coaching staff.

The Padres named Steven Souza Jr. as the hitting coach and Randy Knorr as the bench coach for the 2026 season. Both hires are expected to assist Stammen in making a smooth transition from a front office executive role to the field manager position.

Souza Jr.’s approach to hitting​

Souza Jr. begins his first season as a major league hitting coach, and everyone is wondering what his approach will be to working with the Friars’ veteran lineup. He has a very simplistic hitting philosophy, as Souza teaches his hitters to trust their skillset at the plate. He learned this approach as a special advisor to hitting development with the Tampa Bay Rays last season.

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His philosophy encourages hitters to mentally visualize the situation before stepping into the batter’s box. The process includes studying the defensive alignment and identifying who is on base. Souza Jr. wants to eliminate overthinking and chasing bad pitches outside the strike zone.

It is a strategy that counters former Padres hitting coach Victor Rodriguez’s approach at the plate, a high-contact philosophy designed to reduce the lineup’s strikeout percentage. But it comes at the cost of sacrificing a hitter’s power potential during at-bats.

Souza Jr.’s success hinges on his ability to translate the analytic data into accessible, impactful talking points that resonate with the players.

Regardless of which approach you support, the Friars need to put together more productive at-bats in 2026.

Knorr has the experience to be an asset in the dugout​

Successful managers rarely follow the same script each night. If they do not acknowledge the failures from the day before, then the results will never change. The Padres hired Knorr as the bench coach because he is known for his ability to make a suggestion that impacts the game.

Stammen is hoping Knorr can provide a lending voice with in-game decisions. It could be reshuffling the lineup or making a pitching change. But Stammen must take ownership of every move made during a contest. He must learn how to move the chess pieces that mirror his expectations of what should take place in that moment.

Knorr’s extensive experience spans nearly every baseball front office role, including development coach, minor league manager, player development executive, and major league coach. His personality has helped to develop a rapport with young players. He cherishes building a relationship that goes beyond the struggles of playing baseball. They gravitate toward Knorr, who provides insight from his playing days that allows them to reach their full potential.

The connection with the two new hires and Stammen is their time together with the Washington Nationals. Souza Jr. was a teammate in 2014, and Knorr was the bullpen and bench coach during Stammen’s time with the Nats from 2009 to 2015.

He is facing an uphill climb in becoming an outstanding manager. Trusted voices can help him make sound decisions and surpass the Friar Faithful’s expectations.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...adds-two-familiar-faces-to-his-coaching-staff

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: The Padres have been quite, but other teams are gearing up to take a shot on free agents

Baseball News:

• It appears the Chicago Cubs may be trying to convince free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to return to the team with niceties. In a report from Patrick Mooney in The Athletic, the Cubs evaluated their acquisition of Tucker a year ago as a success after their return to the postseason.
• For most baseball fans, it seemed like a reunion between the Philadelphia Phillies and their free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto was a foregone conclusion. It seems that one team would like to make his decision a bit more difficult as Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic are reporting the Boston Red Sox have interest in bringing the backstop to Beantown.
• If Realmuto wasn’t enough to perk up the ears of Red Sox fans, news they are looking at additional free agents like Pete Alonso might have them waiting on pins and needles for Winter Meetings since that is when many free agent signings occur.
• After their unexpected run to the National League Championship in 2025, the Milwaukee Brewers could be looking to cut payroll. The Padres are in need of pitching and Freddy Peralta might be available if San Diego can bobble together an enticing package of players.
• The Baltimore Orioles may be looking to spend some money this offseason, and to be honest, they may be forced to if they expect to keep pace with the rest of the American League East. Could big names be lured to Baltimore, there are reports they state it’s possible.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...-are-gearing-up-to-take-a-shot-on-free-agents

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Craig Stammen adds to his coaching staff; Jake Cronenworth identified as possible trade candidate

New San Diego Padres Manager Craig Stammen made his first moves as the team’s skipper by selecting Randy Knorr and Steven Souza Jr. as the new bench coach and hitting coach respectively. Neither name is all that familiar to Padres fans, but they are familiar to Stammen. One is a long-time coach and former player and the other is a former player with a data-driven approach to hitting. How effective Knorr or Souza Jr. will be in their knew roles is anyone’s guess, but if San Diego continues to win the Friar Faithful will see their selections as a positive.

Padres News:

• Will Leitch of Padres.com provides reasons for each MLB team to be thankful this holiday season. He points to the loyal fanbase and claims San Diego is amidst one of its best eras ever.

• Fans of the Padres have at times, had issues with Jake Cronenworth. He is a versatile infielder, who made the All-Star Game in 2021 and 2022 and was given an extension following a postseason in which he helped San Diego get past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. Cronenworth has not been the same offensive player over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, but showed he may be potentially working back to his All-Star ways with a solid 2025 season. This is the reason Mark Feinsand of MLB.com has him listed as a potential trade candidate this offseason.

Baseball News:

• Speaking of trades, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com has come up with seven ridiculous trade ideas for the offseason. Some of the suggested trades seem so far-fetched that the title of the article is more than fitting.

• The Toronto Blue Jays believe they have another solid arm in their rotation after adding Dylan Cease earlier this week, but Keith Law of The Athletic thinks the seven-year, $210 million contract is too steep of a price for a pitcher, who has been dominant at times, but inconsistent far too often.

• The Miami Marlins, who were reportedly interested in signing right-handed starter Michael King are also reportedly interested in signing Pete Fairbanks. The former Tampa Bay Rays reliever has received interest from multiple teams with Miami being the latest.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...nworth-identified-as-possible-trade-candidate

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres sign a free agent, Winter leagues in progress

The San Diego Padres made no moves during the General Manager’s meetings, but none were expected. They still haven’t finished filling out their coaching group, so a slow start to the offseason isn’t a surprise.

With a new bench coach and hitting coach on board, the organization is still looking for its third base coach. So far, the coaches have all been former teammates and/or acquaintances of manager Craig Stammen. It seems safe to say the last hire will be consistent with that mold.

The Padres announced that there will be a 2026 FanFest for Padres fans. Jan. 31 is the date to be saved!

With Michael King and Dylan Cease refusing their qualifying offers, the chance of either of them returning appears slim. There are thoughts that Luis Arraez would be an easier sign, but with the assumed limited budget, it seems a waste of resources to sign a one-tool player.

Arbitration-eligible players

The Padres tendered contracts to their six eligible players – Jason Adam, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, JP Sears, Freddy Fermin and Gavin Sheets. The contract deadline is Jan. 8. After that, the parties have to exchange salary figures, and the hearings would take place in February. Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller has never gone to arbitration during his tenure with the organization.

Rehabbing RHP Jhonny Brito was also tendered a contract. He should be returning from his UCL surgery in the first half of the 2026 season. When he came to the Padres, he had been groomed as a starter, but was used as a reliever until his injury. There has been no word on what role the team sees him taking going forward.

Non-tendered players

LHP Omar Cruz and RHP Sean Reynolds were both released by the team at the non-tender deadline. Neither was arbitration eligible, so each would be expected to make minimum salary on the roster. But the moves seem to indicate their roster spots were more important to the team. They could both be re-signed to minor league contracts, if they want to stay with the organization. With the addition of Garrett Hawkins and Miguel Mendez, these moves keep the Padres at 34 players on their roster.

Free agent sign

Outfielder Carlos Rodriguez, 24, was reportedly signed to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite. Previously with the Atlanta Braves system, Rodriguez has played well in the minor leagues, but has not had any success sticking with a major league roster.

Minor leaguers in Winter ball

Catcher Luis Campusano has a one-year contract for 2026 and is out of options, so the moment of truth comes this spring. He is also playing in the Dominican Winter league with Tigres de Licey. Other Padres minor leaguers are also playing Winter ball, but no major league players are currently playing with any of the four leagues.

Most of the Padres minor league players have been playing for a short time, so the first update on these players will be after they have had more appearances. Newly signed utility player, Pablo Reyes, is playing with Gigantes del Cabao (Dominican) and is hitting .136 with a .384 OPS in 59 at-bats. Catcher Rudolfo Duran is with Estrellas Orientales (Dominican) and has 35 at-bats with a .457 average and a 1.215 OPS. He has two home runs and six RBI.

The other six are with either the Dominican, Mexican or Venezuelan leagues. There will be an update next week with their progress.

• It was reported that Dylan Cease had agreed to a seven-year, $21o million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays after this report was submitted.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...-sign-a-free-agent-winter-leagues-in-progress

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres pitching options appear slim

The San Diego Padres organization, by its own admission, has a starting pitching problem. With Dylan Cease signing a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, there is only Michael King left as a re-sign possibility and the chances of that appear to be quite slim. Although he doesn’t have the best health history since becoming a starter, King has standout stuff and a tough mentality. Someone will end up giving him a big contract. Probably not the Padres.

With a limited budget available and an ownership issue to be resolved, A.J. Preller has his work cut out for him filling out the Padres roster with quality players to keep the team in playoff contention. He will have to shop the low end of the free agent market and maybe even dangle some highly ranked prospects in order to acquire a quality starter.

The unknown in this scenario is Joe Musgrove. How ready will he be at the start of the season? Will he be all the way back to his former self, or possibly better?

Those answers won’t come until we get to spring of next year. Preller can’t stock the roster all on hope. He has done fairly well in the past by signing low-priced free agents and getting quality in return (see Gavin Sheets). But that isn’t a sound strategy for a team that wants to compete in the postseason. There has to be some luck, but also some educated and thoughtful choices to bring in multiple players to fill the open positions.

How many pitchers?

The Padres need multiple starters for the rotation. Most all baseball fans know that five starters aren’t enough for a full season. There needs to be eight, at least. Even counting JP Sears and Matt Waldron, the Padres have only six who have pitched in the major leagues.

Newly re-signed Kyle Hart could be a starter but could also wash out and end up back in the bullpen, where he was more effective last season. Jhonny Brito is coming back from rehab, like Musgrove, and is an unknown quantity in this equation. The addition of Miguel Mendez to the 40-man roster guarantees a spring invite, but sticking with the major league club would be a big leap for the 23-year-old righty.

All that being noted, there is a big group of starters on the free agent market. Not all of them will command top dollar to sign. But one of the pitchers the team signs will need to be a proven and reliable veteran. It makes sense the organization will devote the bulk of its resources to signing starters.

They will need to trade for or get lucky with signing a bat to fill out the lineup. The bench help could end up being one or two of those $1 million free agent flyers that Preller is famous for.

Kohei Arihara will be available Dec. 2

One new name to the free agent class has surfaced. Japanese pitcher Kohei Arihara has been floated as a possible player who is interested in returning to MLB. Arihara was with the Texas Rangers from 2021 to 2022. He was hampered by a shoulder injury during that time and returned to Japan after his contract expired. Since then, he has recovered from his injury and has pitched well with the SoftBank Hawks of the NPB.

The 33-year-old right-hander has had three straight seasons of health with 26 starts, and 14 wins, in 2024. He won another 14 games in 2025 and has kept his ERA close to or below 3.0, while throwing 175 innings in back-to-back seasons.

He will join the other international free agents when he becomes available on Dec. 2.

Tomoyuki Saguaro (36), as well as Cody Ponce (32), Tatsuya Imai (28), and Kona Takahashi (29) remain as free agents available to MLB teams.

RHP Kenta Maeda, who played for Detroit in 2025, has signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the NPB and will seemingly finish his career in Japan. RHP Carlos Carrasco, 38, has reportedly signed a minor league deal with Atlanta. There remains around 60 starters still available per MLB.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ary/51816/padres-pitching-options-appear-slim

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres fans await significant free agent signing, meanwhile other teams are making moves

Baseball News:

• Fans of the San Diego Padres are still waiting for their team to make a significant signing, but other teams continue to strike deals with free agents. The latest to do so was the Baltimore Orioles, who reportedly came to terms with reliever Ryan Helsely on a two-year, $28 million deal that has an opt-out after the first year. Previous reports about Helsely indicated teams were looking to make him a starter, but for now he is expected to be the closer in Baltimore.

• A big part of the success of the Milwaukee Brewers this season was the breakout rookie season by starter Jacob Misiorowski. The team was impressed by the right-hander, but Charlie Wright of MLB Trade Rumors reported extension talks have yet to gain momentum.

• If the Philadelphia Phillies want to bring back slugger Kyle Schwarber they are taking their time with indicating that to him and the rest of the baseball world. Contract discussions between the Phillies and Schwarber have left both sides with ground to cover if a reunion is to happen in 2026.

• Most baseball fans expect free agents to get the most money for as many years as they can in free agency. A story on MLB.com makes the case for why some big-name free agents might re-sign with their former teams. No, Michael King did not make the list for those hoping the righty remains in San Diego.

• Perhaps the most famous Chicago White Sox fan, and some would argue maybe the only White Sox fan, Pope Leo XIV received a historic bat from a reporter while aboard the papal plane from one of the legends of the team, Nellie Fox.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...igning-meanwhile-other-teams-are-making-moves

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: A.J. Preller is going to have to be creative to complete Padres rotation, roster for 2026

Padres News:

• It appears San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller will have to have another offseason of creative contracts and fliers if he is going to address the holes in the San Diego rotation, the lineup and the bench. It is safe to say Preller will be shopping on a budget and that means he will have to take advantage of older or lesser proven arms to make up for the loss of Dylan Cease (signed with Toronto Blue Jays), Yu Darvish (elbow surgery) and the expected departure of free agent Michael King. Gaslamp Ball’s Cheri Bell looks at options for Preller and the Padres in another offseason of financial constraints.

• Cheri Bell is not the only writer looking to identify options for San Diego to fill out its rotation and roster. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com identified one free agent signing for each MLB team and he identified Cody Ponce as a fit for the Padres. The right-hander has been playing in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) and is looking to get back to MLB for the 2026 season.

Baseball News:

• While some reports, including the one by Feinsand in the above paragraph, have said the San Francisco Giants will be players in the free agent market, Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that may not be the case when it comes to pitching. Speculation of the Giants pursuing Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai may be just that OR Buster Posey and the rest of the San Francisco front office may be wearing their best poker faces.

• Despite what seems to be a soured relationship between the New York Mets and pitcher Kodai Senga, at least from the team’s point of view, the potential trade candidate has made it known that he would like to remain with the Mets.

• The Padres are not the only team looking for low-cost options on the free agent market. A report from Nick Deeds of MLB Trade Rumors identifies Zach Eflin and Adrian Houser as targets for the Tampa Bay Rays.

• The Boston Red Sox are expected to have an active offseason and that began with a trade for Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. There are reports suggesting that the Red Sox may look to sign multiple big-name free agents, but whether the team will have the financial ability to do that has become a topic of discussion.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...e-to-complete-padres-rotation-roster-for-2026

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres top 10 prospects per Baseball America

Major League Baseball has not released its prospect rankings for its 30 teams for the 2026 season. The minor league evaluations will come out before the new season begins and the current rankings came after the trade deadline.

Baseball America, the biggest evaluator of baseball prospects, is releasing its new rankings, team by team. They recently put out the Padres top 10 prospect list with evaluations for each player.

They grade each player with a numerical evaluation for their tools as well as a scouting report. Their projected future is included, with an emphasis on areas for improvement.

Following is the list with a synopsis of the key points for each prospect.

1. Ethan Salas – Considered a defense-first catcher, the 19-year-old lost the 2025 season to injury, but struggled offensively during the 2024 season. The adjustments he made after that season were not able to be tested due to his low back injury that occurred in April. Salas has played in 123 games since being signed. He needs at-bats to get to the point where he can be fairly evaluated. His defense is rated as being MLB ready now, but his offense is a concern.
2. Kruz Schoolcraft – The 18-year-old LHP was 6-foot-8 and 229 pounds when signed. He was sent to Lake Elsinore for one start and 1.2 innings pitched. He has a mid- to high-90’s fastball, a mid-80’s changeup and a low-80’s slider. All have the potential to be above average. Command is usually the issue with big pitchers due to the difficulty of repeating their delivery. He has immense upside with a front-of-the-rotation profile. He should return to Low-A Lake Elsinore in 2026.
3. Kash Mayfield – The 20-year-old LHP finished 2025 with Lake Elsinore, starting 19 games and pitching to a 2.97 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 28 walks in 60.2 innings. His low- to mid-90’s fastball is commanded well and compliments his killer changeup. He also has a high-70’s to low-80’s slider. He should start 2026 with Fort Wayne and projects as a No. 3 starter.
4. Miguel Mendez – The 23-year-old RHP finished 2025 with Double-A San Antonio after dominating at High-A Fort Wayne. He throws a mid- to high-90’s fastball with lots of movement. He complements that with a mid- to upper-80’s changeup and an upper-80’s to low-90’s slider. All are currently, or have potential to be, plus-pitches. He still needs work on his command, but with a high ceiling, Mendez could make it to San Diego in 2026.
5. Jorge Quintana – The 18-year-old shortstop was acquired at the trade deadline as the only prospect coming into the system. A switch-hitter, Quintana has plus offensive upside. He struggles against secondary pitches and had below average contact skills this past season. His defense is considered average, at best, but with an above average arm. He should play in Low-A Lake Elsinore to start 2026.
6. Humberto Cruz – The 19-year-old RHP has a 94-97 mph fastball that needs more shape. His low- to mid-80’s gyro slider is his best pitch, and he rounds out his mix with a mid- to upper-80’s changeup, which could be above average. He had elbow surgery at the end of the 2025 season and might not pitch in 2026. When he returns, he will probably pitch in Low-A Lake Elsinore and profiles as a mid-rotation starter.
7. Ty Harvey – The 19-year-old catcher needs work offensively, but flashes power while also showing significant arm strength defensively. He has a good chance to stick at catcher. He should start 2026 at Low-A Lake Elsinore.
8. Ryan Wideman – The 22-year-old outfielder is 6-foot-5 and 204 pounds with multiple tools. He could stick in centerfield, has power and a decent hit tool as well as speed and baserunning talent. Defensively, he has an above average arm, but has a penchant for chasing at the plate and needs pitch recognition work. He is likely to start 2026 with Low-A Lake Elsinore.
9. Bradgley Rodriguez – He spent a good portion of 2025 with the big league team and impressed with his upper-90’s fastball and sinker. He can hit 100 mph with both. He also has an upper-80’s to lower-90’s changeup that is a plus-pitch and he occasionally flashes a cutter-slider hybrid. He has a good chance to make the Padres roster out of Spring Training. If the bullpen is crowded, he would be a powerful weapon sitting in Triple-A.
10. Kale Fountain – The 20-year-old infielder plays both third and first base. Coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, Fountain played in the Arizona Complex League and in Lake Elsinore. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Fountain has power to spare but has contact and pitch recognition issues. Before surgery, he had an above average arm and should see time at both corners and left field in 2026.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/minors/51836/padres-top-10-prospects-per-baseball-america

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon could be converted back to starters for the Padres

Padres News:

• The pitching problems or the potential for pitching problems for the San Diego Padres and the 2026 season have been discussed ad nauseum at this point, but that does not mean the conversation is over. Brent McGuire of MLB.com names Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon as two of six bullpen pitchers in MLB who could be moved to the starting rotation. Miller and Morejon started their MLB careers in the starting rotation, but both eventually moved to the bullpen where they have shown the potential to be two of the most dominant bullpen arms in the game. It would be interesting to see how Miller or Morejon would transition back into the starting rotation, but what that would mean for the San Diego bullpen remains to be seen.

• It’s the time of year when fans of their respective teams start looking into the players in their minor league system to see who will be invited to Spring Training and who might have a chance to challenge for a roster spot. Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune takes a look at the catchers in the Padres system, to include San Diego’s top prospect, Ethan Salas.

• Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic looks at some of the worst contacts in MLB and one of those he points out is Xander Boagaerts. The shortstop signed with San Diego and was expected to help the Padres achieve their goal of winning a World Series – after all, he helped the Red Sox hoist the World Series Trophy a couple of times.

Baseball News:

• The New York Mets and free-agent reliever Devin Williams agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal. The Mets were needing to solidify their closer role and were reportedly talking with former Padres closer Robert Suarez among others. The signing of Williams would seem to be the official end of the relationship between New York and former closer Edwin Diaz. However, the Mets are open to bringing him back, but with Williams in the fold they have insurance in the event that Diaz signs elsewhere.

• The inevitable end to the current MLB collective bargaining agreement has fans on edge wondering what a work stoppage would look like for their favorite team. 2027 is fast-approaching and multiple contributors from ESPN.com have come together to list what you need to know about the labor negotiations.

• Kyle Schwarber is one of the biggest free agents available on the free agent market and the expectation is that he will return to the Philadelphia Phillies. That being said, Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com says the market for the slugger is heating up and there is an NL East rival who might be able to pull him away from the Phillies.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...-be-converted-back-to-starters-for-the-padres

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: The Padres have some talent in the minors, but will they ever make the MLB roster in San Diego?

In baseball, there are typically two camps, (1) people who love prospects and the potential they bring for the long-term future of an organization or (2) people who see prospects as capital to be used to trade and improve the big-league club.

San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has been in that second group for the past several years. He likes to build the farm up with young, promising talent and then tear it down by trading it away to acquire major league ready talent.

The 2025 deadline trade of minor league shortstop Leodalis De Vries for Mason Miller and JP Sears is the most recent example of this. As much as Preller builds up and tears down the farm, it is a wonder that there are any Padres prospects left that draw the attention of national baseball writers. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball looks at the top 10 San Diego farmhands according to Baseball America.

Padres News:

• Speculation abounds about what teams will pursue and sign what players and the Padres are no exception. AJ Cassavell of Padres.com gives some insight about what fans need to know as Preller and the San Diego front office personnel head to Orlando next week.

• After taking a look at the catching prospects in the San Diego system, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune sets his sights on the infielders in the Padres farm system. Will those players even make the majors? Will Preller keep them long enough to see hem take the field as a member of the San Diego roster? That remains to be seen.

Baseball News:

• The Toronto Blue Jays took down the first big name off free agency, signing Dylan Cease to bolster their rotation. Toronto was not done though as the Blue Jays agreed to a three-year contract with right-hander Cody Ponce.

• Another pitching option for the San Diego rotation came off the free-agent list with the Los Angeles Angels agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with starter Alek Manoah.

• The Houston Astros followed suit and signed a pitcher as well, agreeing to terms with KBO pitcher Ryan Weiss. The question always remains about how the players and pitchers will handle the move from the KBO to MLB, but the Astros have seen enough and Weiss will be in the fold in Houston in 2026.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ll-they-ever-make-the-mlb-roster-in-san-diego

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey: Will San Diego break its silence at MLB Winter Meetings?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The MLB Winter Meetings are approaching and the San Diego Padres have yet to address any needs on their roster. Outside of re-signing left-hander Kyle Hart and a couple of minor league signings, the Padres have not done much of anything. Other teams have been making headlines around baseball with free agent signings and even a couple trades, but San Diego continues to employ the poker face that has not even allowed a rumor to trickle out of the organization about what money, if any, there is to spend, who might be considered as a trade candidate or even who the team has interest in.

That approach may play well in MLB front offices, but it leaves fans of the Padres to speculate anything from a complete rebuild to throwing caution to the wind to land a big-name free agent like first baseman Pete Alonso.

Perhaps this is just the calm before the storm. Maybe San Diego will see a flurry of moves during the MLB Winter Meetings? It seems unlikely considering the uncertain future of labor relations in baseball, the potential sale of the franchise and the ongoing uncertainty about the future of president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller, who is heading into the final year if his contract with the Padres.

It all remains to be seen. Preller has shown the ability to fill vacancies on the roster through various means during his time in San Diego and there are no shortage of vacancies on the Padres roster. The question is, will Preller get to work addressing the needs of the team during the MLB Winter Meetings or will he wait until another time in the offseason to make his moves? We will know soon enough.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...iego-break-its-silence-at-mlb-winter-meetings

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres offseason begins slowly

Jason Adam

Going into the official start of the Hot Stove season, the Padres still have some outstanding work to be done regarding housekeeping. President of baseball operations/general manager A.J. Preller is still a lame duck general manager and there has still not been a third base coach hired/announced.

The lack of any decision regarding Preller is a little puzzling as the contract extension was expected soon after the announcement of new manager, Craig Stammen. Nothing has been said, or information released, regarding this issue since then.

Mike Shildt announced his retirement from the Padres manager job after the 2025 season, saying he was mentally and physically unable to deal with the stress of the position any longer. Somewhat surprisingly, he has accepted a job with the Baltimore Orioles as part of their player development team on Nov. 29. This seems to indicate his desire to maintain involvement in baseball, but not at the level of team manager.

A pitcher that many in the media pointed out as being a good fit for the Padres, RHP Cody Ponce, signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. This follows on the heels of Dylan Cease signing a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays. These two early signings indicate that starting pitcher prices may be prohibitive for the Padres. A Nick Pivetta-type option may be their only choice considering the amount of money being offered to pitchers who have either not proven themselves at the major league level or have been inconsistent.

The rumors continue that Fernando Tatis Jr. and/or Jake Cronenworth could be on the trade block. The league insiders floating these opinions believe the Padres need to offload payroll in order to fill their needs for 2026. Trading either of these Padres would create other, glaring needs within the team and make no sense.

The Padres have begun their Holiday Giving Tour by distributing 1,000 turkey dinners before Thanksgiving. With the help of reliever Jason Adam, the team gave out food to underprivileged families in San Diego.

The tour continues for the month of December with team executives, players, the Swinging Friar, team broadcasters and the Pad Squad making appearances around the city. Shopping sprees, bike giveaways, food drives, baseball clinics and food distribution events will take place here and in Tijuana to highlight the organization’s annual effort to support the community during the holiday season.

Multiple players were signed at the end of November by the Padres. These were all career minor league players signing minor league contracts and being assigned to Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.

1. RHP Sean Boyle – Signed by the New York Yankees and a career minor league player who reached Triple-A. He is 29 years old with a 4.61 ERA last season.
2. CF Jase Bowen – 25 years old and originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. A right-handed hitter, he hit .272 with a .802 OPS. He had nine homers, 37 RBI and 20 steals in 2025 at the Triple-A level.
3. RF Nick Schnell – 25-year-old left-handed hitter who started last season with the Washington Nationals, but was sent to Triple-A soon after the start of the season. He hit .244 with a .812 OPS with 21 homers and 68 RBI.

Most likely, these are minor league depth pieces. There were no Spring Training invites announced as part of any of the signings. The two outfielders could still have development possibilities and taking chances on young players will have to be part of the offseason for the Padres.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...mmentary/51882/padres-offseason-begins-slowly

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres bracing for financial shift in SP free agent market from Ponce’s record-setting deal

The MLB Winter Meetings are a haven for baseball fans longing for 24-hour coverage of their favorite sport. The Hot Stove should come to a sizzle with the expected amount of free-agent signings and blockbuster trades to transpire next week.

The San Diego Padres need starting pitching because of the holes in their rotation. They have to fill three spots after Dylan Cease left to sign a seven-year, $210 million free agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, Yu Darvish is unavailable for the 2026 season following elbow surgery, and Michael King is fielding offers from other teams after opting out of his contract in October.

Blue Jays changed FA starting pitching market​

The Toronto Blue Jays have set a new salary benchmark for free agent starting pitchers after signing Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million deal. Other front office executives had to be aghast by the Jays giving a starting pitcher with no previous major league success such a lucrative contract. The signing offers other free agent starters more leverage in their contract negotiations.

Yes, the Padres thought Ponce was a cost-efficient rotation option, but not at those numbers. Now, the organization will have to look elsewhere, but the odds are high they will have to pay a premium price for comparable talent.

Padres have multiple SP options​

The alternative is pursuing starters in a pitching-surplus trade market. Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller must find viable options to pitch alongside Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, and Joe Musgrove next season. Keep in mind, the Friars have limited payroll flexibility in 2026.

It is not surprising that the Friar Faithful have some skepticism about the organization acquiring quality starting pitching without adding more payroll to the budget. Instead, the market may force Preller to take on stopgap starters on short-term deals.

He needs to change the narrative, especially in the wake of media reports that the franchise is for sale. Ultimately, Preller needs to bring serviceable starters into the fold that lessens the blow of replacing Cease, Darvish, and possibly King in the rotation.

Ideally, bringing King back would be the perfect move for the franchise. There is a mutual reluctance to part ways. So, expect King to make a decision sometime during the Winter Meetings, as he does not want this stalemate to drag on much longer.

Preller may have to color outside the lines to add quality starters to the rotation. The way the market is heading after the Ponce signing, he might have to make uncomfortable financial decisions to keep the Padres in postseason contention.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...-agent-market-from-ponces-record-setting-deal

 

[San Diego Padres]

San Diego adds depth to bullpen with signing of Ty Adcock

San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller announced Thursday the team signed relief pitcher Ty Adcock to a major league contract. On the surface it looks like a general manager looking to add depth to his bullpen and make the strength of his team stronger, but could it mean something more?

The finances in San Diego have been the topic of discussion each of the past two offseasons. The Padres do not talk specifics when it comes to their salary expectations or budget, but one can speculate the organization would like to limit luxury tax penalties. Considering their current payroll is expected to be at or near $194 to $201 million according to an Oct. 28 report from Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball the Padres do not seem eager to add significantly to that number.

With an uncertain financial situation in San Diego, we have to speculate about how Preller intends to address the various needs the team has heading into the 2026 season. There is no clear first baseman on the team, three starting pitchers will either no longer be on the team or will be unavailable, and the bench is incomplete. That is a shopping list that can get expensive in a hurry, especially considering former Padres pitcher Dylan Cease landed a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays at $210 million.

From that perspective Preller will have to address the needs of the team through free agency and more likely, trades. The problem with potential trades is that Preller has been uber aggressive each of the past two trade deadlines and it has depleted the farm system. The cupboards are not bare, but there are no prospects beating on the door to make the San Diego or any other MLB roster.

The finances and lack of trade pieces at the lower levels of the organization bring us back to the signing of Adcock. The Padres are already expected to have the best bullpen in baseball, and the 2026 season has not even started. Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon have been talked about as potential rotation additions, but like most news in San Diego, their willingness to make the move or the team’s willingness to move them to the rotation are not known.

Jason Adam is recovering from a ruptured quadriceps tendon, which ended his 2025 season and required surgery and when he will return has yet to be determined. Jeremiah Estrada has an electric fastball but was susceptible to the home run ball last season, and he struggled against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wandy Peralta had a solid season for the Padres and Yuki Matsui had up and down performances for most of the season. David Morgan had a good year and showed promise. Bradgley Rodriguez, while a bit unrefined, has the arm talent that could make him a future closer. Add to this group, Kyle Hart, Jhony Brito, Bryan Hoeing, Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio and it is easy to see one of a few things could be true.

The addition of Adcock could simply be adding to a strength, knowing the baseball saying is, “you can never have too much pitching.” It could mean that Miller or Morejon or both are going to prepare to start the season in the depleted San Diego rotation. Or it could be Preller and the Padres are stocking up with the intent of trading bullpen arms to acquire needed players without spending much money in free agency.

Whatever Preller and the Padres decide to do, it seems the MLB Winter Meetings next week will give the Friar Faithful some insight as to what direction the organization is going to take this offseason.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ds-depth-to-bullpen-with-signing-of-ty-adcock

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres need to address starting pitching, may have to do so via trade

With three rotation holes to fill, the San Diego Padres have no doubt been monitoring the dollars that have been given out to starting pitchers to this point in free agency. The contracts imply that addressing the pitching needs through free agency may not be attainable for San Diego from a monetary standpoint. Thomas Conroy takes a look at what the Padres have to consider as Winter Meetings kickoff next week.

Padres News:

• Winter Meetings are approaching, and Cheri Bell lays out what the week will look like for the Padres, baseball and the Friar Faithful.

• San Diego has made a few moves this offseason with the latest being the addition of reliever Ty Adcock, but the team has yet to make a splash of any kind. Perhaps that is set to change over the next week.

• Padres sign Adcock to one-year, major league deal, adding depth to a strength.

• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune continues his review of the Padres prospects, focusing on the starting pitchers in the San Diego farm system.

Baseball News:

• Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels have struggled to rise up from the bottom of their respective standings year after year. Will Leitch of MLB.com takes a look at what each will have to do to change their fortunes.

• Dylan Cease signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, and that means there are five remaining “big-name” free agent starting pitchers, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Tatsuya Imai, Michael King and Tatsuya Imai. Mark Fiensand of MLB.com looks at what each pitcher has to offer and potential fits moving forward.

• The Boston Red Sox made their second trade of the offseason, acquiring another starting pitcher. This time the Red Sox struck a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire Johan Oviedo in a five-player deal.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...starting-pitching-may-have-to-do-so-via-trade

 

[San Diego Padres]

The trade market offers Padres several starting pitching options

The MLB Winter Meetings begin Sunday in Orlando, Fla., and the San Diego Padres are looking to upgrade their starting rotation. Team President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller should have plenty of options available on the trade market.

The window of opportunity to contend for a postseason berth is slowly closing on the Padres. Preller’s objective this offseason is to add reliable starting pitching that complements the existing members of the rotation, Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, and Joe Musgrove.

Pivetta had an outstanding first season in San Diego, as he led the staff with 13 wins. Vasquez is developing into a quality starter, but concerns remain about his limited major league experience. Musgrove’s health is the biggest unknown factor for the 2026 season. While he is expected to pitch, his effectiveness on the mound remains in question. The goal is for Musgrove to pitch injury-free for the first time in a while.

Berrios a potential trade target​

You would assume Preller has done his due diligence on who is available for trade. The top names that fit within the Friars’ payroll budget are Toronto Blue Jays Jose Berrios and a possible reunion with Washington Nationals MacKenzie Gore.

Berrios had a mediocre 2025 campaign with a 9-5 record and 4.17 ERA in 30 starts. He finished the season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation that kept him off the Blue Jays’ postseason roster. However, the injury should not keep Berrios from being a full participant in Spring Training next March.

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Several media outlets expect the Jays to put him on the trade market, especially after opening the checkbook and signing free agent starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to big-money contracts.

The one caveat that makes the Padres the ideal trade partner is that Berrios has an opt-out clause in his contract at the conclusion of the 2026 season. However, it is unclear how much salary (Berrios owed $18 million) the Friars are willing to absorb in a potential trade.

A possible reunion with Gore​

Gore could be a more logical choice for the Padres, as he is under team control for another two seasons. Being a Scott Boras client, Gore is expected to decline contract extension talks and instead explore free agency following his option year. His projected 2026 salary is $4.7 million. It should not severely impact the Friars’ payroll for next season.

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No other starter was more dominant than Gore in the first half of last season. He threw to a 3.02 ERA, as his first-half strikeout rate (30.5%) was outstanding. Unfortunately, Gore physically broke down after the All-Star break. He had two stints on the IL with left shoulder inflammation and an ankle impingement. Injuries limited his success, as Gore’s ERA jumped to 4.17 by season’s end.

Who could the Friars include in a potential deal​

The Padres have several candidates who could be a part of a potential trade. The first name that comes to mind is Luis Campusano, who might need a change of scenery to reach his full potential. For whatever reason, Campusano has struggled at the major league level. He has a career .240 batting average and went 0-21 in 10 games last season. His trade value is declining. Preller needs to include him in any trade for starting pitching depth.

If the Friars have an opportunity to acquire a proven No.1 starter, then the team’s top prospect, Ethan Salas, is likely included in any deal. He has been somewhat of a disappointment since signing a $5.6 million contract with the Padres in 2023. Injuries and lack of production at the plate (.221 career batting average) have slowed his progression through the minor league system.

Preller does have a propensity to deal away his top prospects (Max Fried and Leodalis De Vries) if the right player becomes available. But to trade away Salas, he must acquire a starting pitcher who proves his worth from Opening Day through the postseason.

Success demands risks to be taken. Preller must identify genuine trade opportunities from market noise. Acquiring the right starter will determine if the Padres are true contenders or just pretenders.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...fers-padres-several-starting-pitching-options

 

[San Diego Padres]

Multiple Padres prospects in Winter Leagues

The international baseball winter leagues have been in progress since shortly after the MLB season ended. Although no San Diego Padres major league players are currently playing with any of the teams, multiple Padres minor league players are active.

Dominican Republic Winter League

Catcher/DH Luis Campusano, who recently signed a one-year contract with the organization, is playing in the Dominican Republic. Catcher Rudolfo Duran, right-handed reliever Francis Pena and recently signed utility player Pablo Reyes are also playing in the DR leagues.

Campusano is with Tigres de Licey and has played in 13 games with 50 at-bats. He has a .200/.293/.340 batting line with two home runs and eight RBI.

Duran is with Estrellas Orienteles. He has played in 19 games and 52 at-bats with a .346/.370/.596 line with a .967 OPS. That includes three homer runs, two doubles and seven RBI.

Reyes is with the Gigantes de Cabao for 19 games and 59 at-bats. He is hitting .136/.164/.220 with a .384 OPS. He has two doubles and a homer with one RBI.

Pena has appeared in three games and 2.1 innings for Leones del Escogido with a 3.86 ERA with one strikeout and no walks.

Mexican Winter League

Outfielder Tirso Ornelas, infielder Marcos Castañon, RHP Victor Lizarraga and RHP Cole Paplham are all with Mexican winter league teams.

Ornelas is playing for Charros de Jalisco and has appeared in 14 games and 50 at-bats with a .220/.286/.280 line and .566 OPS. He has hit theee doubles and has four RBI with two stolen bases.

Lizarraga is with Jaguares de Nayarit with 33.1 innings pitched over seven games with a 2.43 ERA and a 3-0 record as a stater. He has 24 strikeouts and 14 walks.

Paplham, also with Jaguares, has pitched in 15 games with 16 innings and a 3.94 ERA with nine strikeouts and seven walks.

Castañon, also with Jaguares, has 69 at-bats in 18 games with a .203/.257/.348 line and .605 OPS. He has four doubles, two homers and 13 RBI with a stolen base. He also has 18 strikeouts to four walks.

Venezuela Winter League

RHP Igor Gil and RHP Eiker Huizi are playing in the Venezuelan winter leagues.

Gil is with Tiburones de La Guaira with only one appearance, allowing three runs, which gives him a ERA of 81.00

Huizi has 6.1 innings over eight games with Tigers de Aragua with a 7.11 ERA with five strikeouts and four walks.

Puerto Rican Winter League

RHP Josh Mallitz is the only player in Puerto Rico with the Senadores de San Juan. He has 12.2 innings over nine games with a 1.42 ERA with 11 strikeouts and seven walks.

With 2026 being a World Baseball Classic season, there is a good chance multiple roster changes could occur over the second half of the winter league season. Many teams send players for short stints in winter ball for specific purposes. This being a WBC tournament season, it is possible no major league players for the Padres will appear in winter league action.

Both Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. have played for the Dominican Republic in past WBC tournaments and that could be the case again this year. If so, it is unlikely Tatis Jr. will play in the DR this winter.

Gaslamp Ball will provide updates until the season ends.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/minors/51926/multiple-padres-prospects-in-winter-leagues