News Padres Team Notes

[San Diego Padres]

Winter league playoffs underway

The winter league teams have been set for the Caribbean World Series. Due to the issues taking place in Venezuela, the final series has been moved from Caracas to Guadalajara, Mexico. The playoffs involving the Dominican, Puerto Rican and Mexican leagues have recently begun. Panama has been invited to send a team as a guest entrant into the series.

With the playoffs just getting started, it is unclear which Padres prospects will be participating over the next month but several of the teams in the playoffs have had Padres prospects playing for them.

Mexico league

The Mexican league quarter-finals have begun and semi-finals begin Jan. 11. The championship finals begin on Jan. 21. The final two teams will represent Mexico in the Caribbean series.

Jaguares de Nayarit finished first during the season and has RHP Victor Lizarraga and RHP Cole Paplham on their roster. During the regular season, Lizarraga pitched 33.1 innings over seven games started with a 2.43 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 14 walks. Paplham pitched in 15 games and 16 innings with a 3.94 ERA.

Third baseman Marcos Castañon played with Jaguares de Nayarit for 18 games and 69 at-bats. He hit .203/.257/.348 with two home runs and 13 RBI. Newly signed RHP Sadrac Franco is also playing for Nayarit with 20 games and 25.2 innings pitched with a 1.40 ERA and eight saves.

Outfielder Tirso Ornelas played with Charros de Jalisco, finishing in sixth place and two games back of the four teams that tied for first. Ornelas finished with a .236/.300/.292 line and had no home runs with seven RBI in 21 games and 71 at-bats.

Puerto Rico league

RHP Josh Mallitz pitched for Senadores de San Juan during the regular season and they finished last in the league. Mallitz pitched in nine games and 12.2 innings with a 1.42 ERA with 12 strikeouts and seven walks.

The league is currently in the semi-final round, which started Jan. 2. The finals follow in mid-January with the winner representing Puerto Rico in the Caribbean series. There are no Padres prospects on any of the playoff teams.

Dominican league

The Dominican Republic winter league playoffs began Dec. 27 with the top four teams in a round-robin playoff of 18 games. The two top teams will compete in the finals, and the winner will advance to the Caribbean series.

Leones del Escogido and Gigantes del Cibao are both in the round-robin with RHP Francis Pena on the roster for Escogido and newly-signed utility player Pablo Reyes on the roster for Cibao.

Reyes played in 26 games and 80 at-bats with a .188/.244/.263 line with three doubles and one RBI. Pena pitched in four games and 2.2 innings with a 3.38 ERA.

Catcher/DH Luis Campusano played for Tigers de Licey, which finished last of six teams. Campusano played in 13 games and 50 at-bats with a .200/.293/.340 line with two home runs and eight RBI.

Catcher Rodolfo Duran played for Estrellas Orientales, which finished fifth. He played in 27 games and 67 at-bats, hitting .299/.329/.507 with three home runs, five doubles and nine RBI.

Caribbean Series

The series will be played from Feb. 1-7 and hosted by Guadalajara, Mexico (Estadio Panamericano). It will feature champions from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and two teams from Mexico, and Panama as an invited guest. The games will be televised on MLB Network as well as Spanish feeds on ESPN (final announcements pending).

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...mentary/52447/winter-league-playoffs-underway

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres should set their sights on free agent Eugenio Suarez

San Diego Padres free agent target Kazuma Okamoto agreed to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday. There were several reports that linked the Padres to the Japanese star, but in the end, he decided to play in Toronto where the 2025 American League Champions appear to be loading up to make a return trip to the World Series.

Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller needs to complete the roster, and Okamoto is no longer an option for the first base void in San Diego. Preller will have to evaluate other options and fits in free agency or via trade. The hope from the Friar Faithful is that whatever money was earmarked for Okamoto will be used to acquire other free agents.

Luis Arraez, at the right price, is a logical fit. He manned the position last year for the Padres and he improved defensively as the season progressed. There is no question that his personality fits the Padres clubhouse and there will not be an acclimation period if he re-signs with the team. In a recent Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball, the fans decidedly liked the idea of a reunion with Arraez. The knock against him is his lack of power and that is a major area of need for San Diego, which finished 28th in MLB in home runs in 2025.

A player who does not lack power is free agent Eugenio Suarez. He, like Okamoto, is a third baseman by trade, but can play first base as well. Unlike Okamoto, he has proven he can perform at the MLB level and can provide the thump the Padres need in their lineup. The obvious issue with signing Suarez is the money. The contract predictions vary from report to report with some stating he could receive a multiyear contract up to $100 million or a two-year contract at $45 million, but there are other reports that state Suarez could settle on a one-year deal.

The contract that was of interest to me is the two-year, $45 million. I think this could be the number Preller and the Padres could use as a guide to come to terms with Suarez. Of course, a one-year deal would be nice because of the multiple lengthy contracts San Diego has committed to with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth on the position player side, but most players want to have some sense of security with their contracts. That brings us back to the two-year deal. If they can agree to a number for the first year with an option, the second year may or may not become a factor.

If given the choice between Arraez and Suarez at a similar monetary number, I would take the power. Arraez had a down year offensively, but his value comes from base hits and not much more. Power and slug has never been his calling card.

Suarez hit 49 home runs, drove in 118 runs and scored 91 runs last season, while Arraez hit eight home runs, drove in 61 runs and scored 66 runs. Suarez gives the Padres what they need. He has hit 20 or more home runs every year since 2016. The one exception is the Covid-shortened 2020 season when he hit 15 home runs in 57 games. In two of the years since 2016, Suarez hit 40 or more home runs and in four of those years he hit 30 or more home runs.

It all comes down to money, as it always does, and the money that Preller and the Padres have to spend is unknown. The longer free agency plays out and the longer the top of the market remains unsigned, the more accessible Suarez becomes. Adding him to platoon with Gavin Sheets at first base and designated hitter seems like the perfect addition to the San Diego roster.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...set-their-sights-on-free-agent-eugenio-suarez

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Jose Miranda looking for fresh start with Padres

Jose Miranda was another veteran player who agreed to a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres and has an invite to Spring Training. He is just one of several such additions that have been made by the Padres as they look to build their organizational depth without investing much money so they can address more pressing needs on the roster, such as starting pitching and first base. Miranda was once a promising prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization, and he had some success at the major league level before struggling in 2025. Miranda gets a fresh start in San Diego and Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball thinks with a strong Spring Training he can challenge for a spot on the MLB roster.

Padres News:

• The World Baseball Classic is not the only international tournament this offseason. Several teams are vying for their chance to play in the Caribbean World Series. Some teams have already begun their playoff run, while others are soon to get started which means some Padres prospects, including Tirso Ornelas and Luis Campusano are getting meaningful reps in the field and at the plate that could benefit them when they rejoin the big league team for Spring Training in Peoria, Ariz.
• The Padres missed out on Japanese free agent Kazuma Okamoto when he decided to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays. The expectation was that Okamoto could address a need at first base in San Diego, but that was not to be the case. Now, A.J. Preller and the rest of the San Diego front office will have to look for a trade partner or look to the free agent market. Their first name for consideration should be Eugenio Suarez who slugged 49 home runs in 2025.

Baseball News:

• Prized Japanese free agent slugger Kazuma Okamoto agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays with little time before his signing window closed Sunday. Several teams were linked to Okamoto and must now pivot to other free agents to fill their roster holes.
• Another Japanese free agent, Kona Takahashi, has decided to return to Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2026 season after he was unable to reach a deal with an MLB team. Takahashi had until Sunday to reach a deal with a team, but he instead decided to return to NPB and is expected to sign a multi-year with the Saitama Seibu Lions.
• The Philadelphia Phillies are the most recent team to be linked to free agent infielder Bo Bichette. The shortstop has expressed his willingness to play second base and that has allowed more teams to consider adding him to their roster.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...e-miranda-looking-for-fresh-start-with-padres

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres, MLB waiting for movement in free agency

The theory was that once Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto signed their contracts the gates holding back the rest of the free agent market would swing open and contracts would be signed left and right. That has not been the case, at least not yet. The calendar turned from 2025 to 2026 and most employees and employers enjoyed a long weekend. If the San Diego Padres and the rest of MLB had the same approach to the holiday weekend, Monday may be the day that kickstarts the offseason. The top free agent pitchers and position players remain on the market and while the Padres are not expected to be in the bidding for any of their services, they could potentially be shopping in the mid- and lower tiers to fill out the roster. San Diego has glaring needs in the rotation and at first base and the needs will have to be addressed on the market or through trade. President of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller is considered a wild card amongst baseball front offices so the potential for ANYTHING exists.

Baseball News:

• The New York Yankees have been quiet throughout the offseason, but they appear to be looking to make noise. It was reported Sunday that the Yankees have expressed interest in pitchers Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins and Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers. Either acquisition would have to come via trade and that may be the best route to address pitching needs because they seem to want to dedicate their money to re-signing Cody Bellinger. New York reportedly made a second contract offer to the free agent and have increased the offer in hopes of closing the deal.
• The Yankees may have increased their offer to Bellinger in response to reported interest from other teams, one of which is the Chicago Cubs. They were also reported to be interested in Cabrera as well along with the Yankees, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets.
• Another free agent player drawing interest is Eugenio Suarez, who has caught the eye of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Buccos have been active this offseason and recently signed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. They were reportedly interested in Kyle Schwarber and Kazuma Okamoto, but missing out on both has them still looking to add offense to their roster.
• The Kansas City Royals and their manager Matt Quatraro agreed to a three-year contract extension to keep in Kansas City through 2029.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...adres-mlb-waiting-for-movement-in-free-agency

 

[San Diego Padres]

2026 International prospect signing period opens soon

The international amateur prospect signing period opens on Jan. 15 for 2026. The period lasts until Dec. 15. All players from outside of Canada, Puerto Rico and the US that are 16 years old before signing and are 17 before the following September are eligible. They must also be registered to take part.

Many of the top prospects make early commitments to their signing teams, some going back several years. None of them are able to make it official until Jan. 15. Many players sign immediately after eligibility begins, usually the players that have been followed by teams for years.

Each of the 30 MLB teams has a pool of money allotted to them for signing players. The teams get notified by MLB what their bonus pools will be in the spring of the previous year. If a team signs a free agent player that received a qualifying offer after the previous season, their pool is reduced by $500,000. Teams that exceeded the Competitive Balance Tax threshold lose $1 million from their pool for signing a free agent that rejected their qualifying offer. $8,034,900 is the top and $5,440,000 is the least of the pool amounts for 2026. The Padres fall into the $5,940,000 pool along with the Red Sox and Blue Jays. They lost $500,000 for signing Nick Pivetta.

Any player that signs for less than $10,000 does not count against the total pool amount. The designated amount of each team’s pool is set by MLB based on their market size and revenue as well as the CBT rules.

The players are ranked by evaluators and the top prospects can sign for whatever the interested team is willing to pay for their contract. There is no maximum amount other than each team has to stay within their pool allotment or face penalties involving both money and loss of draft picks.

There are multiple organizations and scouts evaluating the international talent and MLB has a prospect ranking listing with their minor league and draft rankings (MLB Pipeline). The top ranked prospect this year is shortstop Luis Hernandez, 17, out of Venezuela. He has already committed to the San Francisco Giants for an estimated $5 million (Beisbol FR).

Of the top 50 prospects on the MLB list, the top three seem to be consensus top picks of other evaluators but after that there are big discrepancies among evaluators.

Francys Romero of Beisbol FR has published his list of top prospects and the teams that have made agreements with those players. The San Diego Padres have three of the top 50 prospects according to his rankings. Only one of them is on the MLB list. Baseball America has also published their list of top prospects available on Jan. 15. Two of their top 50 players are committed to the Padres.

Combining the information from the three sites, here are the players ranked in the top 50 prospects that are committed to the Padres and will sign contracts on Jan. 15 or shortly thereafter. Estimated signing bonus in parentheses.

Joniel Hernandez: ($1.1 million) Ranked No. 13 on MLB Pipeline, Hernandez is 16 years old, 6-1, 175 pounds and originates from Cuba but trains in the Dominican Republic. He has the skills to possibly stick at shortstop but could convert to third base as his skill set develops. He is ranked No. 12 on Romero’s evaluation and No. 32 on Baseball America.

Diego Serna: ($1 million) Ranked No. 24 on Beisbol FR, Serna is not ranked on the current MLB page and is No. 46 on BA. The LHP out of Mexico is 16 years old, 6-3, 209 pounds and is thought to be by some scouts the best LHP on the board. He has a starter pitch mix with a slider and changeup as plus-pitches to complement his fastball. He is considered one of the more polished pitchers in the class.

Timothy Mogen: ($650,000) An outfielder out of Aruba, Mogen is 17 years old, 6-1, 165 pounds with good speed, plus-contact skills and a high baseball IQ (Beisbol FR). Romero has him ranked as the No. 49 prospect on his list.

Romero lists the following players as being committed to the Padres but not in the top 50 prospects.

RHP Jordan Perez: ($300,000) A Cuban with plus-command and a plus-slider who can throw strikes.

Catcher Marko Morua: ($70,000) Born in Hungary and will be the first Hungarian to sign with an MLB team. Descended from a Cuban grandfather who helped develop baseball in Cuba, Morua trains in the Dominican Republic and has skills that play both behind and at the plate.

CF Luis Alfredo Rodriguez ($50,000) A top defender out of the DR with plus-speed, Rodriguez needs development with his bat but was graded at a 60-65 scale by one scout for his defense.

IF Cristhian Herrero ($20,000) An infielder from Venezuela who has no scouting report from Romero.

If correct, this has the Padres committed to seven players so far with a bonus pool total of $3.19 million. This still leaves them $2.75 million to spend on players with contracts above $10,000.

Top prospects Jhoan De La Cruz and Deivid Coronil are both shortstops that signed in the 2025 international class. LHP Carlos Alvarez was also part of that class and is a rising prospect in the Padres system.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ernational-prospect-signing-period-opens-soon

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres expected to be active in international market; Bradgley Rodriguez is potential boost to bullpen in 2026

The 2026 MLB international amateur prospect signing period opens later this month and Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball breaks down what that means for the San Diego Padres. She also includes the known targets for the Padres and what money has already been committed to the amateur class. San Diego has committed a large sum of its international pool money, but has money left to spend should the scouts identify additional players who could fit in the Padres’ system.

Padres News:

• Bradgley Rodriguez introduced himself to the Friar Faithful in the 2025 season and showed flashes of limitless potential. He has the stuff to be a big part of the bullpen in his second season, but he has to demonstrate improved consistency in the spring.
• Matt Waldon and his knuckleball burst onto the MLB scene in 2024 and at points during the season, he was the best starter in the San Diego rotation. However, he struggled to find the same success last season and spent the year in the minors. With an unsettled back end of the rotation, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune look at what Waldron will have to do to rejoin the big-league club in 2026.

Baseball News:

• Expectations around MLB are that trade talks involving Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta will gain momentum with the holiday season in the rearview mirror.
• When the Boston Red Sox traded for Willson Contreras to serve as their first baseman/designated hitter, it brought up questions about the future of Tristan Casas in Boston. The Red Sox will have several options with Casas, but all of those options depend on him being healthy.
• The Baltimore Orioles continue to try to keep pace in the American League East. Baltimore claimed outfielder Jhonkensy Noel off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians, adding another bat with big-league potential to their organization. The Orioles are expected to remain active and are reportedly still looking to add pitching.
• Don Mattingly, who went to the World Series as part of the Toronto Blue Jays coaching staff in 2025, is heading to Philadelphia to be the bench coach for the Phillies. It was also reported, Monday that Philadelphia has interest in outfielder Randal Grichuk.
• Former Padres catcher Jorge Alfaro agreed to a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...driguez-is-potential-boost-to-bullpen-in-2026

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey: Does Joe Musgrove or Jackson Merrill need to have the better season in 2026?

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.

Joe Musgrove missed the entire 2025 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but the homegrown right-hander remained with and around the San Diego Padres throughout the rehab process and the season. Musgrove was working hard enough and was having enough success throughout his progression that his goal was to pitch in the postseason if San Diego made a deep run. He never got the opportunity due to the Padres losing the National League Wild Card Series to the Chicago Cubs. The fact that Musgrove did not get an opportunity to pitch in the postseason means he has had more time to build up his strength and stamina, which should put him in position to have a successful 2026.

The current pitching rotation for the Padres consists of Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, Michael King, Randy Vasquez and JP Sears. The top three pitchers could be arranged in any number of ways and when they are all healthy, each could be considered the ace of the staff. The Friar Faithful would like nothing more than to see Musgrove return and have that level of success. Whether he will or will not has to be decided on the mound.

Jackson Merrill took over the center field position to start the 2024 season, his rookie season, and finished as the runner up for National League Rookie of the Year. Merrill delivered an inaugural season that garnered him a nine-year, $135 million contract extension early in the 2025 season. Merrill started the year where he left off after his rookie season, but eventually he was slowed by injuries that limited him to 115 games. The lower number of games significantly impacted his offensive numbers and in some cases such as hits, runs, RBI and stolen bases, the numbers were significantly lower from year to year.

Merrill hit seven of his 16 home runs in 2025 during the month of September. He also added 25 hits, seven doubles and two triples in the month and the Friar Faithful saw the return of the player who has quickly become a fan favorite in San Diego. It is easy to see that if Merrill can remain healthy and play 150-plus games like he did in his first MLB season, he could provide some of the slug the Padres were missing last year.

It is important to San Diego that Musgrove and Merrill both have impactful seasons in 2026. Musgrove will provide length and stability in the rotation. His performance on the mound could have a significant impact on whether San Diego will contend. The same can be said for Merrill. His talent and ability will allow him to impact the game on defense and more importantly at the plate. The hope is that both players return to their performance levels prior to their respective injuries, but Gaslamp Ball would like to know if you think Musgrove or Merrill needs to have the better season for the Padres to be successful?

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...errill-need-to-have-the-better-season-in-2026

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Joe Musgrove, Jackson Merrill need impactful seasons in 2026; Padres still looking to address roster holes

Joe Musgrove is returning from a missed season with his sights set on making an impact in the San Diego Padres rotation. Jackson Merrill returned at the end of the season and flashed what could be with a strong month of September to end the year. The Padres will need Musgrove and Merrill to have impact seasons if they are going to challenge for a playoff spot let alone the National League West. If Musgrove and Merrill can stay healthy and if Michael King can bounce back from his pinched nerve and sprained knee, San Diego should find itself in contention in 2026. Gaslamp Ball asked the Friar Faithful if Musgrove or Merrill needs to have the better season for the Padres to be successful.

Padres News:

• San Diego has work to do this offseason, but AJ Cassavell of Padres.com does not think the Padres will spend much more than they already have. Cassavell does mention that a trade, which was highly speculated about following the MLB Winter Meetings, could still result in the additions San Diego needs to complete the roster.
• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks at new addition Sung-Mun Song in his latest piece previewing the Padres’ roster for the 2026 season.

Baseball News:

• With the recent events in Venezuela, Andy McCullough of The Athletic looks at the impact it will have on MLB, the World Baseball Classic and players.
• Kazuma Okamoto met with the media and was officially introduced as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, Tuesday. He revealed one of the deciding factors when selecting where he wanted to begin his MLB career was his daughter liking the Blue Jays logo above all others. It was also reported Tuesday that Toronto has stepped up its efforts to reach an agreement with free agent Kyle Tucker.
• The Tampa Bay Rays and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a trade that sent Justyn-Henry Malloy to Tampa Bay for cash considerations.
• The St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a trade with the Cleveland Guardians that sent left-handed pitcher Justin Bruihl to the Cardinals for cash considerations.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...-padres-still-looking-to-address-roster-holes

 

[San Diego Padres]

Bradgley Rodriquez could be next Padres prospect to bullpen mainstay

The San Diego Padres’ minor league system has done a terrific job of developing top bullpen prospects. Last season, David Morgan provided outstanding appearances as a bridge-gap reliever. They may have another quality arm on the horizon, as Bradgley Rodriquez could have a meaningful role in the 2026 bullpen.

Rodriquez’s rise to greatness​

The Padres signed the young Venezuelan as an international amateur free agent in 2021. Rodriguez quickly rose through the Friars’ minor league system, enjoying a strong 2025 season by playing at three different levels, including time on the major league roster.

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He climbed the ranks by recording a 3.14 ERA in 15 appearances at Triple-A El Paso. In his brief time in the big leagues, Rodriguez posted a 1.17 ERA in seven appearances with the Padres.

His pitching arsenal features an elite fastball that can reach the upper 90s, as well as a filthy changeup and slider. It is a repertoire that has plenty of upside, as Rodriguez’s secondary pitches set up the fastball to secure outs. Some scouts viewed his changeup as a plus-plus offering, a primary contributor behind his elite swing-and-miss rate (10.9 Ks per 9 IP). He struck out 47 batters in 44.1 innings pitched last season.

2026 could be a breakout season​

Spring Training will dictate where Rodriguez begins the 2026 season. The odds are good for him to start in Triple-A, but if he has a strong Cactus League appearance, Rodriguez could find himself on the Padres’ Opening Day roster.

It will be all about consistently throwing strikes and challenging major league hitters. Rodriguez cannot afford to pitch tentatively, as missed locations will likely result in extra-base hits. Regardless of his performance, his career trajectory remains intact; the right-hander is destined for a prominent bullpen role in 2026.

The Friar Faithful will love his ability to attack the strike zone, as his continued success will put him on everyone’s radar.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...d-be-next-padres-prospect-to-bullpen-mainstay

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Fans continue their support of the Padres with season ticket sellout

Despite having a new manager and an incomplete roster, the Friar Faithful are ready to pack Petco Park. The club announced Wednesday that it has sold all its season tickets for the 2026 season. Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune believes the ticket sales show just how bad fans in San Diego want a World Series Championship. There is still a lot of time left this offseason and there are many free agents who remain unsigned. The fans have done their part and have committed their time and money to support the Padres. Now it’s up to president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller to make additions to the roster that will put them in position to be playing well into October.

Padres News:

• Reliever Yuki Matsui is the focus of the roster review by Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The left-hander had some ups and downs in 2025 but should maintain a prominent role in the bullpen next season.
• Dennis Lin of The Athletic compiled a list of five questions that still need to be answered this offseason. They are questions that have been asked throughout the fanbase and possibly even within the walls of Petco Park. The hope is that all five will be answered by word or action by the time the team opens Spring Training.

Baseball News:

• The Chicago Cubs were able to reach a deal with the Miami Marlins as the teams agreed to a trade that saw highly coveted starter Edward Cabrera head to Chicago for the Cubs’ No. 1 prospect Owen Caissie and two additional players. Cabrera’s trade could have an impact on the other pitchers who may be on the trade market, but it will also affect the free agent pitching market as well. With the trade news, it was also reported that Chicago has been in talks with free agents Bo Bichette and Alex Bregman.
• The Colorado Rockies agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with veteran free agent starter Michael Lorenzen.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers and reliver Brusdar Graterol avoided arbitration with a one-year deal.
• The New York Yankees remain interested in bringing back free agent Cody Bellinger and despite having made formal offers to Bellinger, according to a report from Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors they are not close to a deal.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...port-of-the-padres-with-season-ticket-sellout

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey Results: Friar Faithful say Joe Musgrove needs to have good season to keep Padres in contention

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.

San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove will return to the mound for the first time since 2024 when the Padres open their 2026 season with a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park in March. The San Diego native missed all last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Although he remained with the team and was a presence in the clubhouse there was no substitute for in-game reps facing live batters at the MLB level and because of that expectations for Musgrove for the coming year are tempered.

He is not just trying to bounce back from a missed season; Musgrove is also trying to improve on results from 2023 and 2024. He made 17 starts and 19 starts in back-to-back seasons. Despite throwing less than 100 innings in 2023 and 2024 there are positive stats from those seasons. Musgrove finished 10-3 in 2023 and finished with 11 quality starts and a 3.05 ERA. In 2024 he finished 6-5 with 10 quality starts and a 3.88 ERA.

The San Diego rotation enters a new season missing Dylan Cease, who left via free agency and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite a poor win/loss record, Cease gobbled up innings and piled up strikeouts last year. He threw 168 innings and recorded 215 strikeouts for the Padres in 2025. Nick Pivetta was the only pitcher in the San Diego rotation to throw more innings with 181.2 innings pitched with 190 strikeouts and the next closest to Cease was Randy Vasquez 133.2 innings pitched with 78 strikeouts.

Gaslamp Ball asked the Friar Faithful if Musgrove or Jackson Merrill, who had a down year due to multiple injuries, needed to have the better season foe the Padres to be successful and just over half of those who voted believe that Musgrove needs to have the better season.

Of course, Musgrove and Merrill will both have to have success if the Padres are going to compete in the National League West and in the NL playoff race. After looking at the decreased numbers for Musgrove in 2023 and 2024 and considering the missed season in 2025, a full season from the right-hander, like 2021 and 2022 when he threw 181.1 and 181 innings respectively, could make a greater impact and keep San Diego in contention.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...have-good-season-to-keep-padres-in-contention

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres start the new year right

With the start of Spring Training only five weeks away, the San Diego Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller continued his unbroken streak of not going to arbitration with any Padres player.

A total of seven players were eligible for arbitration for the 2026 season. C/DH Luis Campusano reached an agreement for $900,000 in November. On deadline day (Jan. 8), Preller reached agreements with the other six. All except for reliever Jason Adam and starter JP Sears received more than the projected amount that was estimated by FanGraphs. Following is the projection and actual contract amount for each player. All are one-year contracts.

Player – Projection – Contract amount

Jason Adam – $6.8 million – $6.675 million

Gavin Sheets – $4.3 million – $4.5 million

Mason Miller – $3.4 million – $4 million

Adrian Morejon – $3.6 million – $3.9 million

Freddy Fermin – $1.8 million – $2.1 million

JP Sears – $3.5 million – $2.75 million

This is the 14th straight year that the Padres have reached agreements with their arbitration eligible players without going to an arbitration hearing. That covers Preller’s entire tenure with the team.

Randy Jones Celebration of Life

Join us in honoring Cy Young Award winner and Padres alumnus Randy Jones with a Celebration of Life ceremony at Petco Park on Saturday, January 24 at 11:00 a.m. PT.

Admission is free with fans required to claim tickets in advance: https://t.co/O09ub4LjtL pic.twitter.com/9zDPHpMJjm

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) January 9, 2026

The Padres announced that they will hold a Celebration of Life for Padres Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Jones on Jan. 24 at Petco Park. The Padres legend passed away Nov. 18 at the age of 75. He had a long history of battling throat cancer, which he attributed to his use of chewing tobacco and cigar smoking.

The celebration will be free but requires a ticket and can be obtained by following the link above.

Prospect update

Baseball America updated its list of the Padres top 30 prospects and also named a breakout hitter of 2026 from the list of prospects. Catcher Ethan Salas continues to head the list of top prospects with left-handed starters Kruz Schoolcraft and Kash Mayfield in second and third, respectively.

Shortstop Jorge Quintana, 18, comes in as the fifth top prospect and is also named as the breakout hitter for 2026. Quintana was obtained at the trade deadline in 2025. He came from the Milwaukee Brewers, along with pitcher Nestor Cortes, in exchange for OF Brandon Lockridge.

Quintana was part of the Brewers 2024 international signing class and got a $1.7 million bonus. A switch-hitter, the infielder has lots of projection remaining in his 6-2 frame and is believed to have significant offensive upside with enough defensive skill to remain at shortstop. Although not a replacement for Leo De Vries, Quintana warrants a close follow as he plays his first full season in the Padres minor league system.

Baseball America noted his 104.1 m.p.h. average exit velocity as being in the 90th percentile among teenagers in the system with his top velocity of 110.3 m.p.h. as being in the top five. He had an 18 percent whiff rate in the zone and a 72 percent contact rate in his first professional season (mostly in the Arizona Complex League).

Season tickets sold out

The Padres sold out season tickets for the fourth consecutive season after increasing their amount of available tickets. Although the exact amount of season tickets sold was not announced, the average price went up seven percent this season and more were sold than last year. That should significantly increase ticket revenue for a team that finished second in overall attendance last year (the Los Angeles Dodgers were first).

Nine more teams end their RSN contract

Fan Duel Sports Network or Main Street Sports Group – formerly the Diamond Sports Network – missed payments for several of their contracted MLB teams over the past few months and the nine teams under contract severed those contracts this week. The Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays all withdrew due to breach of contract. All contracts can be renegotiated with the same network or another network but joining the teams currently carried by MLB Media is also a possibility. MLB currently carries games for seven MLB teams (Padres, Washington Nationals, Cleveland Guardians, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins) and could become the media outlet for up to sixteen MLB teams if there is no media contract for those teams carried by Fan Duel.

MLB sold MLB.TV to ESPN for exclusive rights to carry games for the seven teams currently being shown via their media outlet. That deal will be for three years, through 2028, when all current broadcast network contracts are due to expire and MLB will be making a long-term decision about broadcast rights at that time.

Sunday Night games

NBC announced its Sunday Night Baseball schedule for the 2026 season. MLB severed the previous contract with ESPN and signed a new deal with NBC through the 2028 season. Starting this year, NBC will broadcast all their Sunday night games via the NBC broadcast channel and Peacock or NBCSN and Peacock.

The first game debuts on March 29 at 4 p.m. PST with Cleveland versus Seattle.

The San Diego Padres will be featured on May 17 versus the Seattle Mariners and broadcast on Peacock/NBCSN.

Their next game will be against the Dodgers on July 5 on NBC/Peacock.

They will play Aug. 9 versus the Houston Astros on NBC/Peacock.

The last game will be Sept. 13 versus San Francisco on Peacock/NBCSN.

The Mariners, Dodgers and Giants games will all be road games for the Padres.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...mentary/52526/padres-start-the-new-year-right

 

[JJ]

Man, gotta say the Padres are in an interesting spot heading into 2026. Musgrove coming back from TJ is the biggest storyline here - the fans voted right on that one. You NEED your homegrown ace to eat innings if you're gonna compete in that division. Cease leaving hurts, no doubt about it, but if Musgrove can get back to that 180+ innings workload like he had in 2021-2022, that changes everything for this rotation.

Also pretty wild that Preller has gone 14 straight years without an arbitration hearing. Say what you want about the guy but he clearly knows how to handle his players and keep everyone happy. Getting those six deals done on deadline day shows the front office isn't messing around.

That Bradgley Rodriguez kid sounds legit too - upper 90s heat with a plus-plus changeup? Sign me up. The Padres have been sneaky good at developing bullpen arms and if this guy can throw strikes consistently, he could be a real weapon.

The season ticket sellout is impressive given they lost their manager and have roster holes to fill. San Diego fans are hungry for a championship and they're putting their money where their mouth is. Now Preller needs to make some moves to reward that loyalty.

Gotta pour one out for Randy Jones too. Absolute legend. That celebration of life at Petco should be a special day for the franchise.

What do you guys think - is the rotation deep enough without adding another arm, or does Preller need to make a trade?