RSS Padres Team Notes

[San Diego Padres]

Padres need to take flyer on Jhonkensy Noel

The San Diego Padres need to replenish their minor league system after President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller dealt away the depth at last summer’s trade deadline.

Jhonkensy Noel presents a unique low-cost, high-upside minor league signing option. He was recently designated for assignment by the Cleveland Guardians due to his struggles at the plate and high strikeout rate. Why not take a flyer on the former power-hitting prospect?

Guardians cut their losses​

What happened that caused the Guardians to discard him this winter? Noel struggled to make consistent contact, as he batted .162 with six home runs and struck out 52 times in 148 at-bats last season.

A far cry from the production he provided the Guardians in 2024. Noel hit .218 with 13 home runs and struck out 63 times in 179 at-bats. His biggest hit came in the postseason. It was a pivotal game-tying, two-run home run against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

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A promising start to a major league career came to a halt, as his plate production fell apart in 2025. Yes, Noel continued to hit the ball hard, but he kept swinging at pitches outside the strike zone. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was 13-1 last season.

The patience was wearing thin for Noel to develop into a top home run hitter. The Guardians felt it was time to part ways.

Friars need a right-handed DH​

The designated hitter position remains unsettled, as Gavin Sheets is in the mix from the left side. Noel could become the right-handed option of a possible platoon in 2026. Why not? He is young and a tough out for left-handed pitching. Plus, Noel can launch some balls into the seats at Petco Park.

He profiles as more of a right-handed DH than a corner outfielder. The Padres need more of an athletic defender who can defend from the foul line to center field at Petco Park. Noel has trouble tracking balls hit into the gaps.

Ideally, he should begin the 2026 campaign with the Padres Triple-A affiliate in El Paso, Texas. It will be there where Noel can work on having better plate discipline. If Noel can overcome his struggles, it will help to lower his high career strikeout rate (32.8%).

To make this scenario come to fruition, the Friars will have to wait for him to clear waivers, then sign Noel to a minor league contract. Upon claiming or trading for him, he must be added to the 40-man roster immediately. Suddenly, your feel-good reclamation project vanishes away. Now, Noel must produce at the plate or have a short stay in San Diego.

The Padres finished 90-72 in 2025 and lost to the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series. This offseason, they were looking to add more pop to the lineup.

It is hard to believe the Friars have gone this far without adding a proven right-handed bat to the roster. Noel will cost them next to nothing to see what value he offers to the team.

He is a right-handed hitter with raw power, and developing him into his full potential would be a coup for the Padres. You achieve this without compromising your tight salary constraints. Thus, it is worth taking a flyer on Noel.

The holiday season may be ending, but the Padres could add Big Christmas before Spring Training.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...4/padres-need-to-take-flyer-on-jhonkensy-noel

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres one of three teams linked to Kazuma Okamoto; Potential minor league addition could impact major league roster

Kazuma Okamoto is the next position player from Japan expected to sign with an MLB team and there are some prognosticators who believe he will be a better major league player than Masataka Murakami who recently signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. Okamoto has to sign a deal prior to the Jan. 4 deadline, or he returns to his team in Japan.

It was reported Sunday that three teams are thought to be in the running for the right-handed hitting slugger. The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates are listed as the final candidates for Okamoto’s services. He would fill a need for the Padres in that he can play first base or serve as a designated hitter. Okamoto also has experience at third base and could spell Manny Machado when he needs a day off, giving San Diego multiple options in those situations after the team signed Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song earlier this offseason.

It is unknown which way Okamoto is leaning and the majority of reporting about that is speculation. All the Padres, Angels, Pirates or any other MLB team can do is wait for word from Okamoto himself or the team that signs him.

Padres News:

• San Diego has been adding players at the minor league level throughout the offseason and Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball believes one more minor league addition could eventually pay dividends at the major league level.
• MLB.com identified a bounce back candidate for the 2026 season from each team and they settled on Jackson Merrill from the Padres. He had a difficult year because of injuries but returned to his 2024 form as the season ended. San Diego is looking for more of the same in 2026.

Baseball News:

• The Detroit Tigers were interested in signing free agent Alex Bregman last offseason and the interest remains this offseason although it may not be at the previous level.
• The Cleveland Guardians agreed to terms with pitcher Pedro Avila on a one-year split contract.
• Zach Eflin and the Baltimore Orioles agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract that will allow him to return to the O’s for the 2026 season.
• Former Padre Nabil Crismatt agreed to a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers with an invitation to Spring Training.
• The Athletics announced the passing of a longtime scout who started with the organization in 1987 as a player. Will Schock, 61, was a career minor league pitcher before becoming a scout.
• Pitcher Andrew Heaney announced his retirement after 12 years in MLB and later in the day Joe Kelly followed suit and announced the end of his 13-year playing career.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...gue-addition-could-impact-major-league-roster

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Jhony Brito looking to re-establish himself after lost season in 2025

Jhony Brito came to the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees and was one of four pitchers who came to San Diego in the trade that sent Juan Soto to New York. Brito, Michael King, Randy Vasquez and Drew Thorpe were the arms acquired in the deal and he, like King and Vasquez, had an instant impact on the 2024 roster. Thorpe did, too in a way, he was sent to the Chicago White Sox as part of the deal that made Dylan Cease a Padre. Back to Brito… he had a record of 1-2 with a 4.12 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched, exclusively as a reliever. Brito missed all of 2025, like starter Joe Musgrove, recovering from elbow surgery and will look to show he is healthy and ready to be back with the major league club in 2026. With a strong showing, Brito could pitch his way into a potential back of the rotation battle with JP Sears, Kyle Hart and Matt Waldron, but he will have to prove he is ready for such a role.

Padres News:

• Padres manager Craig Stammen said he wants to get Sung-Mun Song’s bat in the lineup and that could happen in a few ways. Traditionally, he has been a third baseman, but that role is filled by Manny Machado, he has also played second base and first base. Jake Cronenworth, at the moment, is expected to fill one of those roles, so there is potential for Song to make a significant impact early on in his tenure with San Diego. Another position he could possibly play according to Stammen is somewhere in the outfield, making him the ultimate utility player for the Padres.

Baseball News:

• Team Japan announced seven pitchers for its World Baseball Classic roster, Friday. Among the players added was Padres reliever Yuki Matsui. Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels joins Matsui and they are joined by five other pitchers all from the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization.
• Two teams thought to be in on a possible trade for Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera are reportedly no longer looking to deal for the pitcher. According to reports, the Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles are not interested in trading for Cabrera.
• Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello is drawing trade interest from teams around MLB. The Red Sox have said they will listen to offers and several teams could use the starter in their rotation, but one of those teams is Boston.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...e-establish-himself-after-lost-season-in-2025

 

[San Diego Padres]

Who is D.J. Snelten, and why did the Padres sign him?

Rarely is a player who last appeared in the majors nearly a decade ago projected to make an impact on a baseball season. D.J. Snelten is a hard-throwing left-handed reliever who has not played in the big leagues since 2018 with the San Francisco Giants.

The San Diego Padres signed him to a minor league contract after their scouts witnessed him regularly hitting triple digits with his fastball in the Mexican League last season. The agreement carries no financial risk for the organization, as the Padres want to take a closer look at a left-hander who throws with such high velocity.

Interesting path back to a major league organization​

Quite a journey for Snelten, as his path through the minors included nine organizational stops. He posted a 3.64 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP in 213 minor league appearances. His time in the majors was not memorable, as Snelten recorded a 10.38 ERA with a 2.77 WHIP in 4.1 innings pitched.

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Arm injuries have plagued him throughout his baseball career. Snelten suffered an elbow injury during his days at the University of Minnesota. He kept playing until going under the knife for Tommy John surgery in 2021.

The Friars are looking to add bullpen depth, as Snelten provides an experienced arm that will be on-call in the minors if an injury occurs at the major league level. Keep in mind, he has received an invitation to Spring Training, and if Snelten performs well in Peoria, the lefty could earn a spot on the Padres’ Opening Day roster.

Snelten uses unique delivery to his advantage​

Snelten’s pitching delivery offers deception with a herky-jerky upper-body motion. Add his 6-6 frame and the ability to throw in the high 90s, and suddenly, quality at-bats become few and far between for opposing lineups. Snelten’s height allows him to release the ball at a high angle that makes it difficult for hitters to track the ball coming toward home plate.

Yes, his pitching style relies on the placement of the fastball, but Snelten’s secondary pitches generate more swings and misses during an at-bat. His pitching repertoire includes a slider, sinker, and changeup.

In Mexican League play, Snelten used the changeup as his out-pitch. If a batter could get on top of the ball, they usually hit a groundball to end a scoring threat.

If he appears in the majors again, Snelten’s comeback story will be the highlight of the 2026 season. He is 33 years old and has not stood on a mound in a big league ballpark since 2018.

Most major league teams would love the opportunity to sign Snelten because of his tremendous upside. It is a low-risk investment for the Friars, as they hope to transform him into an effective left-handed reliever.

And he will be just a phone call away.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...s-d-j-snelten-and-why-did-the-padres-sign-him

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Future is uncertain for Padres; San Diego expecting big season from Jackson Merrill

This offseason arrived sooner than expected for the San Diego Padres and it has only highlighted some of the issues the team has been needing to address. The roster holes are not even the biggest issue, that title is reserved for the Seidler family exploring the sale of the team. That announcement coupled with the sudden resignation of former manager Mike Shildt provided more questions about the San Diego franchise than what the Friar Faithful expected to have following the 2025 season. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball lays out the uncertain future of the Padres, providing insight on each area of concern for the team that calls Petco Park home.

Padres News:

• Jackson Merrill exploded onto the MLB scene in 2024 and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting behind Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skenes. The race was so close that it created debates about whether there should be a ROY award for pitchers and for position players. Merrill followed with a sophomore season that was hampered by injury. The Padres are looking for a big season from their centerfielder in 2026.

• Kyle Hart made the San Diego roster out of Spring Training and was the lone left-hander in the rotation last season. His MLB tenure was short lived, and he was shuttled to the minors before eventually returning to the big-league team at the end of the season. Hart re-signed with San Diego this offseason and will once again challenge for a spot in the rotation in the spring.

Baseball News:

• Japanese free-agent infielder Kazuma Okamoto is has a deadline of Jan. 4 to sign a deal with an MLB team. Reports Monday stated Okamoto is meeting with suitors throughout the week. The Padres, Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates were all thought to be in the hunt, but the report stated the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox are also pursuing Okamoto.

• The Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a trade that will send former Padre Esteury Ruiz from California to Florida in exchange for a prospect.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ego-expecting-big-season-from-jackson-merrill

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey: Should San Diego try to reunite with Luis Arraez?

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.

Fans of Major League Baseball would expect to see a three-time batting champion as one of the top free agents available in most years. That has not been the case this offseason with Luis Arraez still available. His hitting prowess is something to be desired by most, if not all, the teams in MLB but after a down season, the market for Arraez has been slow to develop.

Arraez seemed to be a natural fit in San Diego. After all, this is a city that loved and admired Tony Gwynn – one of the greatest hitters in the history of the sport and the dimensions of Petco Park should lend itself to a bevy of base hits and extra-base hits for Arraez. But he underperformed in 2025 and finished with a .292 average, the second lowest number in his seven-year career. Combine a poor offensive performance with unremarkable defense and it is understandable teams, including the Padres, are not lining up to sign Arraez.

The left-handed hitting infielder hit second and played first and second base for the majority of the season under former manager Mike Shildt. That was the case even after the Padres added first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn at the trade deadline. There was some thought that O’Hearn would return to San Diego, but instead he signed a two-year, $29 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

San Diego still has a need at first base and/or second base depending on where Jake Cronenworth plays. The Padres have a new manager and lost multiple players to free agency, so a roster shakeup is to be expected. Depending on the money, would the Friar Faithful want or welcome Arraez on the 2026 roster? The Padres Reacts Survey aims to answer that question.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...uld-san-diego-try-to-reunite-with-luis-arraez

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: New year brings same old questions for Padres regarding roster moves

The San Diego Padres watched as their former first baseman, who was acquired at the 2025 trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles, signed a two-year, $29 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. With Ryan O’Hearn off the free agent board and the Padres still looking to fill their first base position, could they look to bring back Luis Arraez? When he was acquired from the Miami Marlins in 2024, Arraez was primarily a second baseman who was more known for his skills with the bat than his defense. With San Diego, Arraez spent more time at first base where, by all accounts, he improved throughout the season, but his offense struggled compared to his past seasons. Arraez remains a free agent and San Diego still has a need, could/should the Padres bring him back? That is the question posed to the Friar Faithful by Gaslamp Ball.

Padres News:

• In his latest installment of his Padres roster review, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune focuses on reliever Ron Marinaccio and how the right-hander can make the most of his opportunities in 2026.

Baseball News:

• The San Francisco Giants added to their starting rotation with the addition of free agent Tyler Mahle on a one-year deal.
• A day after the Los Angeles Angels restructured their contract with Anthony Rendon resulting in his buyout, reports have come out that the Angels are interested in adding veteran third baseman Nolan Arrenado from the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Free agent outfielder Jarred Kelenic and the Chicago White Sox have agreed to a non-roster invite deal that will allow him an opportunity to regain his former top prospect acclaim.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...d-questions-for-padres-regarding-roster-moves

 

[JJ]

Man the Padres got a LOT of question marks heading into 2026 and honestly I'm here for the chaos. That Soto trade keeps on giving though - King, Vasquez, Brito all contributing (when healthy). Brito coming back from elbow surgery is gonna be interesting to watch. Back of the rotation battles are always fun in spring training.

The D.J. Snelten signing is exactly the kind of low-risk flyer I love seeing teams take. Dude is 33, hasn't pitched in the bigs since 2018, but he's touching triple digits?? That's absolutely worth a look. Worst case scenario you're out nothing. Best case you found a diamond in the rough lefty reliever. Smart move by the Padres scouts.

As for the Arraez question - look, I get it, the guy can HIT. Three batting titles don't lie. But .292 for him is basically a slump and the defense is... let's just say it ain't pretty. With the ownership situation being what it is and the team clearly trying to figure things out, I don't know if bringing him back makes sense unless it's a team-friendly deal. They still gotta figure out what to do with Cronenworth and now they got Sung-Mun Song who can apparently play everywhere.

Jackson Merrill bouncing back healthy would be HUGE. Kid looked like a future superstar in 2024 before the injury bug hit. The NL West is gonna be a bloodbath as always so San Diego needs him right.

What do you Padres fans think - is Arraez worth another shot or move on?

 

[San Diego Padres]

Who will buy the Padres?

Joe Lacob, owner of the Golden State Warriors

After the announcement by the Seidler family that they were exploring a sale of the San Diego Padres franchise, the internet was busy with suggestions of possible interested future owners. Padres fans should not anticipate a public battle with competing parties making statements. With the issues hanging over the team (read: litigation and family turmoil), it should be expected that this process will take place in back channels and without public scrutiny.

We probably won’t know who or what group will own the team until the transaction is completed and the information can’t be kept private any longer. Despite knowing that a sale is all but assured, fans will have to wait months (if not more than a year) for any real conclusion to arrive.

But that should not stop us from exploring who could be stepping up and what we could expect from those interested parties. Any thought that the sale won’t occur was dispelled by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred in remarks made during the Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. When asked about the possible sale of the Padres, Manfred responded:

“It’s a really appealing franchise,” Manfred said, via Evan Drellich of The Athletic. “They’ve done a great job building a fan base. The in-ballpark experience in San Diego’s probably one of our best, they’ve got some great players, and I expect there will be people that will be interested in buying.”

This leaves no doubt that he expects the team to be sold, and he gives an enthusiastic recommendation for the franchise being in San Diego. This should reassure anyone who fears the team would be bought and moved. With the second best attendance in MLB, Petco Park sold out 72 times in 81 home games. There is virtually no scenario in which MLB would consent to the team moving.

With all that being noted, what has been floated regarding the interested parties and what could come about when the team sells?

The Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels were all put up for sale in recent years but pulled off the market without a sale occurring. The Seidlers bought the team for $800 million in 2012, and it was recently valued by Forbes at $1.95 billion.

There is no way to know who the interested parties will be but a couple names were mentioned immediately.

Joe Lacob

On Dec. 2, the San Francisco Chronicle published an article floating the idea that Lacob could be interested in purchasing the Padres. This caught the attention of local and national media with Darnay Tripp of NBC7 San Diego reporting the news.

Lacob is a long-time NBA owner who purchased the Golden State Warriors in 2010 and has guided the franchise to four championships in 15 years. He was also an owner of the Boston Celtics in 2008 when they won the NBA title.

Lacob, 69, has shown that he is interested in owning an MLB franchise with his attempts to purchase both the Oakland A’s 20 years ago and the Los Angeles Angels in 2022. He offered to purchase the A’s again in 2023 and keep them in Oakland but was rebuffed.

According to Forbes, Lacob is worth $2.3 billion. Buying the Padres could be a return to Southern California for the Anaheim native. He was an Angels fan growing up and lived one mile from Angels stadium and was a peanut vendor there for seven years.

Lacob also owns the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA franchise in the Bay Area. His partner in his ownership of the Warriors, Peter Guber, is also an owner with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He would obviously not be included in a Padres ownership.

Lacob made his fortune as a venture capitalist with the investment group Kleiner Perkins, which he joined in 1987. He also founded Shapira Capital, another investment firm.

In a podcast from 2022, Lacob made it clear he is all about wining as an owner – Lacob told the Point Forward Podcast, “I’m about only one thing the rest of my life and that’s winning and winning championships. I’m maniacal, it’s all I care about. That’s it.”

In a Nov. 10 article in the San Francisco Standard, Lacob was reflecting on his ownership of the Warriors and all their success.

“I mean, how could you have more fun than this?” Lacob told The Standard. “I can’t believe these tech guys who make all these billions on AI or whatever it is, and then, I don’t know, they go buy some island and live on an island. Who cares?

“I don’t want to live on some island. I want to do other fun stuff. And fun stuff to me is the world of sports. It’s live entertainment. It’s employing people. It’s creating dreams and making dreams come true.”

That sure sounds like someone who would do right by San Diego Padres fans. It is obvious the Seidler family is unable to fulfill Peter Seidler’s vision for the Padres and San Diego. Someone like Lacob could make that dream come true.

Part 2 will outline some of the other names mentioned as possible candidates to purchase the organization.

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Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-diego-padres-analysis-commentary/52378/who-will-buy-the-padres

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Reported addition of D.J. Snelten could help major league roster

It was reported that the San Diego Padres signed left-handed pitcher D.J. Snelten to a minor league contract, but the team has not officially announced the signing. The addition of Snelten would give the Padres another left-handed option in the bullpen that can reach triple-digits on the radar gun. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball looks at what the reported signing of Snelten could mean to San Diego and how he might be able to impact the major league roster this season.

Padres News:

• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks back at the 2025 season for the Padres and identifies the 25 moments that defined the team. How many of the moments made your list?

• Bryan Hoeing came to the Padres at the 2024 trade deadline and looked like he was going to be the potential swingman in the San Diego bullpen in 2025. However, Hoeing had shoulder issues coming out of Spring Training, and after rehab, made a brief appearance the big-league roster. Hoeing spent most of the last season in the minors and will look to return to San Diego in 2026.

Baseball News:

• NPB stars Tatsuya Imai and Kazuma Okamoto are reportedly meeting with teams interested in signing them before their respective signing deadlines in Los Angeles. Teams mentioned that have already met with one or both players are the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies.
• Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen said the trade talks surrounding second baseman Ketel Marte are coming to an end. Whether or not he will be traded is still unknown, but Hazen stated he does not want the speculation to continue into the season.
• The Los Angeles Angels and perpetually injured third baseman Anthony Rendon have reportedly agreed to restructure his contract, resulting in a buyout and deferred money, ending their relationship.
• The Angels have also agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with right-handed reliever Kirby Yates.
• The Atlanta Braves continue to build their roster with former Padres. After signing Ha-Seong Kim on a one-year deal, they added Jose Azocar on a minor league deal, Tuesday.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...of-d-j-snelten-could-help-major-league-roster

 

[San Diego Padres]

My Padres New Year’s resolutions

Happy New Year, Padres fans!

With the start of 2026, baseball fans’ minds turn to the countdown to Spring Training and Opening Day of the season. For the San Diego Padres, there is still a lot to be settled before the start of Spring Training in about six weeks. President of baseball operations/general manager A.J. Preller gave Padres fans an early holiday gift by signing starter Michael King to a three-year, $75 million contract that only guarantees one year of commitment but is an affordable $9 million maximum for 2026.

The organization also added to the bench by signing Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song to a four-year, $15 million contract that should provide bench depth at the very least. Depending on how Song adapts to MLB pitching, the versatile infielder could become a super utility or even an everyday option.

There have been a handful of players signed to minor league contracts, some with Spring Training invites, that could prove to be useful to the team in 2026. There is no doubt that more of those will be coming before the team opens the season in March. Although many of those signees in the past have disappointed, there is always the chance the Padres get another player of the quality of Gavin Sheets by taking fliers on these players.

Without knowing what the roster will look like on Opening Day (March 26, 2026), here are my thoughts on some New Year’s resolutions for the 2026 season. With first-year manager Craig Stammen and his coaching staff handling a star-filled team and inheriting a winning culture, hopes and expectations should remain high for the new season.

1. Everyone not directly involved with managing the sale of the team needs to ignore the outside noise and concentrate on playing baseball. It would be easy for the uncertain future of the team to affect thinking and concentration within baseball operations. Preller and Stammen need to prioritize focusing the players on winning. The attitude that winning fixes everything is the way to proceed.
2. Continue the style of play that the team has employed for the past two seasons. Former manager Mike Shildt might have had his issues in the organization, but his style of baseball is a winning style. Play clean, focused and energetic baseball with an emphasis on fundamentals and limiting errors. Keep the positive vibes and culture that has been established and build on that. Stammen basically said as much in the interviews following his introduction. He openly admires Shildt and pledged to build on what was already there.
3. Be smart – manage the lineup with a combination of analytics and feel. Don’t get stuck with one way of thinking with lineup building but maintain open communication with the players and be flexible. It is hard to overstate the frustration felt by many fans and media members last season when the lineup posted every game almost never changed. This despite players struggling and multiple scoring opportunities falling to the wayside with the wrong player trying to drive in runs at the plate.
4. The Luis Campusano problem has to be solved this spring. Campusano is out of options, he makes the team or has to clear waivers to stay in the organization. If he doesn’t play well during Spring Training, Preller will have to make a move. There will be no more stashing him in Triple-A. The Preller and manager (insert name) debate over Campusano will come to an end this year. The reluctance of said manager to play Campusano has been directly related to his failure to develop defensively as a catcher. If that remains a problem, then his bat will have to play to stay with the team.
5. My final thought is more a wish than a resolution. Please, no more fliers on aged, washed-up veterans who aren’t willing to retire and will sign for minimal money in order to stay on the field. This has been a problem that goes back multiple seasons for this organization. It is painful for the fans, the manager, and wastes precious time during the early season while we all wait for someone to start hitting.

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Spring Training 2026 will be a World Baseball Classic spring and opportunities will be more prolonged for the unproven and new players coming into the organization. With multiple members of the usual roster playing in the WBC, more players will get more time to show what they can do. The list of non-roster invitees will likely be long because of the WBC. Watching the Padres try out the potential hidden gems that Preller has spent the offseason mining is always interesting.

Hope should remain high for a team with many outstanding players. New manager Stammen has a talented team to help him work through his rookie transition. It’s a new season on the horizon and there is always hope.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp-ball-staff-editorials/52411/my-padres-new-years-resolutions

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Resolutions for the Padres; Luis Arraez reunion would be welcomed by fans

A new year brings resolutions and Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball provides her resolutions for the San Diego Padres. It has been a tumultuous off season that has been painfully slow at times, but as the calendar flips from 2025 to 2026 expectations are that will change and the San Diego roster will change with it.

Padres News:

• Luis Arraez is still a free agent and the San Diego Padres still have a need at first base. In a recent Padres Reacts Survey on Gaslamp Ball, readers overwhelmingly were in favor of a re-union with their former first baseman.
• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune continues his review of the Padres roster with a look at outfielder Bryce Johnson. He is out of options and with the starting outfield set with Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Ramon Laureano, he will be vying for a bench role in 2026.

Baseball News:

• There is plenty of speculation with the deadline for Japanese free agent Kazuma Okamoto to sign with an MLB team is less than 48 hours away. He has several suitors, but the contract lengths and the amount of money discussed in each scenario are unknown. The should change soon.
• The Houston Astros signed Tatsuya Imai and there is some consideration that the Astros could now look to the trade market to complete their 2026 roster.
• The Colorado Rockies have not had much success on the field, but that does not mean their players are not coveted by other MLB teams. Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors looks at which Rockies players could be most intriguing to potential trade partners.
• It is never too early to look ahead to the 2026 season and Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com predicts which players will earn awards over the next season.
• The Minnesota Twins and the Miami Marlins agreed to a trade that will send first baseman Eric Wagaman from Miami to Minnesota.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...luis-arraez-reunion-would-be-welcomed-by-fans

 

[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