RSS Padres Team Notes

[San Diego Padres]

Padres’ Sung-Mun Song has an oblique strain

Sung-Mun Song

San Diego Padres infielder Sung-Mun Song is reportedly on his way to Arizona to prepare for the start of Spring Training with his new team. That training will initially be medical care and rehab after it was reported on Yonhap News that Song has an oblique strain after a batting practice session.

Jeeho Yo of the Yonhap News Agency wrote on Jan. 17 that Song went to a clinic in Japan after the injury for extensive treatment and then was scheduled to fly to Arizona. The source for the article reported that there was a minimum of four weeks recovery before Song could resume baseball activities.

Song was in San Diego to sign his four-year, $15 million deal last month and then returned to South Korea to resume his preparation for the 2026 season. Originally on the roster for the Korean World Baseball Classic team, Song will likely now be staying in Arizona with the Padres to prepare for the season.

Padres pitchers and catchers begin workouts on Feb. 11 and will report on Feb. 10 for physicals. Position players begin workouts on Feb. 15 and will most likely be reporting before then for physicals and early work.

The typical recovery time for oblique injuries is based on the severity of the injury. Fernando Tatis Jr. admitted to a mild oblique strain (cramps) that would keep him from considering being involved in the Home Run Derby during the 2025 All-Star game. He never went on the injured list for the issue and that would probably be the most optimistic situation an MLB player can have while experiencing oblique issues.

Padres pitcher Matt Waldron suffered an oblique injury, described as mild, while warming up during a Spring Training game in March of 2025 and was not the same pitcher the Padres knew when he came off the IL in June. He was optioned to Triple-A El Paso soon after and never made it back to San Diego, struggling with the Chihuahuas.

This could be a minor setback to Song’s start with the Padres, or it could prove to be a bigger issue if his recovery is delayed. Four weeks from mid-January would mean an on time start to Spring Training with a probable slower ramp up for him than the healthy players. The beginning of the season might not be affected, but if the injury lingers and Song is not able to start Spring Training with the rest of the team, then he might not be available for Opening Day.

Let’s hope for a positive update during Padres FanFest on Jan. 31. Hopefully his early arrival in Arizona to work with Padres’ training and medical staff will bode well for a quick recovery.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...95/padres-sung-mun-song-has-an-oblique-strain

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey Results: San Diego fans disappointed heading into final weeks of offseason

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.

First things first… most, if not all, San Diego Padres fans were happy the team was able to re-sign pitcher Michael King. The problem has been the Padres have not done much since that reunion became official.

San Diego added free agent infielder Sung-Mun Song not long after King, but we learned Saturday he will miss at least four weeks with a strained oblique. The other major league additions for the Padres have been re-signing left-hander Kyle Hart and new additions relievers Ty Adcock and Daison Acosta. All other signings by San Diego this offseason have been minor league deals with some of those invited to Spring Training. Hardly the kind of moves that whip a fanbase into a frenzy.

Recent reports have stated San Diego president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller wants to make moves but is waiting to do so. Speculation is that he is waiting for prices to come down on some free agent targets and/or he is waiting on a trade to come through that will allow the Padres to clear some payroll to create financial flexibility.

As with anything, there is a process to building the roster, but to this point in the offseason the Friar Faithful have been less than thrilled with the moves the team has made. Most fans who took part in the latest Padres Reacts Survey said the offseason has been worse than they expected. Some of that may be due to the sudden resignation of manager Mike Shildt or the news the Seidler family was exploring a potential sale of the club, but the lack of moves and additions to the roster has to be the biggest factor in the way fans feel about the team.

Over the past week, Padres fans have watched as the Arizona Diamondbacks traded for Nolan Arenado and saw the Los Angeles Dodgers sign free agent Kyle Tucker. The San Francisco Giants, and Dodgers, are rumored to be in trade talks for Milwaukee Brewers ace pitcher Freddy Peralta and the Giants have also been linked to free agent pitcher Framber Valdez. All the movement in the National League West only highlights the lack of movement from San Diego.

Perhaps that changes over the coming weeks, but the start to Spring Training in early February is fast approaching and the Friar Faithful could use a couple of moves to salvage an offseason that has had more bad news than good.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...pointed-heading-into-final-weeks-of-offseason

 

[San Diego Padres]

Randy Vasquez needs to continue progression in 2026

Randy Vasquez has seen a steady increase of work since he started his career with the New York Yankees in 2023. He appeared in 11 games as a rookie and made five starts for the Yankees and finished the season with a record of 2-2. Vasquez closed the season with a 2.87 ERA and allowed 18 walks to 33 strikeouts. The future appeared bright for the right-hander.

The numbers produced by Vasquez caught the eye of San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller and he was acquired via the Juan Soto trade along with pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito and Drew Thorpe and catcher Kyle Higashioka.

Vasquez was given an opportunity to start for the Padres in 2024 and had mixed results. He appeared and started in 20 games and finished with a 4-7 record. His innings pitched increased from 37.2 to 98.0 which also led to an increased ERA of 4.87. Vasquez gave up 56 runs with 53 of those being earned and recorded 62 strikeouts and allowed 29 walks.

The thought was that Vasquez would take another step forward in 2025, and he did in terms of overall numbers, but the win/loss record remained relatively the same as he finished 6-7. Vasquez appeared in 28 games and made 26 starts. He threw 133.2 innings and worked to a respectable 3.84 ERA. However, his runs and earned runs shot up and finished at 127 and 122 respectively. Unfortunately for the right-hander, and the Padres, he finished with 78 strikeouts and 52 walks.

Vasquez currently stands as the No. 4 starter in the Padres’ rotation. If he remains in that position as San Diego enters the season, he will be asked to take on a greater role and will have to find greater success. Wins and losses are not solely on the pitcher so it’s tough to judge how well Vasquez is performing on record alone, but walks are solely on the pitcher and Vasquez has complete control over throwing strikes. His fastball velocity increased at the end of last season and there is hope that his increased velocity will increase his confidence and he will challenge more hitters.

With growing numbers in games started and innings pitched, Vasquez has been able to steadily acclimate himself to pitching through a major league season over the past three years. Reports are that Vasquez has been working throughout the offseason and is in better shape at this point in the offseason than he was at this time a year ago. Maybe that is maturity and Vasquez becoming more of a professional or maybe he understands he will be leaned on heavily in 2026 and he is trying to show Preller, manager Craig Stammen and the Padres he is up to the challenge.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...vasquez-needs-to-continue-progression-in-2026

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Sung-Mun Song suffers injury; fans not satisfied with Padres’ offseason

The San Diego Padres have not made many additions to their big league roster this offseason and now one of the additions they did make will miss four weeks with an injury. Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song was signed by the Padres and was expected to compete for an infield utility role that would allow him to move around the infield to spell other infielders. Song was also expected to provide manager Craig Stammen with some roster flexibility and he still might. First, Song will have to recover from an oblique injury that will cause him to miss four weeks. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball also believes this injury will cause him to miss the World Baseball Classic and added that he is already planning on rehabbing with the San Diego medical staff in Arizona.

Padres News:

• The injury to Song underscored the slow offseason the Padres have had. There have been five players added to the major league roster with one of those being Song. The other major addition was Michael King, but the Friar Faithful have been disappointed in the lack of activity from San Diego.

Baseball News:

• Framber Valdez is the top remaining free agent pitcher and Travis Sawchik of MLB.com looks at the four best fits for the talented left-hander. It was reported Saturday the Toronto Blue Jays meet with the free agent pitcher in November.
• Free agent and projected Hall of Famer Justin Verlander is gaining interest from multiple clubs.
• The most notable teams that missed out on signing free agents Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette were the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Blue Jays. One of those teams may pivot to free agent Cody Bellinger or will the New York Mets still try to add Bellinger even after adding Bichette?
• There was speculation that the Arizona Diamondbacks may reverse course and consider trades for second baseman Ketel Marte after saying he was no longer available, but Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen announced that is not the case.
• Closer Ryan Pressly announced his retirement, Saturday.
• The Cincinnati Reds are receiving trade interest surrounding their pitching staff. Previous reports said the Reds would listen to offers but were unlikely to make a trade.
• After the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Tucker there was speculation they may be interested in trading outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. Reports state that it is unlikely.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...jury-fans-not-satisfied-with-padres-offseason

 

[San Diego Padres]

Oblique injury casts doubt on Sung-Mun Song’s Padres debut

The San Diego Padres received disheartening news about their top free agent signee, Sung-Mun Song, who suffered an oblique injury that could sideline him for approximately four weeks. The injury occurred during a recent offseason batting practice session.

Oblique muscles are essential to excel in baseball​

Oblique injuries are quite serious, as they impair a player’s ability to swing a bat or throw a baseball. The abdominal muscle is crucial for a hitter to generate maximum bat speed through the strike zone. It allows them to create power between the upper and lower parts of their body.

Healthy, strong internal and external obliques are essential for core functionality. A baseball player needs to be able to rotate their trunk when swinging and throwing. Any level of an oblique strain will impact their ability to make the most basic baseball-related move.

Often, most oblique injuries occur on the dominant side of the player’s body.

Time missed = severity of injury​

The amount of time sidelined is dependent on the severity of the injury. Mild oblique strains will keep a player out of the lineup for two to three weeks. A more severe oblique injury will sideline them for up to eight weeks. The average major leaguer needs between 22 to 27 days to recover from an abdominal injury.

Rehabbing an oblique strain is very challenging, as the injured region cannot be immobilized for too long. Your core muscles, specifically the diaphragm, are essential for breathing. Most athletic trainers will implement a three-stage rehab program to get the player back on the field.

Detailed rehabilitation program​

The rehab program begins with isometric abdominal exercises, which restore core stability while avoiding trunk rotation. Other suggestive activities include side bending, which slowly increases flexibility. Gradually, a player will be able to walk or cycle for short distances.

The next stage is performing basic baseball movements without any discomfort. The rehab exercises become more challenging in stabilizing the abdominal region. Typically, it involves trunk rotations using resistance bands or cables.

The final stage before returning to the club involves mimicking all movements that occur in a game. The workout drills begin with light swings with a fungo bat, advance to hitting off a tee, and conclude with live batting practice sessions.

A throwing program begins with building arm strength with a weighted ball. Before progressing to the next phase, the trainers must determine that there is no discomfort in the abdominal region. If the player comes away with no limitations, they will become eligible to be activated from the injury list.

Not completing their rehabilitation program significantly increases a player’s risk of reinjuring themselves. Rushing back to the lineup does raise the likelihood of aggravating their oblique injury on a check swing or an extended throw.

What is next for Song?​

Establishing a timeline for Song’s recovery from an oblique injury can be tricky until he arrives in Peoria. Song is expected to report to the complex for full squad workouts on Feb. 15. His availability for the World Baseball Classic is unknown at this time. The tournament takes place between March 5 and 17.

The Friars’ training staff will take a cautious approach to what Song can do at the start of Spring Training workouts. The goal is not to re-aggravate his injury.

Do not be surprised if the Padres place Song on the injured list to begin the regular season. It is all about protecting their investment.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...ry-casts-doubt-on-sung-mun-songs-padres-debut

 

[San Diego Padres]

The Padres’ unicorn

Jackson Merrill

When the San Diego Padres drafted Jackson Merrill in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft there was a great story told about the scouting of Merrill by Padres general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. That story was retold when Merrill signed his contract extension in 2025. Preller, in an attempt not to give away to other scouts his intent, tried to watch Merrill from the bleachers of a football stadium next to where the baseball game was being played. He got caught and then had to try and keep his true intent secret while gracefully talking his way out of the situation.

In the deal Preller made to bring in superstar outfielder Juan Soto, Merrill was intentionally left out. He seemed to be the one “untouchable” in the San Diego system that would not be part of the package.

When Merrill came to Padres Spring Training in February of 2024 he was a shortstop. He had been a shortstop all through his professional and high school career. The Padres had a shortstop, and Xander Bogaerts had been signed to a huge multi-year deal to play that position. At the start of workouts in Peoria, Preller and the Padres staff approached Merrill about learning to play the outfield, initially left field before he eventually settled in center field. He was willing and learned the position on the fly throughout that spring. At the end of Spring Training, Manny Machado and other Padres veterans approached the Padres coaching staff and Preller to lobby on behalf of Merrill to make the opening day roster…. as the centerfielder.

The 2024 season was a massive success for Jackson Merrill, the centerfielder. He played in 156 games with a .292/.326/.500 batting line and a .826 OPS. He hit 24 homers with 90 RBI and finished the season with a 4.4 WAR, a Silver Slugger Award, an All-Star selection and a second place finish to Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes for Rookie the Year.

Preller began trying to sign Merrill to a long-term contract before his breakout rookie season. Although unsuccessful at first, he kept trying. In April of 2025, barely into the new season, the Padres announced a nine-year, $135 million contract extension for Merrill. It included a $10 million signing bonus spread out over four years with $1 million in 2025 and $3 million in 2026, 2027 and 2028 as well as escalators over time and with plate appearances and top five MVP finishes. The Padres have a team option for 2035, and Merrill can play that into a player option. All-in-all, it could be a 10-year deal for $204 million.

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Although the 2025 season was frustrating and injury-filled for Merrill, there is little doubt in most corners of MLB that he will bounce back this season. Going into his age 23 season, Merrill can work to carry the momentum he built at the end of 2025 when he was finally healthy. In his final 158 plate appearances, Merrill hit nine homers and 11 doubles and had a max exit velocity of 110.4 mph. Over his last 30 games, he hit .289/.325/.623 with a .948 OPS.

With just a little bit of luck and a normal Spring Training, Merrill could be the face of this franchise by the end of this season. When MLB Network ranked their best centerfielders for 2025, Merrill ranked second by their analytic assessment and was chosen first by program host, Brian Kenney.

While fans watch the massive contracts being awarded in free agency this offseason, Padres fans need to recognize that we have a one-in-a-million player in Merrill. Carrying five tools and a desire to win as well as leadership qualities and loyalty to his teammates and the city, Merrill can evoke memories of Tony Gwynn for fans.

Gwynn turned down bigger money in free agency, despite the urging of his father, and accepted a below-market deal to stay in San Diego and be a Padre (six-year, $4.6 million contract in 1985 and three-year, $12.25 million contract in 1991). It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out that Merrill could have waited until later in his career to sign an extension and gotten significantly more. Or he could have played out his arbitration years and signed a huge free agent contract. He chose to sign early, stating his desire to play in San Diego for the rest of his career and stating how grateful he was for the faith that Preller and the Padres had in him.

Merrill is a unicorn in modern baseball. While playing for one team for an entire career is rare, there is a chance Padres fans could see that with Merrill. He will be 33 if he plays out the entire contract. There could definitely be much more for him to do after that, but let’s hope that he has great success as a Padre for many years to come and finishes here, in San Diego, as he wishes.

I think Tony Gwynn would approve.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-diego-padres-analysis-commentary/52745/the-padres-unicorn

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Gavin Sheets could have bigger role in ‘26; Jackson Merrill should be commended for his commitment

Gavin Sheets was given the opportunity to make the San Diego Padres roster in Spring Training last season, and he took full advantage of it. He quickly become a fan favorite and chants of “Holy Sheets!” could be heard throughout Petco Park during his at-bats. Sheets even earned himself the nickname “Dairy Bonds” thanks some timely and powerful homeruns. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks at what Sheets has done since becoming a member of the Padres and what he can do during the 2026 season to build on the success of last season.

Padres News:

• Centerfielder Jackson Merrill signed a nine-year extension with the Padres early in the 2025 season. Some baseball pundits thought he sold himself short by excepting what was by all accounts a team-friendly contract, but Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball talks about how Merrill wants to be in San Diego, much like Mr. Padre.
• Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball covers detail about the oblique injury suffered by Sung-Mun Song and provides readers with an idea of what to expect regarding the recovery timeline, rehab process and possible setbacks.
• AJ Cassavell of Padres.com provides his list of the best Padres players by number, which includes former Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy with No. 44. Joe Musgrove still has time to change that, but since he wears 44 because of Peavy it may not happen.
• According to reports, the Padres are one of many teams interested in adding free agent infielder Miguel Andujar to their roster.

Baseball News:

• Recently retired reliever Ryan Pressly was hired by the Minnesota Twins for a player development role.
• The Atlanta Braves responded to the injury to shortstop Ha-Seong Kim by signing Jorge Mateo to a one-year deal.
• MLB.com provides a rundown of the latest news and notes regarding the top seven remaining free agents, including Cody Bellinger and Framber Valdez.
• Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts confirmed reports that 2032 will be his last season.
• Could the Boston Red Sox look to trade Masataka Yoshida?

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...errill-should-be-commended-for-his-commitment

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Mike Shildt told people close to him in middle of 2025 season he was considering pivot at end of year

Former San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt was quoted at length in a story by Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post. Shildt tries to articulate why he walked away from his managerial job in San Diego and why it seemed that he so quickly transitioned into his new role in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Bob Melvin, who held the manager position with the Padres prior to Shildt, talked about how he looked across the field and longed to be in the dugout with the San Francisco Giants and it seems that Shildt was also looking for more as early as the middle of the 2025 season.

Padres News:

• Randy Vasquez has increased his numbers in each of his first two seasons with the San Diego Padres. He has been used more as a sixth man in the rotation during that time, but free agency and injuries have resulted in Vasquez getting a chance to play a significant role in the Padres’ rotation in 2026. He needs to show manager Craig Stammen and pitching coach Ruben Niebla that he is ready to take earn the spot and handle the challenge that comes from the pressure of being a starter in MLB.

Baseball News:

• Ha-Seong Kim, who signed a one-year, $20 million deal to play shortstop for the Atlanta Braves, will miss four to five months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his hand. According to reports, Kim suffered the injury after falling on ice.
• Former starter turned reliever Jakob Junis signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Texas Rangers that has a mutual option for 2027.
• The Boston Red Sox missed on free agent catchers J.T. Realmuto and Victor Caratini, but are reportedly still looking for ways to improve the catching position in Boston.
• Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan have each been rumored in various trades throughout the offseason. The Kansas City Royals are apparently no longer pursuing either player and a move for either one is considered “increasingly unlikely.”
• The Cardinals have spent much of the offseason trading away pieces of their team but according to president of baseball operation Chaim Bloom, the team could add a right-handed outfielder. Seems odd considering St. Louis traded away Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado who were both right-handed hitters.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...eason-he-was-considering-pivot-at-end-of-year

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres need to upgrade backup catcher position

The San Diego Padres’ main focus has been revamping the starting rotation this offseason. But the start of Spring Training is less than a month away, and their efforts should turn to upgrading the backup catcher position.

Campusano is not the answer​

Currently, Luis Campusano is the lone option behind starter Freddy Fermin. The Padres have little confidence in him, as Campusano has always been a lazy defender behind the dish, and his minor league hitting prowess has never translated at the major league level.

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But the clock is ticking on Campusano’s time with the organization, as the Friars have no more minor league options remaining for him. So, he either begins the 2026 season on the big league roster, or Campusano must be designated for assignment.

It was not too long ago that he was the top prospect of the Padres’ minor league system. But his production in the majors (0-21 in 2025) has been disappointing. However, it is not impossible to see him reach his potential this season. Late bloomers are a common thread in baseball today.

Who is available on the backup catcher’s market​

With the Friars turning their attention to upgrading the backup catcher position, no one should expect that player to supplant Fermin as the starter. He has been outstanding since the Friars acquired him from the Kansas City Royals at last summer’s trade deadline.

In 42 games with the Brown & Gold, Fermin batted .244 with two home runs and 14 RBI, while quickly becoming a calming presence for the pitching staff. He learned what each pitcher does best and allowed them to succeed in their moment on the mound.

If the Padres add another experienced catcher to the mix, it is because they want to keep Fermin fresh for an entire season. Giving him a lighter workload allows Fermin to remain an effective contributor deep into the dog days of summer. The Friars cannot afford a fall-off in production.

You would expect the organization to bring other backup candidates to Peoria on minor league deals. However, finding a suitable replacement has not been easy. Still, the Friars have been linked to several catchers, notably Christian Vasquez, Reese McGuire, and Gary Sanchez.

Each adds a veteran presence to the clubhouse. Vasquez and McGuire are known as defensive specialists who call a good game. Sanchez may not have the glove, but he does offer a proven power-hitting commodity off the bench.

The front office will not consider top catching prospect Ethan Salas to start the season in the backup role. Injuries have caused him to miss significant time since signing with the Padres. Salas needs more seasoning in the minors before any thought of him receiving a major league promotion.

The Friars need to upgrade their depth at the catcher’s position. However, the market is currently thin, as no one is willing to commit to one another.

However, that could change heading into the final weeks before the start of Spring Training. Expect the Padres to make a move soon.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...adres-need-to-upgrade-backup-catcher-position

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey: Take your pick of three free agent starters

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

The worst kept secret of the offseason is the San Diego Padres do not want to add significant money to their payroll. Reports surfaced after Nolan Arenado was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Arizona Diamondbacks the Padres were involved in the trade discussions for the third baseman, but they wanted the Cardinals to pay more of Arenado’s salary. The Diamondbacks will pay him $11 million for the next two seasons.

It was recently reported that San Diego president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller was considering additions to his roster but was not ready to make a move. At the time the thought was Preller was waiting for the asking prices of free agents to drop and/or he needed to trade away some of the money already on the roster to create financial flexibility. We may never know what he was waiting for, but we can speculate.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported earlier this week that some potential free agent pitchers the Padres might target are Lucas Giolito, Nick Martinez or Justin Verlander. An addition of one of those players is not going to send the Friar Faithful into a frenzy, but it may be all we have to look forward to.

Lucas Giolito

Giolito is a 6-6, 245-pound 31-year-old right-hander from Southern California. Maybe he wants to return home and pitch close to family and friends in San Diego. He spent the 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox and pitched in 26 games, finishing with a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA over 145.0 innings. Giolito spent the bulk of his major league career with the Chicago White Sox and holds a career 4.30 ERA. It should ne noted that Giolito did not pitch in 2024 because he had surgery to repair his right elbow ulnar collateral ligament in March of that year.

Nick Martinez

Padres fans are very familiar with Martinez, 35, and what he can bring to the rotation. He spent two years in San Diego in 2022 and 2023 before signing with the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent. He spent 2024 and 2025 with the Reds and threw 165.2 innings. He appeared in 40 games and 26 of those were starts. Martinez finished 11-14 with a 4.45 ERA. Preller does not typically bring former players back, unless it’s in a front office or coaching role as we have seen with manager Craig Stammen or developmental coach Wil Myers, but considering the need for pitching he might make an exception with Martinez.

Justin Verlander

Verlander and his career speaks for itself. He is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and despite being 42 years old, he still wants to pitch and keeps getting opportunities. Verlander spent 2025 with the San Francisco Giants and started 29 games. He finished with a 3.85 ERA over 152.0 innings, but his final record of 4-11 was not what you expect from a player of his stature. Of course, wins and losses are not solely on the pitcher, so perhaps a season in San Diego with a solid defense behind him would flip the record.

If we are to believe the reporting of Rosenthal, which I will admit is difficult to do due to his constant praise for the Los Angeles Dodgers and his unconfirmed disdain for the Padres, which one of Giolito, Martinez or Verlander would you, the readers of Gaslamp Ball, want San Diego to sign?

Results of the poll will be published later this week.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...y-take-your-pick-of-three-free-agent-starters

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres need to solidify backup catcher role; free agent pitching options remain for A.J. Preller

The San Diego Padres and catcher Luis Campusano may be in the final weeks and months of their relationship. It also could be extended into the season if Campusano can put together a solid showing in Spring Training that earns him a spot on the Padres’ roster. Freddy Fermin will handle the catching duties as the primary catcher in San Diego, but Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball says president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller should look at adding another catcher to the mix to create some depth at the very least or perhaps solidify the backup role.

Padres News:

• A report from Ken Rosenthal in The Athletic earlier this week named pitchers Lucas Giolito, Nick Martinez and Justin Verlander as possible free agent targets for the Padres. Gaslamp Ball asked its readers which of the three right-handers they would add to the rotation in this week’s Padres Reacts Survey.
• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune provides the list of player development and minor league coaching assignments that were announced by the organization, Wednesday. Sanders also set his sights on Joe Musgrove, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, for his ongoing review of the San Diego roster.
• Preller has spent the last couple seasons trading away much of his farm system. The depleted system is highlighted with the fact that catcher Ethan Salas is the only Padres prospect to make Baseball America’s top-100 list.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. was named the No. 15 player on MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now list.

Baseball News:

• For the second time in as many days the New York Mets completed a headline trade. The Mets and Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a trade to send ace pitcher Freddy Peralta and pitcher Tobias Myers from Milwaukee to New York in exchange for infield/outfield prospect Jett Williams and pitching prospect Brandon Sproat. The Mets also made a free agent signing, adding reliever Luis Garcia on a one-year deal.
• Cody Bellinger and the New York Yankees finally reached common ground and the top remaining free agent position player agreed to a five-year, $162.5 million deal to bring him back to New York.
• Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette and Ranger Suarez were introduced as new members of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mets and Boston Red Sox, respectively, Wednesday.
• The Red Sox made a trade with the Minnesota Twins to add minor league catcher Nate Baez in exchange for infielder Tristan Gray.
• Free agent Yoan Moncado and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year deal that will bring him back to Los Angeles for the 2026 season.
• Game times for World Baseball Classic and Spring Breakout were released, Wednesday.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...agent-pitching-options-remain-for-a-j-preller

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Jake Cronenworth remains in San Diego, but his role in 2026 is unknown

Jake Cronenworth has been talked about as a potential trade piece for the past couple of seasons. He has value in that he can play multiple positions and is steady at the plate. For now, Cronenworth is projected to be the second baseman for the San Diego Padres on opening day although that could change in the coming weeks. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks at Cronenworth and what he can bring to the 2026 team as part of his ongoing Padres roster review.

Baseball News:

• MacKenzie Gore is moving to Arlington to become a member of the Texas Rangers after the Washington Nationals traded their ace pitcher for five minor league prospects.
• Reliever Taylor Rogers and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a one-year deal. The Twins also sent utility infielder Vidal Brujan to the New York Mets in exchange for cash considerations. In a corresponding move the Mets designated reliever Richard Lovelady for assignment.
• A day after agreeing to terms with Cody Bellinger, the New York Yankees made another addition claiming Marco Luciano off waivers.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...san-diego-could-play-significant-role-in-2026

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Reunion with Padres allows Bud Black, Wil Myers to have second chance to achieve ultimate goal with organization

Bud Black and Wil Myers returned to the San Diego Padres organization last week and each will serve a role in helping the Padres reach the ultimate goal of winning a World Series. Black will serve in a front office role and Myers will serve in a coaching role at the lower levels of the organization. The unique perspective Black and Myers have from their own careers in MLB is part of what allows them to also have a unique perspective of the Padres according to AJ Cassavell of Padres.com. Black and Myers have been in San Diego for some of the down times, and the hope is that both will be back for the ultimate high.

Padres News:

• Randy Vasquez has been the center of attention in many of the Padres pitching rotation projections throughout the offseason. Some fans think he can be a key figure in the rotation, while others think he should remain a back of the rotation pitcher at best. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks at what the 2026 season could look like for the right-hander.
• Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says the Padres are still looking to make additions to their roster. Some of the free agents he lists as possible targets are pitchers Lucas Giolito, Nick Martinez or Justin Verlander. Rosenthal also stated the Padres are one of the many teams talking to the Milwaukee Brewers about trading for ace pitcher Freddy Peralta.

Baseball News:

• Centerfielders Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were selected as the newest members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the baseball writers. The full results of the voting can be found here.
• The last big-name position player Cody Bellinger may be nearing a decision about where he will play in the 2026 season. That will likely not be in New York as a member of the Mets after the team traded for outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox late Tuesday night.
• Evan Drellich of The Athletic is reporting the owners are “raging” at the free agent deal Kyle Tucker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and added that the owners will “100 percent” push for a salary cap. Drellich added that the Dodgers and Mets might be the only teams that would oppose a cap.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ce-to-achieve-ultimate-goal-with-organization

 

[San Diego Padres]

Is the Joon Lee report for real?

Rob Manfred

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ signing of Kyle Tucker for four years, $240 million caused an uproar in baseball last week. The outrageous overpay triggered many around the game to say enough is enough. With the coming end to the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, negotiations for a new agreement will probably begin this spring. It has already been a volatile and public debate between all the parties with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and MLBPA head Tony Clark both dropping test balloons in the media.

The outrage regarding the Dodgers’ ability to spend unlimited amounts of money on payroll has been on the rise since the Shohei Ohtani deal. But the Tucker contract appears to have been the final straw for many. Although almost all quarters of the game agree that a lockout is inevitable on Dec. 1 of this year, how long that lasts and what the new contract looks like almost no one agrees on.

With the offseason winding down and Spring Training around the corner, baseball execs and players will start meeting soon to lay the groundwork for what their demands and strategies will entail. With baseball enjoying a huge uptick in popularity over the past few years, it remains to be seen if the two sides can look past their differences and find common ground in order to keep their game on the field.

Sports journalist Joon Lee took this opportunity to once again address a common theme being discussed in the lead up to the negotiations. Are the Dodgers responsible for breaking baseball?

Here is the video of his report regarding the unique advantage he believes the Dodgers have in just their media revenue and how that has taken them from being bankrupt and sold in 2012 to being the organization that can have whatever payroll they want in present day.

When this story first broke in 2012, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times posted an article (taken from a Bloomberg piece) outlining the deal as he understood it (requires subscription). There were multiple other outlets that reported on the story with the synopsis being that the bankruptcy settlement negotiated with team for sale allowed the organization to pay less in revenue-sharing for their media deal than the 29 other teams. The goal was to allow them more money to be able to recover from the bankruptcy. It was negotiated before the media deal and went for the length of whatever deal they signed.

According to an article just published in EssentiallySports by Disita Sikdar, the deal meant that the team would never have to report more than $84 million in media revenue, with a four percent yearly escalator. With the deal the team eventually signed with Spectrum, the Dodgers deal is worth $8.35 billion over the 25 years of the contract. It works out to $334 million per year.

The Vice President of MLB at the time was Manfred. He stated that the information was incorrect and the Dodgers would be paying the same amount in revenue-sharing as all the other teams. The direct contradiction was partially addressed by Maury Brown in his article for Baseball Prospectus in October of 2012.

Focus on this out of the Bloomberg piece: the Dodgers are going to pay revenue-sharing on every penny that comes into their coffers through media rights. They wouldn’t, however, have to pay revenue-sharing on any equity should they start an RSN with a partner such as FOX or TWC. Consider this “proliferation” — another big-market, storied franchise being able to move money from one hand to the other. After all, the Yankees and Red Sox have been doing it for years.

The Dodgers formed a partnership with Spectrum and are co-owners of their regional sports network. This makes the situation more complicated than I can figure out with my limited understanding of partnerships and finance. Brown acknowledges that the Dodgers likely have an unfair advantage. This article was written before the media deal was set.

If any of Lee’s report is true, it just adds more flame to the fire that many in baseball already have raging. The system is definitely broken, with the Dodgers having more resources than any other team, and flaunting it. Can the league and the players find common ground to begin fixing what needs to be addressed?

Will there be a salary cap and a salary floor? Does revenue-sharing need to be revamped to reflect the disparity in media rights and revenue from the media contracts or lack thereof?

The future of the Padres rests not just with these issues but also with the sale of the team. It seems reasonable that we might not have a new owner until some of these questions are answered.

The big brother to the north doesn’t seem to care about the penalties they have to pay for breaking the rules regarding their spending and payroll. They forfeit money, draft picks and international signing bonus pool cash because of their payroll. The current estimate for 2026 sits at $413-$429 million. No one else even comes close.

The bigger picture is about the health of the sport. Something has to be done.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp-ball-staff-editorials/52809/is-the-joon-lee-report-for-real

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Do Dodgers have secret advantage?; Randy Jones celebration of life to be held today

Sportswriter Joon Lee recently posted a video to YouTube where he tries to shed light on why the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to have an endless stream of money with which to pay the top players in the game. The back-to-back World Series Champions made waves in MLB with the signing of free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million contract. Chari Bell of Gaslamp Ball documents what Lee says is a major disparity in favor of the Dodgers that is not available to the 29 other MLB teams.

Padres News:

• Randy Jones was a legendary pitcher for the Padres, but he may be most remembered for being an ambassador for San Diego. He could often be found around Petco Park meeting fans and promoting the Padres and the game of baseball. Jones died this offseason and the Padres will hold a celebration of life for him at Petco Park today for fans to pay their respects.
• Padres fans watched the season come to an end for one of the dominant relievers in the San Diego bullpen when Jason Adam ruptured his quadriceps and feel on the front of the mound. Adam’s recovery and rehabilitation by all accounts have been going well and his return in 2026 will be much anticipated.
• AJ Cassavell of Padres.com looks at the Padres’ history of having dominant closers, adding three are Hall of Famers, one won a Cy Young Award, and many were All-Stars.
• Dennis Lin of The Athletic breaks down the numbers and makes a case for Manny Machado becoming a Hall of Famer by the time his career comes to an end. Lin notes Machado is owed $301 million over the next eight seasons, so the end is not near, which means Machado has plenty of time to continue to add to his resume.

Baseball News:

• Free agent pitcher Max Scherzer says he is not going to rush his decision on where he will sign. It was also noted that Scherzer may wait until after Opening Day to choose his team.
• The top two remaining free agent hitters according to MLB.com are Eugenio Suarez and Luis Arraez and they have completely different approaches at the plate.
• The New York Yankees finally agreed to a new contract with Cody Bellinger, but that may not be the last free agent deal they make this offseason. The also Yankees claimed outfielder Michael Siani off waivers from the Dodgers.
• Seranthony Dominguez and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal.
• The Seattle Mariners acquired right-handed pitcher Cooper Criswell from the New York Mets for cash considerations.
• The San Francisco Giants made a push to land C.J. Abrams from the Washington Nationals, but the teams were unable to reach an agreement for the talented shortstop.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...dy-jones-celebration-of-life-to-be-held-today

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Yu Darvish contemplating retirement; Padres to wear patch in honor of Randy Jones

As the 2026 MLB season draws near, various projections have started to come out about where the San Diego Padres will finish as a team, and some sites have gone on to predict how individual players will finish their season. These projections are a lot like weather models. There are formulas and trends that are taken into consideration and while sometimes these projections come to pass, nothing is certain. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball provides an explanation of how the projections are made and what those projections look like for the Padres.

Padres News:

• Padres CEO Erik Greupner announced at the celebration of life ceremony for Padres Hall of Famer Randy Jones that the 2026 team will wear a “35” patch on their uniforms to honor the late Cy Young Award winner. Current players, former teammates and fans filled Petco Park Saturday to pay their respects to Jones.
• Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday that Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, who will miss the 2026 season recovering from offseason surgery, was planning to retire and forfeit the remaining years and money on his contract. Since Acee filed the report, Darvish and his agent, Joe Wolfe, responded on X stating the report was not accurate and that he had not made a formal decision. Sonja Chen of MLB.com is reporting that Darvish is “leaning towards” voiding what is left of his contract, but the previous report was premature. Dennis Lin of The Athletic is reporting that the final details of a potential Darvish retirement have yet to be decided.
• The Padres added infielder Samad Taylor on a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training.

Baseball News:

• Longtime closer Craig Kimbrel agreed to a minor league deal with the New York Mets with an invitation to Spring Training.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have made it known they are open to resigning outfielder Andrew McCutchen.
• The Cleveland Guardians and third baseman Jose Ramirez agreed to a contract extension that adds $106 million to his current deal and will keep him in Cleveland through 2032.
• Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reported he believes there are teams that can beat the Los Angeles Dodgers and he listed his top five candidates as the Mets, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...-padres-to-wear-patch-in-honor-of-randy-jones

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey Results: Gaslamp Ball readers would take Lucas Giolito over Nick Martinez, Justin Verlander

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

The Friar Faithful have been waiting for news of a signing to breathe some life to this offseason that has been crawling to an end, but what they got Saturday was a report from Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune that pitcher Yu Darvish was ready to retire and walk away from the three years and $43 million remaining on his contract. Since that report, Darvish himself has denied on X that anything is finalized and that he is not announcing his retirement.

You may have seen an article, and although I am leaning towards voiding the contract, there’s still a lot that has to be talked over with the Padres so the finer details are yet to be decided.
Also I will not be announcing my retirement yet.
Right now I am fully focused on my…

— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) January 24, 2026

If the Acee report did come to pass at some point this offseason, it might create some of the financial flexibility the San Diego Padres and president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller have been looking for. The money saved from a Darvish retirement even with a potential buyout could allow Preller to chase bigger free agents.

As it stands, the Padres are a team that has reportedly been in a financial crunch over the past two offseasons and that appears to be the case based on the limited number of major league contracts signed and the bevy of minor league contracts that have been doled out this offseason. Many of those contracts come with invites to Spring Training and based on the success of Gavin Sheets from a season ago, it appears Preller is looking for another player to have a strong spring to make the MLB roster.

The money the Padres do have to spend would be best spent addressing their rotation needs and that sentiment is shared throughout much of the MLB and fan communities. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported earlier this week that the financial constraints of the Padres have them looking at more mid- to lower-tiered arms. He listed Lucas Giolito, Nick Martinez and Justin Verlander as potential free agent targets for San Diego. Gaslamp Ball asked readers to decide which of the three pitchers they would want in the Padres’ rotation in 2026.

It was not a shock to see the overwhelming majority of those who took part in the poll wanted the Padres to bring in Giolito. He is the youngest of the group at 31 years old and spent last year with the Boston Red Sox, after missing the 2024 season recovering and rehabbing from elbow surgery, which probably has some fans thinking Giolito could be a Nick Pivetta 2.0. Pivetta pitched in Boston prior to coming to San Diego and he was the best pitcher in the starting rotation for the Padres in 2026. Could Giolito have similar success under the tutelage of San Diego pitching coach Ruben Niebla? The Friar Faithful seem to be willing to give it a chance.

Martinez has been in San Diego, he is well-known to Padres fans, and he seemed to be well-liked in the clubhouse. Preller does not often bring players back to San Diego who have left and gone on to play in another city, but that does not mean he is out on Martinez. It just seems that his return is highly unlikely, and the fans seem to want that to be the case as well.

Verlander is going to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame when he is eligible for induction, and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would dispute that. San Diego fans seem to think his best years are behind him and that the Padres could or should do better if they are going to spend on a free agent pitcher. Verlander had a good season, statistically speaking, in San Francisco last year with the Giants, but his win/loss record left a lot to be desired, and he is a 42-year-old with a lot of wear-and-tear on his arm.

There are some fans who did not like any of the options suggested by Rosenthal and used in this poll and that is to be expected. You always want your team to find and sign the best players because it gives your team the best opportunity to compete and win. No one wants to shop in the proverbial bargain bin, but sometimes we have to get the best of what is available and for the Padres and their fans, that appears to be Giolito.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...s-giolito-over-nick-martinez-justin-verlander

 

[San Diego Padres]

The 2026 projections are in for Padres

It’s a good thing the baseball season is still two months away. San Diego Padres president of baseball operations/general manager A.J. Preller has plenty of time to upgrade the roster before the start of the new season. It could be a problem if he doesn’t make the needed improvements before March 26, Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers.

With the roster still missing a 1B/DH and at least one starting pitcher, the projections for 2026 are not favorable, according to certain projections.

There are two different projections found on the FanGraphs pages. The Steamer projections are the work of Jared Cross, Dash Davidson and Peter Rosenbloom. The definition from MLB:

Steamer uses past performance and aging trends to develop a future projection for players. It also uses pitch-tracking data to help forecast pitchers. On Fangraphs, the projections are updated daily and predict each player’s numbers over the course of the remainder of the season.

These are the objective evaluations that are available to fans and media alike.

There is another system published on FanGraphs, the ZiPS projections developed by Dave Zymborski. The Zymborski Projection System (ZiPS) is not based on human evaluation but an algorithm developed by Zymborski.

ZiPS uses growth and decline curves based on player type to find trends. It then factors those trends into the past performance of those players to come up with projections. The system uses statistics from the previous four years for players from ages 24-38, and it weights more recent seasons heavier. For younger or older players, it uses weighted statistics from only the previous three years. The system also factors velocities, injury data and play-by-play data into its equations.

These two systems can differ significantly at times. The projections begin with a preseason posting of stats for all players and teams and are updated as the season goes along, based on performance.

As of now, the Padres are projected to have a .496 winning percentage from Steamer. ZiPS is more optimistic, with a high 80s to 90-win season. They would only have 80 wins based on the Steamer numbers after removing the players that have left the team. With Michael King being the only significant returning player, the Padres rotation does not measure up as a playoff team, according to those Steamer numbers.

Both Steamers and ZiPS uses WAR as the final tool to measure a player’s value. Specific stats are also included in the projection but the overall evaluation is expressed in WAR (Wins Above Replacement). For pitchers, their ERA and WAR is the overall valuation tool as well as games pitched and innings pitched.

The Padres bullpen is already acknowledged as one of the best, if not the best, in baseball. With the rotation and lineup being the factors still in flux, I limited my research to those areas.

Offense

For the 2025 season, Fernando Tatis Jr. topped the team with a fWAR of 6.1 (FanGraphs stat). The next closest Padre was Manny Machado at 3.8 WAR. Xander Bogaerts came in at 3.2 and Jackson Merrill at 3.0. Jake Cronenworth had a 2.9 WAR but then the WAR fell off significantly to Gavin Sheets at 1.3. Ramon Laureano played only 50 games with the Padres so his WAR only reflected those games. He had a 6.0 offensive WAR but his defense brought his overall down to 0.7. All other Padres were under 1.0.

For reference, 1-2 is considered below average. 2.0 is an average player with 2-3 being a good player. 3-4 is considered All-Star level and 4-5 is a superstar. 6 or 6-plus is an MVP candidate-type player.

With the season that Tatis Jr. had offensively, the majority of his WAR was accumulated defensively as his offense was good but not MVP level.

Pitchers WAR

For the starting pitchers, Nick Pivetta topped out at 3.7 WAR and Dylan Cease had a 3.4. They were the only two starters above 1.0 in WAR in 2025.

Projections: Offense

Here are some of the numbers projected for the Padres players for 2026. I’m listing both Steamers and ZiPS for comparison and listing other notable stats projected with their WAR.

Fernando Tatis Jr. has a projected 4.9 with ZiPS and 5.1 with Steamers. He has a similar batting average projected with both (.275 with Steamers and .265 with ZiPS). He is projected to hit 30 (Steamers) or 26 (ZiPS) homers with 80 (Z) or 78 (Z) RBI.

Manny Machado has a projected 3.2 WAR (Z) or 3.3 (S) and a batting average of .258 (Z) and .268 (S). They believe his home run totals will drop again in 2026 to 23 (Z) and 26 (S) with 84 (Z) and 85 (S) RBI.

Jackson Merrill is projected to take a significant step up, undoubtedly presuming that he will have better health in the coming season. His WAR increases to 4.3 (Z) and 4.1 (S) with a .270 (Z) or .269 (S) batting average. His home run total is 20 (Z) and 23 (S) with 75 (Z) and 77 (S) RBI.

Xander Bogaerts has a 3.3 WAR (Z) versus a 2.9 (S) with a batting average of .259 (Z) and .270 (S). He is projected to hit 10 (Z) and 13 (S) homers with 52 (Z) and 57 (S) RBI.

Jake Cronenworth is also projected to take a step down from his 2025 season. His WAR is projected to be 2.0 (Z) and 1.6 (S) with his batting average dropping to .233 (Z) and .236 (S). With his home run 12 (Z) and 13 (S) numbers and his RBI 55 (Z) and 56 (S) numbers also similar. His drop would be due to an assumed decrease in his on base ability or his defense dipping.

Ramon Laureano, in his first full season with the Padres, is projected to have a 2.2 (Z) and 1.2 (S) WAR with a .242 (Z) and .243 (S) average. He is projected to hit 17 homers in both with 58 (Z) and 57 (S) RBI.

Projections: Starters

None of the Padres starters are projected to have an ERA below 3.55, with Michael King projected to have 22 games pitched and 119 innings to achieve that ERA with a 2.2 WAR. Nick Pivetta has a projected 26 games started and 156 innings pitched with a 3.87 ERA and 2.3 WAR. He is obviously not viewed as being able to replicate his 2025 success.

Joe Musgrove is viewed conservatively in his first season back after UCL surgery. He projects to 16 starts and 91 innings with a 3.87 ERA and 1.4 WAR. JP Sears is seen with a 4.0 ERA in 28 games started and 144 innings pitched and a 0.8 WAR. Randy Vasquez brings up the rear with a 4.68 ERA in 25 starts and 125 innings pitched and a 0.7 WAR.

Any significant upgrade to the roster will improve the overall team projections but it will be up to the players to outperform their individual projections.

With most of the major free agents in MLB now off the board, it could be a good time to sign the mid-tier players that Preller would presumably be aiming to target. A quality bat and mid-rotation starter is just what is needed to improve the overall projections.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die.../52820/the-2026-projections-are-in-for-padres

 

[San Diego Padres]

Ethan Salas sees his stock, rankings fall in Keith Law’s 2026 Top 100 MLB prospects list

Ethan Salas plummeted 53 spots on Keith Law’s 2026 Top 100 MLB prospects list that was released by The Athletic, Monday. The 19-year-old catching prospect from Venezuela was the only San Diego Padres prospect to make the list, which is reflective of just how depleted the San Diego farm system is. Salas was the 17th ranked prospect on Law’s list last year, but a back injury caused him to miss most of the 2025 season. Law cited the injury and lack of looks as the reason for his decline, adding he is not giving up on the prospect.

Salas signed with the Padres as the top international free agent in 2023 and was projected to be the next big-name catcher based on his age (16) and defensive ability. Defense has never been a problem for Salas, although some think his value behind the plate will drop with the advent of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) in 2026. It has been his offensive production that has raised concerns.

Salas played at three levels of professional baseball in 2023 with the Single-A Lake Elsinore Storm, High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps and Double-A San Antonio Missions and compiled 290 plate appearances in 66 games. His ascent through the minors was aggressive and the thought at the time was the Padres wanted to challenge Salas and see how he would handle the higher level of play. He finished with a combined slash line of .248/.331/.421 with 63 hits, including 13 doubles, two triples and nine home runs for the year. Since that time, his offensive production has fallen off.

Salas spent the 2024 season in High-A Fort Wayne and made 469 plate appearances in 111 games. His final line was .206/.288/.311 with 85 hits, including 27 doubles, two triples and four home runs. The expectation was with more time at the lower level Salas would find comfort at the plate and develop offensive consistency that would allow him to continue his progression through the minors at a more realistic pace.

Despite a down offensive year in High-A, Salas started the 2025 season in San Antonio with the Double-A affiliate. He played in just 10 games and made 41 plate appearances before it was announced in May that he suffered a stress reaction in his lower back in the middle of April. Initially, Salas was expected to miss a couple months, but he did not play the remainder of the season. Salas finished with a slash line of .188/.325/.219 and recorded six hits with one double, no triples and no homeruns before the injury.

Based on the performance or lack thereof by Salas, it makes sense that he would have a dramatic fall in the prospect rankings. Salas is expected to be ready for Spring Training, and a healthy season could go a long way toward him re-establishing his value and surely that is what Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller is hoping for. If Padres evaluations say Salas is not going to achieve the potential he had when he signed with San Diego, Preller could use a bounce-back season from him to move Salas in a trade that would improve the big-league roster for the second half of 2026 or 2027.

He is still a teenager and Padres fans would hate to see Preller and the organization give up on the former top prospect too soon, but Salas may no longer be the untouchable farmhand destined for stardom that he once was. By the time all is said and done, he may just be another prospect who is moved in a Preller deal.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/minors/...in-keith-laws-2026-top-100-mlb-prospects-list

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres prospects have something to prove; Padres promotional schedule announced for 2026

It has not been a fun time to be a prospect in the San Diego Padres farm system. For most of the position players, places to play are getting harder to find with multiple MLB players signed to play those positions at the major league level for years to come. Position player prospects may not even bother unpacking because Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller uses them to add other players to the MLB roster. For the prospects who do not get traded, Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball found they are left to make up one of the worst farm systems in baseball according to various prospect rankings. The best prospect among them at least on some lists, is catcher Ethan Salas who has seen his stock drop since missing all but 10 games of the 2025 season. The 2026 season is fast approaching with Spring Training just around the corner. Perhaps it will over an opportunity for some young players who might be overlooked or underrated to show their potential.

Padres News:

• The Padres announced their promotional schedule for the 2026 season, which features scarves, bobbleheads, ponchos and more to entice fans to come out to Petco Park to watch their hometown team.
• Jaff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune continued his Padres roster review looking at reliever Jeremiah Estrada. The Chicago Cubs castoff has found his home in the San Diego bullpen and he has become and integral part of the best ‘pen in the game.

Baseball News:

• Free agent outfielder Harrison Bader and the San Francisco Giants reportedly agreed to a two-year contract that will bring him to the NL West.
• Framber Valdez remains the best remaining free agent pitcher and many believe he will end up with the Baltimore Orioles. Eugenio Suarez and Luis Arraez are two of the top position players left, but Suarez has not seen a ton of interest and Arraez has had essentially no interest at all. Time is running out for free agents to sign with teams if they don’t want to delay the starts to their seasons as Spring Training is just a few weeks away.
• Joe Ryan has been discussed as a possible trade candidate for several teams this offseason. He and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a contract to avoid arbitration, which could keep him in Minnesota for 2026.
• Japan named eight players to its World Baseball Classic roster and the top among those names were Shohei Ohtani and his Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
• Nolan Arenado, who was recently traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks from the St. Louis Cardinals, will play for Puerto Rico in the WBC.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...adres-promotional-schedule-announced-for-2026