The San Diego Padres need to address left field after Jurickson Profar’s breakout season in 2024. Profar posted impressive numbers, slashing .280/.459/.839 with 24 home runs and 85 RBIs. Replacing that level of production won’t be easy, but the simplest solution seems obvious: re-sign Profar. According to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, that’s exactly what the Padres are expected to do. Anderson predicts Profar will return to San Diego this offseason, while Jon Heyman of the New York Post projects a two-year deal worth $26 million.
“Profar is a tough player to evaluate,” Anderson noted. “The underlying metrics suggest last season’s performance was legitimate, but teams are understandably cautious about breakout seasons at age 31. Still, returning to the Padres always seemed like the likeliest outcome. That said, teams like the Red Sox or Mets, who missed out on Teoscar Hernández, might take a gamble on Profar hoping for a repeat season.”
Despite his stellar 2024 campaign, Profar has never played at that level before, making it unlikely he commands more than $20 million annually. With his recent production and a reasonable price tag, it seems like a no-brainer for the Padres to bring him back for another two or three seasons to complement Fernando Tatis Jr.
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