One area where the San Diego Padres have consistently thrived is their bullpen. While the beginning of last season raised concerns about middle relievers and how to bridge the gap between the starter and closer, a few mid-season adjustments restored the Padres to their familiar position as one of the league’s top bullpens.
As the 2025 season approaches, the Padres remain well-positioned to feature a dominant bullpen. Key names like Robert Suarez, Jeremiah Estrada, and Jason Adam are returning, bringing proven experience and reliability in critical situations. However, this success comes at a cost, as Tanner Scott—one of last season’s standout additions and among the league’s best late-inning arms—is departing San Diego for a lucrative contract elsewhere.
Padres bullpen expected to remain relatively unchanged
The state of the Padres bullpen in 2025 will likely hinge on the assumption that Tanner Scott will not be returning to San Diego. The 30-year-old left-hander, acquired mid-season from the Marlins, made a significant impact in 28 games for the Padres but is reportedly in discussions with other teams. Scott has already met with the New York Mets, who are continuing their aggressive offseason spending after signing Juan Soto.
More concerning for Padres fans, Scott is also exploring the possibility of joining the Los Angeles Dodgers, their NL West rivals. The Dodgers, with considerably more financial flexibility than the Padres, could offer Scott a multi-year deal. Tim Britton of The Athletic projects Scott will land a four-year, $64 million contract. If that happens, the Padres would face a Dodgers bullpen headlined by Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, and Scott—a formidable trio.
Even without Scott, the Padres’ bullpen remains one of the strongest in the league. Jason Adam, who signed a $4.8 million deal to avoid arbitration, is expected to play a key role after an outstanding second half in 2024, where he posted a 1.01 ERA over 27 games. Reliable arms like Robert Suarez and Jeremiah Estrada should continue anchoring the back end, while Adrian Morejon could step into a middle or late-inning role after also avoiding arbitration. However, Wandy Peralta and Yuki Matsui, who struggled in 2024, may face competition for innings.
The Padres also have intriguing options that could step up in 2025. Alek Jacob, a 2021 draft pick out of Gonzaga, showed promise late last season, striking out 19 batters in his first 14.2 MLB innings. Additionally, former Padre Luis Patiño has returned on a minor league deal. Now 25 years old, Patiño spent time with the White Sox and Rays but has battled command issues and a high ERA. If he can rediscover his form, he could provide valuable depth to the bullpen.
While the loss of Tanner Scott would undoubtedly be a blow, the Padres have the pieces to field a competitive and deep bullpen in 2025.
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