The San Diego Padres have had a quiet offseason so far, despite coming off a strong regular season in which they won 93 games and secured the top National League Wild Card spot.
Though they fell to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the NLDS, the Padres remain a formidable contender in the National League.
While the team has yet to make significant moves, there’s still time to add reinforcements. Jim Bowden of The Athletic believes the Padres could land right-hander Roki Sasaki.
“Sasaki views Yu Darvish as a mentor, and the Padres veteran guided him during Japan’s championship run in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. For that reason alone, I predict he signs with either the Yankees or San Diego,” Bowden wrote on Monday.
Sasaki, who posted a 10-5 record with a 2.35 ERA across 18 starts for the Chiba Lotte Marines last season, is expected to sign during the international signing period between January 15 and 23. The Japanese right-hander also averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 2024, showcasing both swing-and-miss ability and significant upside.
With Joe Musgrove sidelined for a while, the Padres need to bolster their rotation to keep pace with the Dodgers and the rest of the NL West. Even the Arizona Diamondbacks have strengthened their staff by adding Corbin Burnes, putting pressure on San Diego to respond.
It remains to be seen what the Padres will do next.
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