The San Diego Padres are concluding what seems to be one of the most disappointing offseasons in baseball, but there’s still an opportunity to make a major move that could boost their roster for 2025.
Earlier in the offseason, the Padres identified their main needs as a starting pitcher, catcher, and a corner outfield bat.
In terms of starting pitching, the Padres were hopeful they would win the race for Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki. San Diego was one of the top three finalists, alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. Sasaki’s friendship with Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, plus a viral video of him training at Petco Park just before his decision, led fans to believe he would choose San Diego. However, the 23-year-old ultimately signed with the Dodgers.
There were also expectations that San Diego might re-sign free agent outfielder Jurickson Profar, who ranked fourth in the National League with a .380 on-base percentage. But Profar, the 2024 NL All-Star and Silver Slugger, signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Atlanta Braves.
The Padres also lost catcher Kyle Higashioka, who joined the Texas Rangers on a two-year, $13.5 million contract in early December.
To address their catching needs, the Padres signed Martin Maldonado to a non-roster deal. However, his .119 batting average and .403 OPS with the Chicago White Sox last season raise doubts about his chances of making the major league roster.
Bleacher Report’s Paul Kasabian suggested free agent All-Star catcher James McCann as a possible alternative. McCann hit .234/.279/.388 and made 65 appearances at catcher for the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. But MLB insider Robert Murray reported in December that McCann might be out of San Diego’s price range.
With their limited budget, the Padres are exploring trade options, including starting pitcher Dylan Cease, first baseman Jake Cronenworth, and 2024 NL batting champion Luis Arraez.
Currently, the Padres have Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan listed as their catching options on the MLB depth chart. Campusano, who led the team with 86 appearances behind the plate last season, is expected to be the Padres’ primary catcher unless another addition is made.
Leave a Reply