The San Diego Padres have had a rather disappointing offseason so far.
With a constant flow of rumors surrounding free agents, yet no big returns, and several key players heading to the league’s top spenders, Padres fans are left perplexed nearly every day this offseason.
However, there’s optimism that the team may still land a high-profile player. The last time San Diego was considered a frontrunner for a major signing, it was during the drawn-out pursuit of Roki Sasaki, who ultimately chose to join the Los Angeles Dodgers despite a more lucrative offer from the Padres.
It’s important to remember that the Padres aren’t in a rebuilding phase and should not be dismissed as contenders. They were just two runs away from eliminating the Dodgers in the NLDS last season.
Adding another starter to the rotation could be a key move for San Diego, and Andrew Heaney’s postseason experience could make him a strong fit for the team.
According to Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller, Heaney to the Padres is the “most likely scenario” for the 33-year-old, with the Toronto Blue Jays also considered a potential landing spot. Heaney had a somewhat underwhelming 2024 season with the Texas Rangers after their World Series win, posting a 5-14 record and a 4.28 ERA. Despite that, he pitched 160 innings and struck out 159 batters, both his highest totals since 2018.
Heaney still appears to have plenty of potential, making him an intriguing project for pitching coach Ruben Niebla this season.
The Padres need to make more moves, as they seem to be stagnant while other teams are actively reshaping their rosters.
On Friday, they made their first MLB acquisition of the offseason, trading for right-handed pitcher Ron Marinaccio from the Chicago White Sox, who had recently designated him for assignment. While Marinaccio has limited MLB experience, this move could signal the beginning of a more active offseason as spring training approaches.
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