Several Padres free agents, including fan favorite Jurickson Profar, are currently available on the market. While the San Diego Padres have had a quiet offseason so far, they will need to make some signings or trades in the coming weeks.
One possible move could involve re-signing Profar. According to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports, a reunion between the Padres and Profar appears likely.
“Profar is a tough player to assess: all the underlying metrics suggest last season’s improvements were legitimate,” Anderson wrote. “At the same time, teams are understandably cautious about breakout seasons at age 31. For those reasons, his most likely outcome always seemed to be returning to the Padres. That said, a team like the Red Sox or Mets—who missed out on Teoscar Hernández—might take a chance on him if they believe he can replicate last year’s success.”
Profar is projected to sign a three-year, $45 million deal. The Padres are trying to balance cutting payroll with adding talent, which presents a challenge. If they can reduce costs in other areas, reuniting with Profar becomes more feasible.
Profar is coming off an impressive season with the Padres, where he slashed .280/.380/.459, hit a career-high 24 home runs, 29 doubles, and stole 10 bases. Beyond his numbers, he brought undeniable energy to the clubhouse during his lone season in San Diego.
Losing Profar would leave a significant gap both on the field and in the clubhouse. However, the Padres have yet to make any major league signings or trades this offseason. One reason for their inactivity might be their focus on Roki Sasaki.
If the Padres sign Sasaki, they would secure a talented starting pitcher at a bargain price, as Sasaki can only sign a minor-league deal due to age restrictions on international free agents. If they don’t land Sasaki, they will still have a spot open in the rotation, which could influence their decisions regarding other free agents like Profar. It seems the Padres are waiting for Sasaki’s decision before finalizing their next moves.
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