1B France, SP Buehler to break camp with Padres

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres' roster picture is coming into focus.

Ty France and Walker Buehler have been informed they've made the team, ahead of potential opt-outs in their Minor League contracts. They will be added to the big league roster ahead of Thursday’s opener against the Tigers at Petco Park.

Buehler will factor into the Padres' season-opening rotation plans. France will serve as a backup in the infield.

Both signed Minor League deals in the early stages of camp, with the Padres looking to bolster their depth. Those deals both featured an invite to big league camp, plus an opt-out before the season if they weren't going to be carried on the big league roster.

One of the best pitchers in baseball across the first five seasons of his career, Buehler hasn’t been the same since his 2022 Tommy John surgery. He’s coming off a season in which he posted a 4.93 ERA between Boston and Philadelphia. But the Padres believe he can still tap into plenty of the things that made him successful earlier in his career -- while potentially altering his pitch mix to be a bit less fastball-heavy.

“He bought into our philosophy and just kind of the overall holistic approach of making him a better pitcher,” said manager Craig Stammen. “Him buying into that so quickly, then seeing success with it over the last couple starts --it made us feel really comfortable with putting him on the team.

Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Randy Vásquez had already secured places in the rotation, leaving one spot available. Germán Márquez, JP Sears and Marco Gonzales are among those vying for that spot, with Márquez as the obvious frontrunner, given that he’s on a big league deal. It also remains possible (but unlikely) that the Padres would begin the year with a four-man rotation, because they have so many off-days in the early part of the calendar. Joe Musgrove (Tommy John surgery), Griffin Canning (left Achilles tear) and Matt Waldron (medical procedure) will start the season on the IL but could be available at some point in April.

France, like Buehler, also finished his spring strong, batting .318 with a .912 OPS. The Padres have plenty of righty-hitting corner bats on board already, having signed Miguel Andujar and Nick Castellanos last month.

But France won the 2025 AL Gold Glove Award, and it's easy to envision him as a defensive replacement at the position. He can also cover some second and third base.

“Ty’s a Gold Glover, so we can put somebody there that’s really comfortable with the position, has done it in the past and has had success with it in the past,” Stammen said. “Then, also, he has the ability to come in late in the game, if we want somebody to pinch-hit and we feel like we’ve got a good matchup, I know he’ll put a good at-bat out there.”

Only one spot remains available on the Padres’ bench, and Bryce Johnson, because of his ability to back up in center field, is a strong favorite.

France’s path to a roster spot got much clearer with utility man Sung-Mun Song slated to open the season on the IL with an oblique strain.

In addition to the opening on the bench and the opening in the rotation, the Padres must settle on the final 2-3 places in their bullpen as well. Their final Cactus League game is Monday, but rosters won’t be set until Thursday morning.