SAN DIEGO -- After a week filled with roster decisions, the Padres’ offseason needs have come squarely into focus.
San Diego spent the past five days making a number of key decisions on players with options, while a handful of their potential free agents made option decisions of their own. The key results?
Michael King and Nick Pivetta are now free agents. Three important left-handers are returning to the bullpen -- but Adrian Morejon is not one of them. (He still could be, but is not yet, at least.) Meanwhile, Morejon was extended a qualifying offer, while Ty France was not, meaning only Morejon would be tied to Draft pick compensation if he were to sign elsewhere.
Here’s what it all means:
1. The rotation was always the top priority -- but even more so now
The Padres entered the winter knowing they would need to address their rotation. That was before King opted out of the two years remaining on his deal and before the team declined Pivetta’s option for 2027 (which would have come with a ‘28 player option for Pivetta, as well).
Also gone to free agency are Walker Buehler, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize, Lucas Giolito and Griffin Canning. That’s basically a full rotation’s worth of starters hitting the open market. Preller took the optimistic view of those departures during his end-of-season press conference last month:
“We have a little bit of a blank canvas and have some flexibility,” he said. “I think we see that as an opportunity.”
The canvas isn’t entirely blank. But it’s close. Randy Vásquez is the only surefire returning rotation arm. There are questions about Joe Musgrove’s role after his return from Tommy John surgery. Yu Darvish’s future remains unclear. Jhony Brito and JP Sears made brief cameos last season, but both spent most of the year in the Minors. Luis Gutierrez was selected to the 40-man roster on Monday but has yet to appear in the big leagues.
There’s a case to be made that if you’re ranking the Padres’ offseason priorities, “starting pitcher” would rank first, second and third. (To that end, King, Pivetta and Buehler have all expressed interest in a return, but it’s unclear what their markets will look like in free agency.)
2. The bullpen is solid depth wise, but it needs another back-end type arm
The Padres can feel reasonably comfortable in the depth of their bullpen. Yuki Matsui took a major step forward this season. During the second half, Kyle Hart did the same. They’re both back on board for 2027.
Meanwhile, Bradgley Rodriguez, Jeremiah Estrada and David Morgan are all set to return and are candidates to earn high-leverage innings. All three bring intriguing upside, with Estrada as perhaps the most proven and Rodriguez seemingly on the brightest trajectory.
Still, there’s at least one setup role to be filled with Morejon and Jason Adam hitting free agency. Clearly, there are internal candidates to fill it. But the Padres will almost certainly be looking to add externally, as well (including looking at the possibility of bringing back Morejon and/or Adam).
3. The Padres probably need two corner bats now
There are far fewer question marks on the San Diego offense than the pitching staff. The core remains solidly intact. But with Ty France set to depart, there’s a vacancy at first base. (France himself remains a candidate to fill that vacancy and has expressed a desire to return.)
But beyond first base, there’s now a clear need for one more corner bat. Miguel Andujar and Austin Hays are now free agents. When Luis Campusano isn’t catching, he’s a strong righty bench bat. But the Padres could use one more of those.
As things stand, Dustin Harris and Samad Taylor are set to make up a platoon in left field. Whether the Padres add a new starting left fielder or stick with that duo and simply add another pinch-hitting option, the needs on offense are now clear at least: a first baseman and at least one more bat.