Grading The 2025 San Diego Padres: Catchers

The San Diego Padres’ catcher carousel in 2025 ended up looking like a patchwork solution: a veteran stopgap in Martín Maldonado, an energetic trade-deadline pickup in Freddy Fermin, a backup with pop in Elias Díaz, and the organization’s former top high-rated prospect, Luis Campusano. Maldonado and Diaz began the season alternating games, replacing last year’s starter Kyle Higashioka, with Campusano playing sparingly and Fermin being added at the deadline. 

Freddy Fermin: Grade: B−
After being acquired at the deadline from Kansas City, Fermin delivered the type of steady, below-the-radar offense the Padres were hoping for, hitting .251 with an OPS of .636.  He did not hit for much power and did not walk enough to lift his OBP above .300, but he did add a contact bat to the lineup. He also brought energy and versatility to the position and was a clear upgrade over Maldonado. Those qualities were worth the small cost of two minor-league pitchers in the trade. Offensively, he didn’t change the club’s trajectory, but he stabilized the catching duties and gave San Diego a better mix of catchers down the stretch.

Elias Díaz: Grade: D
Díaz arrived with a reputation as a serviceable veteran who can flash power and handle a pitching staff. In 2025, he produced some of that pop, smashing nine home runs and 29 RBIs. However, his average and on-base numbers dipped into replacement-level territory (around .200 with an OPS near .607). Defensively, he remained sturdy enough to be trusted for starts, but the bat simply wasn’t consistent enough. San Diego thought they were getting the 2023 All-Star version of Diaz, but they instead got a declining version of him who could not even beat out the veteran Maldonado for the starting job. 

Martín Maldonado: Grade: F
Maldonado was brought in to be a solid defensive backup catcher. He’s spent his entire career being a below-average bit with some of the best defense at the position, particularly at framing and working with pitching staffs. He opened the year on the big-league roster and delivered the occasional RBI and veteran moment, including a few homers, but his overall offensive slash line was tepid. He was ultimately designated for assignment and released in August as the Padres reshuffled around the deadline. It truthfully made no sense why Maldonado stuck around on the roster as long as he did. 

Luis Campusano: Grade: C−
Campusano’s intrigue and potential have almost been completely worn out by San Diego. After years of being regarded as the club’s catcher of the future, he was relegated to third-string and mostly played in the minor leagues. He was hitless in an early stint (0-for-18) and spent time between Triple-A and the big club, where he showed more life in the minors than in the majors. Defensively, he’s still a work in progress, and the bat just has not developed the way anyone hoped it would. Campusano is quickly running out of opportunities, and it is hard to imagine the Padres would trust him to open the season on the big league roster in 2026. 

Overall grade for the group: D
San Diego’s strategy at the position made no sense from the beginning. The team went cheap, attempting to squeeze value out of Diaz’s power and Maldonado’s defense. Neither Diaz nor Maldonado performed, and the Padres spent four months without a true starting catcher. Fermin was a solid trade deadline addition, but even he could not save San Diego’s catchers from a poor grade in 2025. 

What’s Next: 
With Freddy Fermin under contract through 2029, the Padres will likely go into 2026 with him as their starter. However, San Diego would be wise to target a high-upside backup and not be afraid to spend money to bring someone in. Campusano might never be ready, even to be the backup, and Ethan Salas is not ready yet. 

Long term, the plan is still for Salas to eventually take over as the starter, and when that does happen, possibly in 2027 or 2028, Fermin will be one of the top backup catchers in the league. Until Salas arrives, Fermin could use a solid backup to push him and protect him in case of injury.