Steve Drumwright

The San Diego Padres have a new top prospect. At least according to MLB Pipeline. Kruz Schoolcraft, the 6-foot-8 left-handed starting pitcher who was the Friars' top pick in last summer's draft, was named the No. 88 prospect in all of baseball as revealed on MLB Network on Friday. Schoolcraft was the only Padre on the Top 100 list. He was ranked 95th in the season-ending rankings by MLB Pipeline. Selected with the 25th pick in the first round out of Sunset High School in Portland, Ore., the 18-year-old pitched in just one game after being drafted, getting his feet wet with the Low A Lake Elsinore Storm. That would be the likely starting spot for Schoolcraft for the 2026 season. Schoolcraft was also a first baseman in high school, but he is focusing on pitching to begin his pro career. Catcher Ethan Salas, the Padres' top prospect after the trade of Leo De Vries to the A's in the Mason Miller deal, fell out of the Top 100 after being No. 77 at the end of 2025. In 2024, Salas was MLB Pipeline's No. 8 prospect in all of baseball. View full rumor

Before the Milwaukee Brewers shipped ace Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets, the San Diego Padres were in contention for the right-hander's services. This according to a report by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who said the Padres, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins were in the conversation late. But Rosenthal said the Brewers went with the Mets in part because New York had been the most persistent team. The question from the Padres' perspective is if they had the prospect capital to make a Peralta deal happen. The Brewers received two of the Mets' top-five prospects in infielder-outfielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat. While Williams likely needs a little more time in the minors, Sproat is expected to contend for a spot in the Crew's rotation this spring. The prospect closest to matching what the Brewers were seeking, MLB-ready talent, is right-handed starter Miguel Mendez, who ranks as the No. 8 prospect in the Friars' system by MLB Pipeline. But Mendez had only six games at the Double-A level in 2025 and probably has another year in the minors before truly being an MLB option. There are no position players that would have fit that mold, either, even when you consider the Padres' MLB roster. View full rumor

We all know the San Diego Padres are in need of another arm (or two) for the starting rotation, and with the way the free-agent market is moving, there are still plenty of fish in the sea. But according to a report Tuesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Friars president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is willing to do what he did last offseason — wait out the market and save some cash. Another key part of the report was Rosenthal mentioning that the Padres are one of the many teams to have checked in with the Milwaukee Brewers regarding a trade for ace right-hander Freddy Peralta, who is due to make an affordable $8 million before becoming a free agent after 2026. The strategy of waiting to improve the rotation worked very well a year ago as the Padres brought in right-hander Nick Pivetta on a backloaded four-year, $55 million contract with opt-outs after 2026 and 2027. Pivetta was paid just $2.5 million in 2025 and jumps to $20.5 million this year. Of course, Pivetta emerged with the best season of his nine-year career. Pivetta went 13-7 with a 3.49 FIP, 2.87 ERA, and 149 ERA+ in a career-high 181⅔ innings. Pivetta also remains a hot trade target, which would create an issue for the Padres unless an MLB-ready arm is part of the return. Pivetta is likely to be the Opening Day starter this year, with Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears likely filling out the rotation. Musgrove is coming back from Tommy John surgery. View full rumor

The Sung Mun Song era with the San Diego Padres is off to an inauspicious beginning. The South Korean infielder, who signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Padres last month, sustained an oblique injury and is expected to need about four weeks to recover. Song was injured during a batting practice session as he prepared to make the jump from the Korean Baseball Organization to MLB this year. It is not known when exactly Song was injured. The report revealing the injury said Song traveled to Yokohama, Japan, to be evaluated ahead of heading to Peoria, Arizona, for spring training. While injuries are never good, the timing is. Song is expected to be back in action early in spring training, which opens in just a few weeks. The Friars will surely make sure Song is 100% before having him partake in daily drills. Based on the timeline, there is a possibility he will be ready for the Cactus League opener Feb. 20 vs. the Seattle Mariners. Barring any setbacks or if the injury is more severe than reported, he will be on the Opening Day roster. The injury rules Song out of participating in the World Baseball Classic with South Korea. Rosters for the WBC must be set by Feb. 3, just over two weeks from now. Song is expected to play a key role in the Padres' infield this season. While he doesn't have a starting position at the moment, the natural third baseman is expected to occasionally spell Manny Machado at the hot corner, while also seeing time at second base and first base. Currently, Jake Croenenworth and Gavin Sheets are the respective starters at those positions, so platooning is definitely an option. There is also a good chance he sees time in the outfield. View full article

They are the four best words in baseball: pitchers and catchers report. Why? Because that signals the official start of spring training, bringing Opening Day that much closer. The San Diego Padres open camp in Peoria, Ariz., in just over three weeks, with pitchers and catchers reporting on Feb. 11 and the first full-squad workout Feb. 15. Oftentimes, players report early, depending on if they are coming back from injury or just want to get some extra work in with the coaching staff, but those are the mandatory report dates for the two groups. Those players who are participating in the World Baseball Classic have slightly earlier report dates. Pitchers and catchers, regardless of MLB organization, must report by Feb. 11 (same as the Padres) and position players by Feb. 12. The Padres' first exhibition game is Feb. 20 against the Seattle Mariners, the same team the Friars share the Peoria Sports Complex with. Technically, the Friars are the road team in that game, with their first home game Feb. 22 against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In the annual Spring Breakout game featuring top prospects from both clubs, the Padres will face the Chicago Cubs on March 21 in Mesa, Ariz. The final exhibition game will take place in Peoria also against the Mariners on March 23. Opening Day for the Friars is March 26 vs. two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers. View full rumor

With spring training less than a month away, minor-league free agents are finding homes. Three have now landed with the San Diego Padres. Utility man Nick Solak, left-hander Omar Cruz. and right-hander Justin Yeager have signed minor-league deals with the Padres, according to Baseball America. Those deals likely include invites to spring training. Solak, who turned 31 last week, has had trouble sticking in the majors primarily because of his defense. He mainly plays second base and third base and has 259 games of MLB experience. Solak played in four games with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025, after playing in just two games with different teams (Atlanta and the Detroit Tigers) in 2023. He did not get a call-up in 2024 while at Triple-A for the Seattle Mariners. A second-round pick by the New York Yankees in 2016 out of Louisville, Solak was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays early in 2018 in a three-team deal, then shipped by the Rays to the Texas Rangers at the 2019 trade deadline for Pete Fairbanks. Solak made his MLB debut with the Rangers in 2019 and had a slash line of .293/.393/.491 with five homers and 17 RBIs in 33 games. He played the full 2020 season with the Rangers, seeing action in 58 of 60 games with a .268/.326/.344 slash line and two homers and 23 RBIs. In 2021, he played in 127 games and posted a slash line of .242/.314/.362 with 11 homers and 49 RBIs. Solak then only played in 35 MLB games in 2022. That offseason, he bounced between three teams before landing with Atlanta, where he began at Triple-A. He played in one game for Atlanta and was designated for assignment in June and claimed by the Tigers. He played in one MLB game for the Tigers and was DFA'd again in August, went unclaimed and went back to Triple-A. In 2025 with the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, Solak had a .332/.411/.492 slash line with 14 homers and 73 RBIs. Cruz, about to turn 27, returns to the Padres technically for a third time. Originally an international signee in 2017, the left-hander was part of the package the Friars sent to the Pirates for right-handed starter Joe Musgrove before the 2021 season. The Padres brought him back after the 2023 season as a minor-league Rule 5 selection. He made the Padres' Opening Day roster for 2025 and appeared in two games. He did have a late-May call-up, but didn't pitch before going back to Triple-A El Paso. The left-hander has mainly been a reliever in recent seasons, but struggled to a 4.75 ERA in 33 games, 11 starts, covering 83⅓ innings in 2025. He became a free agent after the season, but is now back again. Yeager, soon to turn 28, has strictly been a reliever since being a 33rd-round draft choice in 2019 by Atlanta out of Southern Illinois. Yeager has spent the last three years in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization after being included in the three-team deal that landed William Contreras in Milwaukee and Sean Murphy in Atlanta. He split time between Double-A and Triple-A, compiling a 2.04 ERA in 49 games covering 57⅓ innings. Yeager's time at Triple-A in 2025 was his first at the level, and he's yet to make his MLB debut. View full article

Were the San Diego Padres the runner-up in the sweepstakes to acquire Nolan Arenado? That is unknown, but the Friars were serious bidders to acquire the 10-time Gold Glove third baseman from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Arenado was traded on Tuesday to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a pitching prospect, right-hander Jack Martinez. But where the 34-year-old Arenado would have played would have been the interesting part. With Manny Machado entrenched at third base, the Padres would have wanted Arenado, a six-time Platinum Glove winner, to play first base. Currently, the Friars have a combination of Gavin Sheets and Jake Cronenworth at first base. Another impediment in the Padres' attempt to add Arenado was how much salary the Friars would take on. The Diamondbacks took on $31 million of the $42 million Arenado is owed on the final two years of his contract. Rosenthal reported that the Padres wanted to pay less than the $11 million the D'backs will pay Arenado. Southern California was a destination for Arenado, who was born in Newport Beach and went to high school at El Toro in Lake Forest. View full rumor

Preseason predictions should always be taken with a grain of salt. The methodology used to reach certain decisions or projected outcomes often doesn't match what fans or quasi-experts have in mind for a team in the upcoming season. With that caveat, FanGraphs' popular ZiPS projections for the 2026 season hit on the San Diego Padres on Monday. If you are unfamiliar with the system created by Dan Szymborski, he provided an introduction to this year's rankings. The TL;DR of that is these are baseline projections for players based on where they are in their career and where they are going. With that, let's dive into what ZiPS popped out on the Padres. Padres Position Player Projections The accompanying chart of projections shows that the Padres have four position-player groups projected to have 2.2 fWAR or lower. For a Padres team looking to win at least 90 games for the third straight season, which would be a first in franchise history, that is a bit much. Before we get to those groups, what did ZiPS think about the strength of the offense? It begins with right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., who checks in at a 4.9 fWAR and a .265/.356/.461 slash line with 26 homers, 80 RBIs, 25 steals, and a 125 OPS+. Pretty similar to what he did in 2025. Next is center fielder Jackson Merrill at 3.6 fWAR. Merrill's projected slash line is .270/.320/.458 with 20 homers and 75 RBIs, a season closer to what he did as a rookie than he did in 2025 when he battled a couple of injuries. There was a curious situation with the shortstop and third base projections. Shortstop, with only Xander Bogaerts listed, has a 3.3 fWAR, but Bogaerts himself has a 2.7 fWAR. Third base, meanwhile, is at 3.2 fWAR, with Manny Machado at 3.2 and Sung Mun Song at 1.7. Song is also in the mix at second base. As far as real numbers, Machado comes in at .258/.321/.430 with 23 homers and 84 RBIs, Bogaerts at .259/.326/.374 with 10 homers and 52 RBIs, and Song at .238/.304/.360 with 12 homers and 57 RBIs. That covers the good positions. The next three spots are basically league average. Left field comes in at 2.2 fWAR with Ramon Laureano, who came over at the trade deadline, checking in at 1.6 fWAR, and Bryce Johnson at 0.9 fWAR, with Johnson also listed as the backup in center. Laureano has a projected .242/.314/.428 slash line. Second base has a 2.0 fWAR with Jake Cronenworth splitting time at the position with Song and Will Wagner. Cronenworth, with a 1.8 fWAR, has a slash line of .233/.335/.373. At catcher, which has a 2.1 fWAR, ZiPS lists Freddy Fermin as the starter with Luis Campusano as the backup, as expected. But when you look at the projected stats, Campusano has 111 more plate appearances than Fermin, likely due to the former also getting time at first base and designated hitter, per the playing time projections. Fermin has a 1.0 fWAR and a .234/.288/.344 slash line, while Campusano has a surprisingly high 1.9 fWAR and a .247/.327/.393 with 13 homers and 54 RBIs. Campusano has only had one positive fWAR season, coming in at 1.0 in 2023, and never hit more than eight homers in a season (2024). Friars fans would be ecstatic to see that type of production from Campusano, however. Now for the three subpar spots. Cronenworth is also the projected starter at first base, a position with a 1.2 fWAR. Gavin Sheets and Campusano are also at first in what figures to be a heavily platooned spot at this point. Sheets checks in with a .237/.303/.401 slash line with 16 homers and 59 RBIs for a 0.6 fWAR. DH, often a strength of teams or at least middle of the pack, is actually the Friars' weakest position with a 1.0 fWAR. This is figuring on a combination of Sheets, Campusano, and Machado, among others. As Szymborski writes, "I’d feel better about the Padres if they had a better starter at either first or designated hitter, but this is a solidly above-average lineup." Padres Pitching Staff Projections This is the spot that will make or break the Friars in 2026. With little depth to rely on, the Padres will need the starting rotation to remain healthy — and that counts on one injured player returning to form. The chart and the projections differ in the fWAR provided. Nick Pivetta is listed at 2.8 in the chart, but his stat projection has him at 2.3. Similarly, Michael King is a 3.3 and 2.2, Joe Musgrove 2.4 and 1.4. Randy Vasquez and JP Sears are basically even in both, with Vasquez at 0.8 and 0.7, and Sears flipped at 0.7 and 0.8. Kyle Hart is the No. 6 option at 0.3 and 0.7. Musgrove is making his way back from Tommy John surgery, so he is a definite wild card in the entire mix. Considering he had his surgery in October 2024, so should be on schedule to be a full participant in spring training and ready for Opening Day, barring any setbacks. There are no surprises here. The Padres are still hoping to add to the rotation, whether through free agency or a trade, and perhaps more than one arm. While almost everyone really likes the Friars' bullpen, ZiPS was a little more cautious than other projections. That has nothing to do with closer Mason Miller, who checks in with a 1.7 fWAR, or the setup crew of Adrian Morejon (0.9), Jeremiah Estrada (0.9), or Jason Adam (0.6). Instead, it reflects on the status of Wandy Peralta, who is entering his age-34 season, and the surprise showing of David Morgan, who was a struggling minor-leaguer before capitalizing on his first MLB call-up in 2025. Both are projected for 0.3 fWAR in 2026. Other Takeaways ZiPS doesn't hate the Friars. "The Padres look a lot like the 2025 team, with a win projection in the high 80s and 90 being well within the probable range. But it’s a fragile 90 wins," Szymborski writes. One potential position player to keep an eye on is backup outfielder Tirso Ornelas. ZiPS has Ornelas, who made his MLB debut in 2025, with a 0.9 fWAR and a .239/.309/.358 slash line with 10 homers and 49 RBIs. Where he is getting those 476 plate appearances, though, is whole 'nother question. That probably brings this full circle. If ZiPS is projecting nearly 500 plate appearances for a possible fifth outfielder, while not listing him in the graphic as an outfield option and the No. 4 DH option, you should probably take most of this with a grain of salt. There is no doubt some good stuff in the ZiPS projections for you to digest, just don't take it as a single source for predicting the future. Plus, who knows when A.J. Preller will add a bat to the first base-DH mix or another arm to the rotation? View full article

There is nothing like arbitration day to get you thinking that spring training is just around the corner. Thursday marked the deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to come to terms on a contract for 2026. The San Diego Padres reached deals with all seven arbitration-eligible players, meaning they won't have any hearings this year. In fact, the Friars, under president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, have not had an arbitration hearing since 2014. The seven players are right-handed reliever Jason Adam, first baseman-outfielder Gavin Sheets, left-handed starter JP Sears, closer Mason Miller, catcher Luis Campusano, reliever Adrian Morejon, and catcher Freddy Fermin. All of the projected salaries below come via MLB Trade Rumors. For more on how other teams did, check out this MLBTR page. Four players reached new deals, although there was no report of their contract figures. Adam, who made $4.8 million last year, was projected to make $6.8 million in 2026, his final year of team control. Sears made $770,000 in 2025 and was projected to get a raise of up to $3.5 million in his first year of arbitration. Miller was paid $775,000 last year and was projected to make $3.4 million. Fermin earned $781,750 in 2025 and was projected to go up to $1.8 million in his first year in arbitration. Sheets will earn $4.5 million in 2026 after being projected to make $4.3 million. The first baseman-outfielder made $1.6 million in 2025 and has one more year of arbitration left before becoming a free agent. In his first year with the Friars, Sheets had a .252/.317/.429 slash line with career highs of 19 homers and 71 RBIs. Sheets signed just before last year's spring training after being nontendered by the Chicago White Sox, who had a historically awful 2024. Morejon is set to make $3.9 million in 2026 after being projected to make $3.6 million. He made $2 million in 2025 and is set to become a free agent after this season. A very valuable left-handed reliever, Morejon had the best of his seven seasons with the Friars in 2025. Morejon had a career-best 2.28 FIP in a career-high 75 games. He has been a key element of the Padres' bullpen the past two seasons. Campusano reached a deal to be paid $900,000 for 2026 at the nontender deadline in November after being projected for $1 million. That is a slight reduction in his 2025 salary of $1 million. Campusano enters 2026 as the Padres' backup catcher after spending most of 2025 at Triple-A El Paso. He only played in 10 MLB games. Once thought to be the Padres' catcher of the future, Campusano has fallen out of favor due to defensive shortcomings and an inconsistent bat. View full article

We have arrived. If you have been keeping a list of your own, you should know who the five remaining players are on our countdown of top 25 San Diego Padres player assets. These are the players you count on to carry the franchise across a 162-game season. This list ranks the 25 Padres players and prospects with this in mind: Who are the most valuable in the organization's pursuit of building a champion? To make this list, we considered age, upside, and contract. Each player's age and control years are based on his Baseball Reference age for the 2026 season and when Baseball Reference says he can become a free agent. Need a refresher on who we have already ranked? Check out Nos. 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 and 21-25. 5. Michael King, RHP 2026 season age: 31 Controlled through: 2028 King made the surprising decision to return to the Padres on a contract that provides him protection and choices after this season. While he signed a three-year, $75 million deal, the right-handed starter will make $17 million in 2026, with $5 million in salary and a $12 million signing bonus. He then has a player opt-out for 2027 or a salary of $28 million, then a player option for 2028 at a $30 million salary. The contract carries more risk for the Padres if King struggles and doesn't produce up to the standards of what those 2027 and '28 salaries portend. In his two seasons with the Padres since being one of the pieces coming back from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade, King has been stellar. In 46 games, all but one as a starter, King has a 3.65 FIP and a 135 ERA+ with an 8.6% walk rate and 26.8% strikeout rate. But his 2025 was marred by two injuries. First, a nerve issue in his right shoulder sidelined him for 2½ months, then some knee inflammation cut short his first start back after two innings, forcing him to miss another month. That could explain why King, who had a qualifying offer from the Padres, had a softer market than expected. But as of now, King will slot in as the Friars' No. 2 starter, a position he has earned through performance. If he uses his nice mix of a four-seamer, sinker, changeup and sweeper (all used between 19% and 30% of the time) and has success, the Padres will likely be in good shape and set himself up for a bigger payday in 2027. Otherwise, he will still cash in by not opting out. 4. Nick Pivetta, RHP 2026 season age: 33 Controlled through: 2028 Pivetta was found money for the Padres in 2025. Literally. Before signing with the Friars, Pivetta had been a very average-at-best pitcher, mainly in a starting role. But after inking a four-year, $55 million after spring training began last year, the right-hander quickly leapt toward the top of the starting rotation. Pivetta had a $1 million salary with a $3 million signing bonus in 2025. All he did was make 31 starts and toss a career-high 181⅔ innings with a career-best 3.49 FIP and 149 ERA+. That led to a sixth-place finish in the NL Cy Young Award voting. He enters 2026 as the No. 1 starter, but also still the subject of trade speculation. That is because Pivetta is still relatively cost-effective at $19 million for 2026 with an opt-out after this season as well as after 2027. What made Pivetta successful in his first season in San Diego? Perhaps it has something to do with Petco Park being more pitcher-friendly than his previous stops in Boston and Philadelphia, but also likely with him ditching his slider and incorporating a sinker and using his cutter a bit more. It is unlikely that his bigger role in the rotation will faze Pivetta. He has experienced enough throughout his 10-year career to be able to handle anything. This will be a big year for the veteran right-hander, as he will have the carrot dangling of a bigger contract. He has the safety net of two more years for a total of $32 million should anything go wrong for him. 3. Jackson Merrill, CF 2026 season age: 23 Controlled through: 2035 After a fantastic rookie season, Merrill took a step back in 2025, yet was still a productive player. That inconsistency could be due to two things: First is the league's adjustment to Merrill, while the other is that he had three stints on the injured list that limited him to 115 games (strained right hamstring, concussion, sprained left ankle). The center fielder put up a .264/.317/.457 slash line with 16 homers and 67 RBIs and just one steal in three chances for a 112 OPS+. This came after a 2024 in which his slash line was .292/.326/.500 with 24 homers, 90 RBIs and 16 steals for a 127 OPS+, earning him a runner-up finish in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. Merrill signed a nine-year, $135 million contract extension just a few days into the 2025 season, so his Padres future is secure for some time. There isn't much to be concerned about with Merrill, who surprised everyone by jumping into a position, center field, that he had never played before when he made his MLB debut on the Friars' Opening Day roster in 2024. However, it's true that in 2025, his strikeout rate jumped to 22.4%. Concern would grow if his numbers took another step back in the coming season. He will turn 23 in April and the Padres put a lot of faith in Merrill with the extension, which kicks in this year at $2.1 million, then $7.1 million in 2027 and goes up incrementally before surging to $21.1 million in 2030, which would have been his first free-agent season. He was vaulted into the top portion of the lineup in 2025, which could also account for some of his lower numbers, although he also would have had more protection. Merrill is a key part of the Friars' future until he shows otherwise. 2. Mason Miller, RHP 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2029 The most shocking acquisition by any team at the trade deadline was the Friars getting Miller from the A's in a blockbuster deal. Sure, it cost the Padres a highly-touted prospect in shortstop Leo De Vries, but De Vries is still at least a year away from making his MLB debut, while Miller made a lethal bullpen that much more deadly during a run to the postseason. Miller was thought to be almost untradeable at the time and the Padres didn't have a pressing need at the back end of the bullpen. Now, he looks like the key piece in the relief corps. Miller is a fascinating talent and will step into the closer's role vacated by Robert Suarez leaving in free agency. Miller had converted 48 of 54 save opportunities with the A's in 2024 and '25 at the time of the deal and was in a set-up role with the Padres, notching 10 holds and two saves in 22 appearances. The right-hander, who is arbitration-eligible this season for the first time as a Super 2, has some of the most filthy stuff in all of baseball. That shows itself as he ranks in the top percentile league-wide with a 44.4% strikeout rate, 101.2 mph fastball velocity, 22.5% whiff rate, and 37.3% whiff and swinging strike rate. When Miller enters the game to close it out in 2026, there will be as much confidence as the Friar Faithful has had in a closer since the days of Trevor Hoffman and "Hell's Bells" echoed through Petco Park. That is, if the Padres don't trade him before Opening Day. 1. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2034 And then there was one. It should be little surprise that Tatis landed in this spot as he has always been an electric player, first as a shortstop and now as a two-time Platinum Glove-winning right fielder. To some, Tatis is still trying to erase the stench from his 2022 suspension for performance-enhancing drugs that tarnished his 42-homer 2021 that led to a third-place finish for NL MVP. But Tatis came back strong in 2023 in his new position and following shoulder surgery, posting a .257/.322/.449 slash line with 25 homers, 78 RBIs and 29 steals, earning down-ballot MVP votes. He missed a good chunk of 2024 with what was at first right quadriceps injury but turned out to be a stress reaction in his right femur. His slash line was still Tatis-like at .276/.340/.492 with 21 homers, 49 RBIs and just 11 steals in 102 games. In 2025, Tatis played in a career-high 155 games, putting up a .268/.368/.446 slash line with 25 homers, 71 RBIs and 32 steals. That added up to a 5.9 bWAR season, his best since the 6.6 mark in that PED-tainted 2021 campaign. Tatis started earning good money in 2025 as the 14-year, $340 million extension he signed in 2021 paid him $20.7 million, the same figure he will make in 2026. This will be Tatis' seventh season (not counting 2022 in which he didn't play due to injury and the suspension). He is the player the front office has built this team around, although others make more money than Tatis does. All of that time and Tatis is just entering his prime years, as he just turned 27 on Jan. 2. If he puts up numbers incrementally better than he did in 2025, he will continue to show why he is a top-15 player in all of MLB and why the Padres invested in his talent. View full article

In our continuing series of ranking San Diego Padres player assets, it's time to take a look at Nos. 6 through 10. This list ranks the 25 Padres players and prospects with this in mind: Who are the most valuable in the organization's pursuit of building a champion? To do so, we considered age, upside, and contract. Each player's age and controlled-through years are based on his Baseball Reference age for the 2026 season and when B-R says he can become a free agent. For what we wrote in this series previously, check out Nos. 11-15, 16-20, and 21-25. 10. Randy Vasquez, RHP 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2030 After an up-and-down first season in the Padres' organization, literally and figuratively, Vasquez became a dependable part of the starting rotation in 2025. One of the five players acquired from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade two offseasons ago, Vazquez was constantly on the Triple-A El Paso shuttle in 2024, with multiple promotions and demotions. While not ideal, that could help account for his 4.74 FIP and 84 ERA+. But he did get 20 starts for a team that went to the postseason. Luckily, 2025 was much different. Vasquez started 26 of the 28 games he appeared in, putting up a 4.85 FIP and 111 ERA+ that belied his 3.84 ERA. His walk percentage was a little high at 9.1% and his strikeout rate was low at 13.7%. So, there is still work to be done there. There was one demotion, following the Padres' acquisition of left-hander Nestor Cortes from the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline — and after a start in which he allowed five runs in four innings — but Vasquez was back up about a week later. Vasquez uses seven pitches, but none a majority of the time. His 90.2 mph cutter was he most-used pitch at 24.8%, with his 93.4 mph four-seamer next at 20.9%. He also has a sinker (19.2%), sweeper (13.6%) and curve (12.9%) in addition to a rarely-used changeup (6.9%) and slider (1.8%). Perhaps refining that repertoire could help in his effectiveness. Vasquez is entering his last pre-arb season. 9. Jeremiah Estrada, RHP 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2029 Teams always hope to find a little success in waiver claims. The Padres have certainly cashed in with Estrada. An offseason waiver pickup from the Chicago Cubs two years ago, Estrada has flourished since joining the Padres' bullpen. After spending the first month of the 2024 season at Triple-A El Paso, Estrada has been a reliable reliever, posting a 2.07 FIP and 140 ERA+ in 2024 in 62 games (61 innings), then a 3.55 FIP and 124 ERA+ in 77 games (73 innings) in 2025. Estrada brings the heat, averaging 97.9 mph on his four-seamer in 2025, a pitch he used 56.8% of the time en route to a 35.5% strikeout rate against an 8.9% walk rate. He also has an 83.7 mph splitter that he used 23.2% and an 88.5 mph slider 20%. Due to his salary status, entering his final pre-arb year with a total of four years of control, Estrada has drawn trade interest. Estrada could also be in line for more saves should the Padres deal Mason Miller, with more late-inning appearances at the worst. Estrada notched three saves in 2025, and he tied for fifth in MLB with 30 holds. 8. Adrian Morejon, LHP 2026 season age: 27 Controlled through: 2026 Speaking of key bullpen arms, Morejon is coming off his best season. The left-hander vultured 13 wins while recording a 2.28 FIP and 206 ERA+ in 75 games covering 73⅔ innings. He was flat-out dominant, holding opposing hitters to a remarkable slash line of .186/.235/.236, walking 5.9% of batters and striking out 24.5%. Morejon keeps his infielders busy with a 51.3% grounder rate. Morejon does that with a terrific sinker-slider combo. He has a 97.7 mph sinker that he used 61.7% of the time in 2025, with his slider at 87.5 mph and 24.6%. On occasion, he will toss a changeup (6.6%), cutter (3.5%) or four-seamer (3.1%) into the mix. As the primary set-up man, the 2025 All-Star would be first in line for saves should Miller be moved. Otherwise, he provides a terrific back-end of the bullpen option to set up Miller. While the Padres tinkered with the thought of making him a starter this offseason, it would have been foolish to weaken the bullpen with trades still in play — even for Morejon, who is projected to earn just $3.6 million in his final trip through arbitration. 7. Joe Musgrove, RHP 2026 season age: 33 Controlled through: 2027 If not for a couple of major injuries over the last few years, Musgrove would probably be up a few notches on this list, perhaps in contention for the No. 1 spot. But the injuries did happen and they cost Musgrove serious time. The latest malady has been Tommy John surgery, which happened following the team's 2024 postseason elimination. That came after Musgrove's 2023 season in ended in July due to inflammation in his right shoulder capsule. He began 2024 in the rotation, but bone spurs in his right elbow led to a 5.36 FIP in 10 starts and a spot on the 60-day injured list. The good news is Musgrove appears to be on pace to be ready for spring training, although he will be in the initial stages of getting his arm back in shape, so the possibility exists of beginning 2026 on the injured list or a rehab assignment. His return will be a boon for the rotation, which already received an unexpected return with right-hander Michael King re-signing for three years and $75 million, If the rotation sticks as currently constructed, Musgrove will slot in after Nick Pivetta and King, giving the Padres a very good top three. Musgrove will always have a place in Padres history as the El Cajon native threw the first no-hitter in team history in 2021. While the competitor in Java Joe will want to return to the rotation ASAP, the business side of Musgrove might take a bit more of a cautious route. He will want to make sure nothing endangers his 2026 or 2027 seasons, which are the last years of Musgrove's current contract. 6. Manny Machado, 3B 2026 season age: 33 Controlled through: 2033 As he prepares to enter his eighth season in San Diego, there is no question that Machado remains the rock of the Padres' offense. That was proven with his third-best bWAR season of his Padres tenure with a 4.1 mark. That came through a .275/.335/.460 slash line with 27 homers and 95 RBIs. He still stings the ball, with an average exit velocity of 92.9 mph, which is in the 94th percentile of MLB hitters. Machado also continues to be one of the better third basemen defensively. The question for Machado, who is under contract through the 2033 season, is how long that continues. He is entering his age-33 season, so any signs of any downfall may start cropping up sooner rather than later. And yet, he earned down-ballot NL MVP votes each of the last two seasons. He provides all-around contributions while holding down the No. 3 spot in the lineup. There is no question the Padres need more power in their lineup, but that isn't necessarily coming from Machado, who is averaging 30 homers in full seasons in San Diego. His production could even go up slightly with more support in the lineup after him. Putting up typical numbers will be one of the key factors for the Padres to remain a contender. The Padres lost Luis Arraez to free agency, but someone such as left fielder Ramon Laureano, acquired at the trade deadline, could turn out to be a better overall contributor. How infielder Sung Mun Song, a free agent from South Korea, fits in will be interesting to watch. Machado is also a couple years from either being a full-time designated hitter or crossing the diamond for some time at first base, and he should remain entrenched at the hot corner in 2026. View full article

This section of our top 25 San Diego Padres player assets is quite diverse and perhaps reflects why the team is still trying to get over the hump. From a top prospect to a fan favorite to a newcomer to the U.S., these five players range across the whole spectrum of expectations. This list ranks the 25 Padres players and prospects with this in mind: Who are the most valuable in the organization's pursuit of building a champion? To make this list, we considered age, upside, and contract. Each player's age and control years are based on his Baseball Reference age for the 2026 season and when Baseball Reference says he can become a free agent. For what we wrote in this series previously, check out Nos. 16-20 and 21-25. 15. Jake Cronenworth, 1B/2B 2026 season age: 32 Controlled through: 2030 Everyone loves Cronenworth, especially when he hits the Crone Zone (h/t Don Orsillo). But is it time to have the conversation about Cronenworth's production? Let's start with the obvious: his positional versatility makes him a flexible piece to move around the infield. In 2025, he was mainly the starting second baseman, but also slid over for some first base and even saw action at shortstop. The right side of the infield seems to be his best fit, although new manager Craig Stammen is likely to lean into Cronenworth's ability to play multiple positions. But, are Cronenworth's offensive contributions — which have been lacking since he signed a seven-year, $80 million contract extension following the 2023 season — enough to move the needle? The move was a bit surprising in that it was in the 2023 season where Cronenworth's offense took a step back. After a combined slash line of .256/.338/.431 from 2020-22, his 2023 slumped to a .229/.312/.378 mark with 10 homers and 48 RBIs, both the lowest of any of his full MLB seasons. Of course, he missed all of September that year with a fractured right wrist, but the ink was mostly dry on his stats. Cronenworth bounced back slightly with .241/.324/.390 with 17 homers and 83 RBIs and .246/.367/.377 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs in 2024 and '25, respectively. His most recent campaign was marred by an early-season non-displaced rib fracture that cost him about a month. Still, he put up a 2.4 bWAR this past season, his highest since 2022's 3.9 figure. With his contract running through 2030 while making $12.3 million per year, the Friars could use more offense from him. That price tag also makes Cronenworth a valuable trade chip if the Padres decide to go that route. 14. Sung Mun Song, IF 2026 season age: 29 Controlled through: 2029 Song is the great unknown for the Padres at the moment. Where will he play? Will he move around? Is the outfield a real possibility? How will his offense translate from South Korea to MLB? The good news for the Friars is that the investment in the 29-year-old infielder is low-level, more on par with a backup. The fact that Song, primarily a third baseman in the Korean Baseball Organization, can also play second and first will help with lineup flexibility. In particular, that will give Stammen a presumably reliable option to either rest third baseman Manny Machado or allow Machado to be the designated hitter. It will also provide more matchup opportunities. It was also floated by president of baseball operations A.J. Preller at the press conference announcing the signing that Song could see time in the outfield. That would only add to his and the team's versatility and depth. But offensively is where Song could make the biggest difference. After being rather nondescript in most of his KBO career, Song took off in 2024 and 2025, with slash lines of .340/.409/.518 (19 homers, 104 RBIs) and .315/.387/.530 (26 homers, 90 RBIs), respectively. He also had 21 and 25 steals in those seasons. The lack of previous noteworthy production could mean Song could take time to adjust to MLB. 13. Jason Adam, RHP 2026 season age: 31 Controlled through: 2026 Adam is one of the more unsung relievers in all of MLB. Since joining the Tampa Bay Rays to begin the 2022 season, he has put up a 3.20 FIP, 0.939 WHIP and 196 ERA+. But his 2025 ended Sept. 1 due to a ruptured left quadriceps. Initially, it was thought Adam could miss Opening Day, but an optimistic update in mid-November suggested that he could be ready to go for beginning of the season. That would be huge, as the Padres are expected to have six of their top seven relievers in terms of appearances from 2025 returning, with only closer Robert Suarez exiting the mix after joining Atlanta as a free agent. But Mason Miller will replace Suarez in that closer role, and Adam should be a premier set-up man once again. He uses a good mix of pitches, favoring his slider and changeup while factoring in a four-seamer and sweeper. This is a big season for Adam, as he is arbitration-eligible for the final time before hitting free agency. 12. Ramon Laureano, OF 2026 season age: 31 Controlled through: 2026 Laureano will be one of those guys that you see from a "Remember that Guy" social-media account in about 10 years and you will smile while remembering that he played for the Padres. Laureano is a solid defensive outfielder, with an elite arm and good-enough range that allows him to play any of the three spots, though he's probably more suited for either of the corners. With Fernando Tatis Jr. entrenched in right field following his second NL Platinum Glove in three seasons and young Jackson Merrill holding down center, Laureano will be a lockdown left fielder. He also puts up pretty good offensive numbers. While playing for four teams over the last two seasons, Laureano has logged a .272/.330/.483 slash line with 35 homers and 109 RBIs for a 125 OPS+. That included a .269/.323/.489 mark with nine homers and 30 RBIs in the final two months of the 2025 season with the Padres after coming over at the trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles with Ryan O'Hearn. That all made it a no-brainer for the Padres to exercise their $6.5 million club option on Laureano for 2026. As long as he performs up to what he has done recently, he could be a candidate to stick around after becoming a free agent after next season. 11. Ethan Salas, C 2026 season age: 20 Controlled through: TBD Salas doesn't turn 20 until June 1, but 2026 marks his fourth season in affiliated ball. Some of the luster has come off of Salas since being the No. 1 prospect in the international free-agent class of 2023, but he still ranks at the very top of the Padres' organization. The Padres have pushed Salas, who appeared at Low-A Lake Elsinore, High-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio in 2023 as an 18-year-old. In 2024, Salas spent the season back at Fort Wayne, where he was still more than four years younger than the average player. He also played in the Arizona Fall League. Salas only played in 10 games in 2025, all at Double-A, after sustaining a stress fracture in his lower back in spring training. While his defense has been his calling card, his offense still needs a lot of work. In 2023 at High=A, Salas had a .206/.288/.311 slash line with four homers and 53 RBIs in 113 games. He did draw 47 walks, but also struck out 98 times. Salas then hit four more homers in 23 games in the Arizona Fall League, although his slash line was .228/.327/.424. Salas is likely to return to Double-A in 2026. He might be best served to stick the entire season at San Antonio just to build confidence in his approach at the plate. It doesn't make any sense to rush Salas at this point, with Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano capably holding down the catcher spot in 2026. Also, Fermin is under club control through 2029, Let Salas mature and become the offensive threat the Friars dreamed on when they signed him. The defense is already there. View full article

I am very fond of numbers, statistics and just the figures themselves. Stats can often help describe the success or failure of a sports team. The figures themselves, meanwhile, can be part of an identity. After all, when it comes to sports, who do you think of when you see 23 or 12 or 42 or 99? But for most athletes, the uniform number can have a deeper meaning, mostly personal. Jersey numbers can also have a meaning for a franchise. With that in mind — and with the turn of calendar to 2026 — I wanted to explore the number 26 in San Diego Padres history. I quickly learned that the number toils in relative anonymity in Friars history. But I forged ahead, creating this list of the top 10 players who have worn No. 26 as well as putting together a lineup of guys who donned those digits. Austin Nola, C Nola played for the Padres from 2020 to 2023, originally wearing No. 22 for his first season before switching to 26 when Josh Naylor was acquired at the trade deadline. He was mainly a backup with the Padres, although he did start 103 games in 2022. In those four years, Nola had a .234/.314/.320 slash line with nine homers and 86 RBIs over 237 games. Archi Cianfrocco, IF Cianfrocco came over to the Friars in a 1993 trade, a little more than a month before the deadline, from the Montreal Expos for right-handed reliever Tim Scott. Cianfrocco was very versatile and was primarily a utility player during his stay in San Diego, which lasted through 1998, his last season in MLB. Mainly a corner infielder, Cianfrocco played every position except center field, even seeing one game at catcher in 1996. His one inning behind the plate came in the ninth inning of a 6-0 of a June 9 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the Padres had gone through starter Brian Johnson and backup Brad Ausmus. Cianfrocco had a Padres career slash line of .241/.296/.382 with 27 homers and 154 RBIs. Scott Sanders, RHP Sanders had two stints with the Padres, donning No. 27 when he made his MLB debut in 1993 through 1996, then switching to No. 26 when he returned during the 1998 season via trade as Kevin Brown had the number. After starting 44 of his first 49 games, Sanders transitioned into a relief role in 1996, making 16 starts in 46 appearances. All 23 of his 1998 games were as a reliever. He had a 3.64 FIP and a 100 ERA+ with the Friars. Ollie Brown, RF A member of the original 1969 Padres team, Brown was first wearer of No. 26 in Friars history. In fact, Brown was involved in several firsts in team history: He was the first pick by the Padres in the 1968 expansion draft, being snatched from the San Francisco Giants, then was the Opening Day right fielder and cleanup hitter in the team's first season. Brown stuck with the Padres until May 1972, when he was traded to the Oakland A's. With the Friars, he had a .272/.327/.413 slash line with 52 homers and 208 RBIs in 458 games. Yangervis Solarte, IF Solarte joined the Padres at the 2014 trade deadline, coming over from the New York Yankees in the Chase Headley deal. Solarte began his Padres career wearing No. 27, but switched to 26 in 2015 after the offseason signing of star Matt Kemp. Solarte started out as mainly a third baseman, but also played second and some short and left field during his days with the Padres, which lasted until he was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays before the 2018 season. He posted a .270/.326/.424 slash line with 51 homers and 215 RBIs in 445 games. Dustin Moseley, RHP Moseley had a star-crossed time in San Diego. He experienced his greatest success in a Padres uniform, but then also his biggest disappointment. After signing with the Padres before the 2011 season, Moseley became a mainstay of the Padres' rotation that season with a 3.99 FIP and 108 ERA+ on a bad team (71-91, last in NL West). But he dislocated his left (non-throwing) shoulder twice while batting, which ended his season in July. He was back for the 2012 season, but made just one start, injuring his right shoulder and needing season-ending surgery. That would end his MLB career, although he did attempt a comeback in 2014 with the Miami Marlins. Chris Welsh, LHP Another trade acquisition, Welsh came to the Friars from the the Yankees with center fielder Ruppert Jones, outfielder Joe Lefebvre and left-hander Tim Lollar for outfielder Jerry Mumphrey and right-hander John Pacella just as the 1981 season was to begin. Welsh pitched two-plus seasons with the Padres, with a good MLB debut season of 1981 and a 3.74 FIP. That ballooned to 4.99 in 1982 and led to his being sold to the Expos in May 1983. Dave Kingman, 1B-LF Yes, the well-known slugger donned 26 in his brief time with the Padres. Kingman came to the Padres in a June 1977 trade with the New York Mets for infielder Bobby Valentine and left-hander Paul Siebert. It was the start of a busy season of changing places for Kingman. He was waived by the Padres in September, claimed by the California Angels, who then traded him to the Yankees nine days later. The Padres trade was one of a series of related deals made that day, with the Mets sending Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds in a monumental blockbuster. With the Padres, Kingman appeared in 56 games and hit 11 homers and drove in 39 runs. All of his movement made Kingman the first player to play in all four divisions in the same season (only East and West existed at the time). Ed Wojna, RHP Wojna came to the Padres in a late-1983 trade with the Philadelphia Phillies. He appeared in 36 games over the 1985-87 seasons, starting all 36, with a 4.19 FIP. Wojna was dealt to the Chicago White Sox after the 1987 season and only appeared in the majors again in 1988 with Cleveland. Doug Brocail, RHP Last but not least, Brocail is the only member of the No. 26 club who began his career with the Padres. He was taken with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the January 1986 draft, making his professional debut that summer. It took Brocail until the end of the 1992 season to make his MLB debut, but he did so wearing No. 49. That is what he would wear until the Friars shipped him to the Houston Astros in a blockbuster deal before the 1995 season in which the Padres landed third baseman Ken Caminiti, center fielder Steve Finley, shortstop Andujar Cedeno, first baseman Roberto Petagine and right-hander Brian Williams. Coincidentally, Williams would wear No. 26 with the Padres, too. Brocail would return to San Diego as a free agent for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. That is when he took claim of No. 26, which he wore after the Astros traded him to the Detroit Tigers before the 1997 season. In his two stints, Brocail had a 4.30 FIP in 131 games, including 27 starts, across five seasons. The All-26 Padres lineup Catcher: Austin Nola First base: Dave Kingman Second base: Terry Shumpert Third base: Yangervis Solarte Shortstop: Archi Cianfrocco Left field: Don Reynolds Center field: Mike Darr Right field: Ollie Brown Right-handed starter: Scott Sanders Left-handed starter: Chris Welsh Reliever: Doug Brocail View full article