Steve Drumwright

While addressing the contract extension for president of baseball operations A.J. Preller on Monday, San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler was asked about the status of the sale of the MLB team. "We’ve had tremendous interest,” Seidler said at the team's spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. “There has been interest, some parties that have been reported in the press, others have not. There are more parties interested than has been reported." The Seidler family announced it was pursuing a sale in mid-November, but some family quarrels prevented that from truly progressing. That was resolved a couple weeks ago, with the team expecting to start receiving bids by the end of the month. View full rumor

The San Diego Padres added yet another arm to the free-for-all competition for one of the last two spots in their 2026 starting rotation. Right-hander Walker Buehler, who recorded the final out of the 2024 World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is joining the Friars on a minor-league deal, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday. The 31-year-old Buehler pitched last season for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, posting a combined 5.66 FIP (4.93 ERA) in 126 innings over 24 starts and two relief appearances. Buehler has struggled since having Tommy John surgery in August 2022. He returned to the Dodgers midway through the 2024 season, making 16 starts and compiling a 5.54 FIP over 75⅓ innings. Buehler was once one of the Dodgers' top starters, finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young Award balloting in 2021 and ninth in 2019. He also finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. He becomes the third low-cost addition in the last three days to the battle for the final two spots. Right-handers German Marquez and Griffin Canning agreed to major-league deals over the weekend, with the Padres formalizing Marquez's signing Monday of a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2027. Canning, coming back from an Achilles injury, has yet to formally sign his one-year deal with the Friars. Right-hander Jhony Brito (elbow surgery) was put on the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster. Another move, also likely involving the IL, must be made to add Canning. Those three along with right-hander Randy Vasquez, left-hander JP Sears and nonroster invitees Marco Gonzalez, a left-hander, and right-hander Triston McKenzie are the top contenders for the rotation behind right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove. Musgrove is throwing in the early days of camp after coming back from Tommy John surgery. Buehler rejected the qualifying offer from the Dodgers following the 2024 season and became a free agent, signing with the Red Sox for $21.05 million, the same amount as the QO. View full rumor

Though most of the group remains the same, the San Diego Padres have two changes to highlight among their crop of infielders. With the departures of Luis Arraez and Ryan O'Hearn in free agency, the Friars enter 2026 having to replace them at first base and designated hitter, respectively. Those are the positions they were at for all three games of the NL Wild Card Series loss to the Chicago Cubs. Both were basically first basemen with the Padres, Arraez getting 117 starts at the position in 2025 and O'Hearn 25 at first and 16 at DH after coming over from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline. But that void is easily filled, at least positionally, from within and with a late add to camp. Who Was Scheduled to Come Back? Third baseman Manny Machado, shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Jake Cronenworth return in their primary spots from 2025, with Gavin Sheets also back after making 11 starts at first, 60 in left and 59 at DH. Sheets enters spring training as the presumed starting first baseman, although that could shift depending on other performances. Mason McCoy is the only backup from the postseason roster back for 2026. Freddy Fermin, acquired at the trade deadline from the Kansas City Royals, returns as the Opening Day catcher, with Luis Campusano as his backup. Machado's status is unquestioned as the team's leader and the player with the biggest contract ($350 million over 11 years). His .275/.335/.460 slash line with 27 homers and 95 RBIs in 2025 was on par with his career numbers. He also plays solid defense, although that's been in decline over the last two seasons. Bogaerts hasn't been as good offensively in his three seasons with the Friars after 10 years with the Boston Red Sox. In 2025, Bogaerts put together a .263/.328/.391 slash line, matching his 2024 with 11 homers to go along with 53 RBIs. He did steal a career-high 20 bases in 22 attempts. Bogaerts had a career slash line of .292/.356/.458 with the Red Sox, including four seasons of more than 20 homers and a high of 33 in 2019. After splitting time between second and short in 2024, Bogaerts was back to a full-time shortstop in 2025 and had his best defensive season. Cronenworth had his best production in 2025 since his breakthrough 2021-22 seasons, but it was below what has come to be expected. He posted a slash line of .246/.367/.377 after subpar outputs in 2023-24. His 11 homers and 59 RBIs were the second-lowest of a full 162-game season in his six MLB seasons. His defense at second base is a little below average, although it was surprisingly good during a brief tenure at short when Bogaerts was hurt. Fermin wasn't as good as expected offensively after he came over from the Royals, putting up a .244/.278/.339 slash line with two homers and 14 RBIs in 42 games. Campusano, who spent most of 2025 at Triple-A, could help with the offense at catcher, while potentially seeing spot starts at DH. Sheets, a non-roster invitee a year ago who made the Opening Day roster, bounced between first, DH and left while accumulating a .252/.317/.429 slash line with 19 homers and 71 RBIs. Never known for defense, he might be best-suited as a DH, but he'll get the first crack at first base. McCoy has limited MLB experience, but does provide coverage at shortstop. Who Was Added? The Friars made a big move Saturday, agreeing to bring in Nick Castellanos for the MLB minimum following his well-publicized split with the Philadelphia Phillies. Castellanos is suddenly in the mix at first base, a position he has never played but has apparently been working at this offseason. Putting the clubhouse issues aside, Castellanos is a low-risk acquisition who could bring pretty good production as a right-handed bat. His path to playing time is first base and designated hitter due to his poor defense in right field. In his four years with the Phillies, Castellanos slashed .260/.306/.426, averaging 21 homers and 82 RBIs. Prior to Castellanos, the biggest offseason addition was Sung Mun Song, a free agent from the Korea Baseball Organization. Song was mostly a third baseman in the KBO, although he had time at second base and a little at first. Song, a left-handed hitter, had really good 2024 and 2025 seasons, with respective slash lines of .340/.409/.518 with 19 homers and 104 RBIs and then .315/.387/.530 with 26 homers and 90 RBIs. He also had 21 and 25 steals in those two campaigns. The huge question is how quickly Song will adjust to MLB pitching. He sustained an oblique injury that was reported about a month ago, with a timeline to return around the first few official games of spring training. How much that impacts his performance during the exhibition slate will be key to that process. If he is able to hit the ground running in his first few weeks, he should be fine. The next question is whether he hits well enough to force his way into the starting lineup. Song said he was going to bounce around the infield, except for shortstop, and the outfield, which lines up with what the Friars have previously said about where he could find playing time. One recent addition, expected to fill a bench role, is corner infielder-outfielder Miguel Andujar. He brings a right-handed bat that produced 17 homers last year between the A's and Cincinnati Reds. He has battled injuries since crushing 27 homers with the New York Yankees in 2018, when he finished second to Shohei Ohtani in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. He provides coverage at third and first base as well as left field, though his defense is suspect at each spot. Candidates to Join the Infield or Catcher Group? Will Wagner, the son of Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner, will be in the mix for a backup role after coming over at the trade deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays. He can play anywhere on the infield except for shortstop. Two players with non-roster invites that have a chance to win a spot are corner infielder Jose Miranda and Samad Taylor, who can play anywhere on the infield (no experience at first) as well as the outfield. Another out-of-the-box possibility is the Friars going with a third catcher, allowing Campusano more hitting opportunities, his strength. Blake Hunt is the top non-roster invitee on the catching side, but he is also an offense-first player. The Padres could be in search of a defensive catcher to help out Fermin. The Bottom Line At worst, Castellanos is a DH. If he can be a good defensive first baseman — he did begin his career as a third baseman — that would push Sheets to DH. But Song holds the real key to how the Friars' infield alignment shakes out. He could surprise and take the starting second base job or simply settle into a utility role. If he does grab second base, that would move Cronenworth to platoon at first base with Castellanos and Sheets, with one being the DH. There would be some obvious shuffling when Machado either needs a day off or serves as the DH, with Song moving over to third, Cronenworth to second, and Sheets to first. Regardless, there should be more versatility among the infield group with Song and Andujar in tow. The battle for the last bench spot between McCoy, Wagner, Miranda and Taylor will be decided by spring performance and whether to go with three catchers. The offense will suffer a bit without Arraez's contact ability, but the additions should help boost the power capability of the lineup this season. View full article

If A.J. Preller has a significant other, they might not be happy with how he has spent his Valentine's Day. However, San Diego Padres fans are at least enjoying Preller's work. In their third move of the day, the Friars are bringing in a second contender for the starting rotation, agreeing to a one-year deal with right-hander German Marquez, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Financial terms were not immediately available. The former Colorado Rockies ace's deal comes hours after right-hander Griffin Canning was added to the rotation competition by Preller, the Padres' president of baseball operations. Preller also cut a deal with first baseman-outfielder Nick Castellanos on Saturday. Like the other two, the Marquez deal is pending the pitcher passing a physical. The Padres entered Saturday with 39 players on their 40-man roster, so two corresponding moves, perhaps with injured players, will need to be made. He should benefit from the change of scenery from the pitcher-unfriendly Coors Field to Petco Park. Marquez had a rough 2025 in his first action since undergoing Tommy John surgery at the start of the 2024 season. He made 26 starts and posted a 5.47 FIP (6.70 ERA). Following a 3.28 FIP in an MLB-best 13 starts in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Marquez was an All-Star in 2021 and had a 3.86 FIP. In his 10-year career, all with the Rockies, he has a 7.2% walk rate and 21.8% strikeout rate. View full rumor

The San Diego Padres' bullpen should be one of the best units in MLB in 2026. If you are a fan of relievers, you should enjoy this group. Last year, while ranking 10th in innings pitched, the Friars finished first in opponent batting average (.209) and WHIP (1.15) and second in strikeouts. Walks were a bit of an issue as the Padres finished 19th, but this was a wholly dominant crew of late-inning firemen. Despite the loss of closer Robert Suarez to free agency, the Friars shouldn't miss a beat as Mason Miller, acquired at the trade deadline, takes over in that role. Relievers tend to be the difference-makers during a season. and the Padres will rely on their bullpen to again be the bedrock of the team. Breaking Down Every Reliever in Padres' Bullpen Who Was Scheduled to Come Back? Pretty much everyone, aside from Suarez, of course. The only subtraction was right-hander Sean Reynolds, who was non-tendered after a rough 19 appearances in 2025. Joining Miller in this year's bullpen are left-handers Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta and Yuki Matsui, as well as right-handers Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, David Morgan, Bradgley Rodriguez, Jhony Brito and Ron Marinaccio. There is quality wherever you look, but the focus of this year's relievers will be Miller, the latest in a line of very good or great Padres closers. As Miller showed in the NL Wild Card Series versus the Cubs, he can unleash some of the most wicked stuff in all of MLB. Suarez was really good as the Friars' closer the last two years, converting 76 of 87 save chances. While not having as many opportunities with the A's, Miller has converted 50 of 57 in his brief career. He struck out an amazing 44..4% of hitters last season, including 54.2% with the Padres, more than twice the MLB average of 22.5%. But he also walked 12% of hitters, worse than the league average (8.4%). Combined with Morejon at the back end, the Friars will be just fine for any late-game situation. Two players to watch coming back from injury are Adam and Brito. Adam ruptured a quad tendon in September, which required surgery. At the time, it was expected he would start this season on the injured list, but with a potential April return. Brito had an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and a flexor tendon repair last April, so late May or perhaps early June is the earliest expectation for his return. Who Was Added? Without much need in the offseason, the Friars made two small 40-man moves, signing right-handers Daison Acosta and Ty Adcock. The 27-year-old Acosta has yet to make his MLB debut, spending the last two seasons in the Washington Nationals' organization, so he is likely to be a depth option who opens the season at Triple-A El Paso. That would be a similar scenario for Adcock, who just turned 29 but does have 18 games of MLB experience over the last three seasons, six with the New York Mets in 2024 and 2025 and 12 with the Seattle Mariners in 2023. Candidates to Join the Bullpen? Other relievers on the 40-man are right-handers Alek Jacob, Bryan Hoeing and Garrett Hawkins. Jacob was a 16th-round draft choice in 2021 who made his MLB debut in 2023 and made 29 appearances in 2025, yet posted a 5.90 FIP. Hoeing has been decent in 25 relief appearances for the Padres over the last two years after coming over from the Miami Marlins in the Tanner Scott trade. Hoeing does have 10 MLB starts with the Marlins, so you wonder if the Friars stretch him out this spring due to the lack of rotation depth. Hawkins was a ninth-round draft pick of the Padres in 2021 and made it up to Double-A San Antonio in 2025, appearing in 13 games. That was his first season back since Tommy John surgery in 2023. Among prospects, right-hander Francis Pena is the top candidate to make the team, having pitched all of 2025 at Triple-A El Paso, but struggling with control (34 walks in 52⅓ innings). The Bottom Line As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Padres should have one of the best bullpens in all of MLB in 2026. There is depth and versatility. The depth could be very important as the thin starting rotation could lead to more innings for this group. That could lead to some opportunities for the depth pieces who will begin the season at El Paso. Should the rotation be somewhat stable, opponents will have a difficult time scoring against this relief corps. View full article

There is no question that A.J. Preller stays busy the entire offseason trying to improve the San Diego Padres' roster. The team's president of baseball operations has the reputation of being one of the most aggressive front-office executives in all of MLB. Even so, there haven't been a ton of moves by Preller this offseason. Sure, right-handed starter Michael King came back, he signed infielder Sung Mun Song from South Korea, and then added another bench bat in Miguel Andujar. Other than that, there haven't been any headline-grabbing moves. So, as the Friars are in the early days of spring training officially beginning, even with some players being in Peoria, Arizona, for weeks already, Preller met the media and gave some thoughts on where the roster stands just a week before Cactus League games begin. Padres Roster Status As most fans know, Preller understands the roster feels incomplete. That begins with the starting rotation. The rotation is pretty good at the top with Nick Pivetta, King, and Joe Musgrove. Randy Vasquez is the No. 4, but the last rotation spot is open with a handful of candidates vying to be on the Opening Day roster, but even those options come with questions. "Looking to add to the starting rotation," Preller said. "We've got some good competition, but I think always looking to fill out innings." View full article

Since losing Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller knew he had to retool the starting rotation. Dylan Cease and Michael King were about to become free agents and Yu Darvish wouldn't return following elbow surgery that would sideline for more than a year. Down went three major contributors to a Friars team that finished 90-72, second in the NL West. The good news was that Preller could expect to have Joe Musgrove back to join right-handers Nick Pivetta and Randy Vasquez as rotation returnees following his Tommy John surgery after the 2024 season. Even still, the rotation was in a precarious position entering the offseason. Let's break down what was done and where the rotation stands as spring training begins. Who Was Scheduled to Come Back? Pivetta, Darvish and Vasquez were in the postseason rotation, with left-handers Kyle Hart and JP Sears other regular starters from 2025 who would be counted on in 2026. Gone were Cease, King and left-hander Nestor Cortes, all free agents. Pivetta had a career year in his first season with the Friars, going 13-5 with a 3.49 FIP (2.87 ERA) with career bests of 190 strikeouts and 181⅔ innings. He had a 6.9% walk rate, improved from his 8.4% career mark, and 26.4% strikeout rate, right on line with the 26% for his career. In his 31 starts, he limited opposing batters to a career-best .583 OPS, including a .193 batting average, also his career low. That earned him a sixth-place finish in the NL Cy Young Award balloting. Darvish started Game 2 of the Wild Card Series vs. the Cubs, but had been experiencing elbow discomfort for much of the season. He made just 15 starts and had the internal brace procedure that reduces the recovery time by a couple months. Darvish, who had Tommy John surgery in 2015, entered the offseason as a 39-year-old, thus putting his future in doubt. With a report that retirement is a distinct possibility, Darvish's tenure as a Padres player seems over, although his legacy is strong. Vasquez had a solid season, though his 4.85 FIP suggests his 3.84 ERA was a little better than it should have been. Vasquez doesn't do anything special, so he's more or less expected to just eat innings. He could stand to use certain pitches more to be effective and overcome his lack of velocity and stuff. He already has a 39.4% groundball rate on balls in play, so leaning into that aspect could be a positive for him. The 33-year-old Hart made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2020 and then didn't have another appearance in the bigs until making the Padres' Opening Day roster in 2025. He made five starts before being sent to Triple-A El Paso, then came back for a spot start in May before going back down. Hart stayed in the minors until coming up in late August to make 11 relief appearances. Sears was the other player the Friars picked up in the Mason Miller trade. He wasn't that good in 22 starts with the A's, playing in a minor-league stadium, and didn't improve in five starts with the Padres. In those combined 27 starts, he had a 5.21 FIP, posting 6.3% walk and 18% strikeout rates. Who Was Added? King was given the qualifying offer, but surprisingly returned to the Padres on a three-year, $75 million deal in which he could opt-out after 2026. That was a huge mid-December move that solidified the rotation, giving the Friars a top three of Pivetta, King and Musgrove. Injuries limited King to 15 starts, which likely dampened his value in free agency as well as the price for signing a player with a qualifying offer. He wasn't as good in 2025 as he was in 2024, his first year in San Diego after coming back in the Juan Soto trade with the New York Yankees. Still, he registered a 4.42 FIP with 8.4% walk and 24.7 strikeout rates. Candidates to Join the Rotation The only other true candidate on the 40-man roster is right-handed knuckleballer Matt Waldron, who made just one MLB start and 21 in the minors. That came after 26 starts (27 appearances) with the Friars in 2024 (4.26 FIP). The only other 40-man member listed as a starter is right-hander Miguel Mendez, who was rocked in six starts at Double-A San Antonio in 2025, so the 23-year-old is at least another year away. A few intriguing possibilities were given minor-league contracts with invites to spring training. Those include left-hander Marco Gonzales and right-hander Triston McKenzie. Gonzales didn't pitch in 2025 after having flexor tendon surgery in September 2024, a season in which he made seven starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had a really good stretch from 2018-20 with the Seattle Mariners. McKenzie seemed to have a bright future after a really nice 2022 season, but injuries and ineffectiveness led to him being designated for assignment by the Cleveland Guardians early in 2025, then spending the rest of the season in the minors before becoming a free agent. Left-hander Omar Cruz is another possibility. The Bottom Line Preller is likely to add to this group in the near future. He needs to. Pitchers get hurt. This group is thin — very thin. The Friars used 11 starters in 2025 and right now it is tough to find depth that you can have any confidence in beyond maybe eight of the names mentioned. Pivetta, King and Musgrove at the top of the rotation is a pretty good trio. Vasquez as a No. 4 is solid without much more of an upside at the moment. That leaves the No. 5 spot up for grabs. With those four being right-handers, bringing in another left-hander would be prudent. But the top free agents still on the market are all right-handers: Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt and Zack Littell. No matter how he does it, adding another viable rotation member needs to be Preller's top priority before Opening Day. View full article

The San Diego Padres have already landed a big fish in their 2027 international class. Right-hander Yoel King, a 16-year-old Dominican who is already lighting up radar guns with 100 mph fastballs, has a pre-agreement to join the Friars in next year's signing class. The Padres are set to give King a huge signing bonus. King would represent a huge building block as the Padres need to replenish their farm system following numerous trades that have left the cupboard barren. The Padres are at or near the bottom of many system rankings by various outlets. View full rumor

During the offseason, contending teams are always searching for hidden gems. In the case of right-handed starter Triston McKenzie, the San Diego Padres are looking to see if they can work some magic and restore some of the early-career luster to the once highly rated Cleveland Guardians prospect. If so, the Friars could have a cheap addition for their rotation, which needs some fortification at the back end. McKenzie signed a minor-league contract with the Padres in December after being designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A following a rough beginning to last year. McKenzie's struggles last year, in which he pitched just 16 minor-league games including eight appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, could be remnants of his 2023 decision to choose rehab instead of having Tommy John surgery. The troubles since then are in stark contrast to his 2022 season. Following a bumpy 2021 as a rookie with the Guardians, McKenzie put things together and posted a 3.59 FIP (2.96 ERA) in 31 games, all but one a start, and 191⅓ innings. That included a 5.9% walk and 25.6% strikeout rate. He started twice in the postseason, including a really good outing versus the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Wild Card Series (6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 SO) in a 15-inning triumph, then getting knocked around a bit by the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the AL Division Series (5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 SO) in a walk-off win. It is that enticing season that makes McKenzie such an attractive wild card for the Padres entering spring training. Due to two injuries in 2023, he has pitched in 24 MLB games (20 starts), tossing 97⅓ innings and notching a 6.21 FIP (5.46 ERA) and a horrendous 15.6% walk rate to go along with a 21.2% strikeout rate over the past three seasons combined. That is where Ruben Niebla, the Padres' well-respected pitching coach who worked with McKenzie when he was in the Cleveland system, comes into play this spring. How much can the Friars fix in McKenzie and can he be an immediate contributor to the team or does he need time at Triple-A El Paso to work on his issues? While the Guardians are a pitching development machine, sometimes a player just needs a change of scenery. Triston McKenzie's Stuff Entering 2026 as a 28-year-old, McKenzie should have plenty of gas in his arm, especially with as much time that has elapsed since his a shoulder injury in March 2023 and elbow injury in June 2023. Since he pitched just 5⅔ innings over four relief appearances at the MLB level in 2025, everything has to be taken with a grain of salt. McKenzie has three pitches, which he has had most of his career, and his struggles in 2025 can be seen in the limited results from Statcast. As an example, his four-seam fastball had 4.1 inches less tail than the average MLB right-hander but did have 4.9 inches more rise. His curveball was his most consistent pitch and right around league average, but his slider tended to hang a bit with 4.7 inches less drop. Reminder that this is data from just four MLB relief appearances. Triston McKenzie's Arsenal Leaning on three pitches, McKenzie offers a four-seamer, curveball and slider. He did have a changeup that he ditched after his rookie season of 2021 and then had his best season (and only full season since) in 2022. His four-seamer was at career-high 93.7 mph in 2025, which was in the 39th percentile, and used it a whopping 80.5% of the time. That compares to 91.1 mph and 52.4% in 2024, 92.4 mph and 63.3% in 2023, 92.5 mph and 56.1 mph in 2022 and 92.1 mph and 61.6% in 2021. McKenzie's curve has been pretty consistent velocity-wise, checking in at 79.5 mph and 13% usage, 77.7 mph and 26.6% in 2024, 78.8 mph and 16.7% in 2023, 79.4 and 21.9% in 2022 and 79.3 mph and 21% in 2021. Finally, his slider, his least-used pitch, was at 86.6 mph and 6.5% usage in 2025, while at 85.4 mph and 21% in 2024, 85.2 mph and 20% in 2023, 87.3 mph and 21.9% in 2022 and 86.4 mph and 19.1% in 2021. The lack of sustained time over the last three seasons leaves little to take away from much of this, other than his velocity hasn't suffered and perhaps is a tick better. Year Pitch Type # # RHB # LHB % MPH PA AB H 1B 2B 3B HR SO BBE BA XBA SLG XSLG WOBA XWOBA EV LA Spin Ext. Whiff% PutAway% 2025 Four Seamer 99 55 44 80.5 93.7 25 17 5 3 1 0 1 2 16 .294 .317 .529 .574 .431 .495 91.6 21 2347 6.9 19.6 11.1 2025 Curveball 16 5 11 13.0 79.5 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 .000 .099 .000 .357 .000 .185 97.4 28 2303 6.7 66.7 22.2 2025 Slider 8 8 0 6.5 86.1 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 1.000 .636 1.500 1.053 1.067 .716 105.6 15 2046 6.7 0.0 0.0 2024 Four Seamer 683 338 345 52.4 91.1 198 155 47 25 6 0 16 22 134 .303 .299 .652 .670 .460 .462 92.4 21 2229 6.8 10.3 16.2 2024 Curveball 347 158 189 26.6 77.7 96 91 16 8 4 1 3 41 50 .176 .159 .341 .289 .242 .217 89.2 24 2212 6.6 37.3 25.9 2024 Slider 274 183 91 21.0 85.4 44 42 6 6 0 0 0 11 31 .143 .173 .143 .243 .152 .204 84.2 9 2167 6.7 37.6 21.6 What Should Triston McKenzie's Role Be In 2026? Unless McKenzie blows the doors off in spring training or injuries force the Padres' hand, it would be prudent to have McKenzie gain a little confidence by starting at Triple-A El Paso. He also doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, which is why he was DFA'd by the Guardians early last year, which makes a trip to El Paso even more likely. But if McKenzie can smooth out whatever has ailed him, as his velocity would portend, he is definitely the non-roster arm to watch this spring. View full article

Spring training is finally here. Pitchers and catchers have to report by Wednesday, with position players due Sunday. Already, players on both sides have reported to camp in Peoria, Ariz. That means all the work that president of baseball operations A.J. Preller and his crew have done thus far will come together to see how they fit. That begins, of course, with a new manager. Craig Stammen, the former Padres reliever, now becomes the daily face of the team in media interactions and how people perceive the team. Stammen was a surprising replacement for Mike Shildt, who abruptly resigned after the season with two years left on his contract. It is the second managerial change in the last three offseasons, so Stammen's history with the Friars should help with some of the continuity, although he will want to put his own touch on how things are run. Here is what to watch for from the Friars in Peoria: 1. Craig Stammen's Impact Stammen is one of three new MLB managers in 2026 who don't have any managerial experience, majors or minors, joining Kurt Suzuki of the Los Angeles Angels and Tony Vitello of the San Francisco Giants. Vitello has a feel for game management through his time as a college head coach. But Stammen is in the unique position of being a former relief pitcher who is now managing a roster of star players expected to compete for a playoff spot. A handful of those players — Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth and Luis Campusano — called Stammen a teammate in his final season as a player in 2023, retiring due to injury. He was well-liked in the clubhouse and spent the last couple years in various roles, including being available to major-league and minor-league players in his role as an advisor to the front office. Now, he is expected to set the tone in the clubhouse and have players listen to his messaging. That part shouldn't be hard considering he had a prominent role in the clubhouse as a player, but his words mean more now. Like successful coaches from other MLB teams, it will be up to Stammen to create new bonds with all of his players and keep the lines of communication open. Shildt came off as more of a tough-but-fair manager, while Stammen's already-established relationships would lean into a player-friendly style. That does come with a front-office flair due to his time there. Perhaps the biggest impact will be how his coaches perform. While Ruben Niebla lost in his bid to replace Shildt as manager, he remained as pitching coach and added the title of associate manager. Stammen named Steven Souza Jr., a former MLB outfielder with no previous coaching experience, as his hitting coach after spending 2025 as a special assistant with the Tampa Bay Rays. There is no secret the offense could use a boost after finishing 16th in OPS last year, including 22nd in slugging percentage and 28th in homers. 2. Last Rotation Spot Starting pitching depth is tenuous at best, but the top three of right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove are pretty decent. Randy Vasquez is currently slotted into the No. 4 spot. But the rotation took a hit with the loss of Dylan Cease via free agency. Without a lot in the minors to fill the void, there has been a lot of fretting by Friars fans, deservedly so, over the back end of the rotation. The Padres were in on this winter's top free-agent target, Framber Valdez, but didn't land the left-hander. It is very likely that this is addressed before Opening Day as several viable arms remain on the market. But until that happens, the Friars need to see what they have in the system. That includes left-handers JP Sears and Kyle Hart and right-hander Matt Waldron from the 40-man roster and non-roster invitees Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie, plus even perhaps wild card Riley Pint. That is a thin group. Sears probably enters camp in the No. 5 spot, but fellow left-handers Hart and Gonzales will get long looks this spring, as will Waldron. Sears came over to the Padres in the Mason Miller trade and made just five starts after being acquired. Hart had mixed results in 2025, with six starts among his 20 appearances, posting a 5.18 FIP, while also seeing time at Triple-A El Paso. A few long shots include right-hander Sean Boyle and left-hander Jackson Wolf. All in all, the depth is minimal and any injuries this spring will spell trouble. 3. What to Expect From Joe Musgrove That is a good lead-in for the status of Joe Musgrove. Java Joe had Tommy John surgery after injuring his right elbow in Game 2 of the 2024 NL Wild Card Series vs. Atlanta. The good news is that Musgrove recently said he had a "normal offseason." The timing mostly makes sense in that he was expected to be ready for spring training. But with TJ surgery usually being a 12-16 month recovery, it is doubtful the entirety of this offseason has been normal. And considering the Padres need Musgrove for the full season, it is likely that caution will win the day in the spring exhibition slate. That is something Stammen is surely to be asked about as pitchers and catchers report. If Musgrove suffers any setbacks, that will diminish the already-thin depth in the rotation. If Musgrove is ready for Opening Day following a full spring, his workload could be limited early in the season. That will be something to keep an eye on. 4. Sung Mun Song's Role Second base? First base? Utility? Where will Sung-mun Song play in 2026? The answer to that question could have a significant impact on how the Padres do this season. And part of the answer will depend on how his oblique injury is doing. When he sustained the injury, which was reported in mid-January, it wasn't known when it happened and that he would miss about a month. That timeframe brings us to right about now. The 29-year-old was primarily a third baseman in the Korea Baseball Organization, but that is Machado's home. So, Song will see time on the right side of the infield, with his focus likely to be on second base. Song has played 610 innings since 2021 at second base, the equivalent of half a season in MLB for a regular at the position. He has a solid .989 fielding percentage in that time at the keystone. If Song, a left-handed hitter, is healthy and gets his bat going in spring training, he could earn a few early-season starts. The would allow Jake Cronenworth, also a left-handed hitter, to be a versatile piece to play first base or the occasional start at short in addition to seeing time at second. But if Song doesn't hit the ground running in Peoria, that could render him into a utility role with Cronenworth starting at second. Song is also expected to see time in the outfield to make him more diverse defensively. 5. Final Bench Spot There are four bench spots, one of which goes to the backup catcher, in this case Campusano. Two of those three bench berths are pretty locked in with recent signee Miguel Andujar, a corner infielder-outfielder, and outfielder Bryce Johnson. For this exercise, we are putting Song, Cronenworth and Gavin Sheets in the starting lineup at second base, first base and designated hitter, however that works itself out. Which means the last spot on the roster is up for grabs. Candidates on the 40-man roster are infielders Will Wagner and Mason McCoy and outfielder Tirso Ornelas. Non-roster possibilities include Samad Taylor, Jose Miranda, Nick Solak and Pablo Reyes. Taylor and Reyes are very versatile, able to play second, third and the outfield, while Miranda is a corner infielder and Solak is an offense-first first baseman. With Cronenworth capable of playing shortstop — he started 10 games there in 2025 — the decision on who to pick could come down to the whether it is a right-handed or left-handed bat. With the number of left-handers in the lineup, including Song, Cronenworth, Sheets, and center fielder Jackson Merrill, a right-handed bat seems to be needed. Andujar is a righty bat, while Johnson is a switch-hitter. McCoy, Miranda, Solak and Reyes are all right-handed hitters. McCoy is the only true shortstop in the bunch, providing coverage for Xander Bogaerts. But like Wagner and Ornelas, McCoy has minor-league options remaining, so he'd be just a phone call away if he misses the Opening Day roster. View full article

With news that Eugenio Suarez is joining the Cincinnati Reds for 2026, it meant that someone's opportunities were being taken by the slugger's return to the Queen City. Whether that person is corner infielder Christian Encarnacion-Strand is up for debate, but with Suarez's addition as the designated hitter, Sal Stewart's late-season promotion and production at first base, and the Ke'Bryan Hayes acquisition locking up third base, it is hard to see a role for Encarnacion-Strand at the MLB level with the Reds. Could there be an opportunity for the 26-year-old with the San Diego Padres? Most certainly, even as other options are on the table. The bench as currently constructed is weak. Taking the backup catcher out of the equation, there are three bench spots. That typically means one infielder, one outfielder and another who is hopefully a hybrid. The big question for the Padres' starting lineup is how the right side of the infield will sort out. Ideally, that would be newcomer Sung Mun Song in a hybrid role, with Jake Cronenworth at second base and Gavin Sheets at first. Based on how FanGraphs sees the Friars' depth chart, that would mean a bench of Mason McCoy, Will Wagner and Bryce Johnson. That certainly doesn't inspire anyone looking for some offense in the event of an injury. Does Miguel Andujar change this equation, as a right-handed hitter with power? Perhaps, but he's a defensive liability better suited for full-time DH duties at this point. And save for his explosion with the Reds in the second half of the 2025 season, he's been as inconsistent as any hitter in the sport over the past half-decade. Which is where the Encarnacion-Strand, a fellow right-handed hitter, could come into play. But first, what would the Padres need to give the Reds in order to acquire him? It could be a simple 1-for-1 deal in which the Friars take from their deepest spot, the bullpen, and send a reliever to the Reds for Encarnacion-Strand. Who? Depends on who the Reds like. With Encarnacion-Strand entering 2026 with four seasons of team control yet ticketed for Triple-A to begin the season, it could be someone like right-hander David Morgan, a surprise in 2025, or left-hander Yuki Matsui, who has been solid yet underwhelming in his two years with the Padres. Losing either one of those two wouldn't damage the Friars' bullpen that much, especially with two injured relievers (Jason Adam and Jhony Brito) potentially returning in the first two months of the season. But we will let president of baseball operations A.J. Preller figure that part out. Encarnacion-Strand in a Padres uniform would be something worth exploring. While he has battled a couple of injuries (fractured right wrist in 2024, back inflammation in 2025), he also hasn't excelled when given the MLB opportunity. Across three seasons, Encarnacion-Strand has played in 128 games with 501 plate appearances, posting a slash line of .233/.275/.404 with 21 homers and 72 RBIs. However, that comes on top of gaudy minor-league numbers of a .305/.369/.580 slash line with 67 homers and 233 RBIs in 275 games over four seasons. So, you can see where a front office would dream on him. But the one troubling trend with Encarnacion-Strand has been his strikeouts. He has 136 in 128 MLB games and 297 in 275 games in the minors. When he was sent down to Triple-A in mid-July, manager Terry Francona had a chat with Encarnacion-Strand about not chasing as many pitches. That is the baggage Encarnacion-Strand would bring to San Diego. How would that affect the bench? Song is expected to get time this spring in the outfield, so that helps there. He also will fill in for Manny Machado at third base and can also slide over to first base. Cronenworth can play first or second. McCoy can play either middle infield spot, while Wagner is a second and third baseman. At least one of those latter two wouldn't make the Opening Day roster if the Friars make this move, especially since Andujar can technically play the infield and outfield corners as well. Regardless of how the exactly the Opening Day roster shakes out, the offense Encarnacion-Strand would bring to the bench would be a big boost for a team lacking in viable depth. View full article

The San Diego Padres are still looking to add to their roster with spring training set to begin in just a few days, and two reports say they were in play for two free agents who agreed to deals this week. The first was the top pitcher on this year's free-agent market, left-hander Framber Valdez. Valdez agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Jon Heyman, an insider for MLB Network and the New York Post, said the Friars "showed late interest" while also mentioning the Padres first among teams who were in contention for the two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion with the Houston Astros. The Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Baltimore Orioles were the other teams, aside from the Tigers. Then, following first baseman Paul Goldschmidt agreeing to a one-year deal to return to the New York Yankees on Friday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic noted that the Padres "were a finalist" for the 2022 NL MVP. Goldschmidt's salary for 2026 is expected to be less than $5 million. This comes on the heels of the Padres bringing in corner infielder-outfielder Miguel Andujar on a one-year, $4 million deal Thursday. Whether Andujar was Plan B after possibly being notified that Goldschmidt was going back to the Yankees, or if the Friars would have taken both, is unknown. There are still budget-friendly rotation options available. View full rumor

If San Diego Padres fans are looking for a reason to cheer for a team other than the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, there is no doubt it is the Dominican Republic. That is because of the 11 Friars participating in the WBC, three are on the DR's roster. Padres appear on eight rosters overall. Despite some insurance issues along the way, official 30-player rosters for all 20 WBC teams were announced Thursday. The tournament begins March 4. Superstars Manny Machado, a third baseman, and Fernando Tatis Jr., a right fielder, were already knowns on the Dominican roster and figure to be among the top players in a loaded lineup. Also on the roster is left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta. Machado will be in his third WBC, while Tatis and Peralta will be making their debuts. Closer Mason Miller is on Team U.S., while shortstop Xander Bogaerts will be playing for the Netherlands, left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui for defending champion Japan, and a pair of Padres in right-hander Ron Marinaccio and minor-league right-hander Alek Jacob playing for Team Italy. Three other minor-leaguers are on rosters with left-hander Miguel Ciengfuegos playing for Panama, right-hander Carter Loewen for Canada and right-hander Josh Mallitz for Israel. Infielder Sung Mun Song would have played for South Korea, but an oblique injury kept him out of the WBC. Another Friar, Yu Darvish, is expected to be an advisor for Japan as he is negotiating a retirement settlement with the Friars on his contract due to injury. The Dominican Republic is one of the favorites to win the WBC. This year's roster is highlighted by Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto, Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez, Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz and Philadelphia Phillies left-handed starter Cristopher Sanchez. Despite typically have the deepest roster of players, the Dominicans have won just one of the five prior WBC championships, capturing the title with a 3-0 win over Puerto Rico in 2013 in San Francisco. The DR has only made the semifinals one other time, in the inaugural WBC in 2006 and finished fourth, losing to eventual runner-up Cuba 3-1 at Petco Park. The Dominican trio of Machado, Tatis and Peralta will go up against Bogaerts and the Netherlands in Pool D in Miami on March 8. Miller and the U.S. face the Italy duo of Marinaccio and Jacob on March 10 in Pool B in Houston. Matsui and Japan are in Pool A, which takes place in Tokyo, The top two teams in each pool advance to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place on March 17 in Miami. View full article