Steve Drumwright

Right-hander Matt Waldron's chances to make the San Diego Padres' Opening Day starting rotation took a major hit when he had a medical procedure to treat an infection. New Padres manager Craig Stammen said Waldron, who features a knuckleball, is "week-to-week" after the procedure addressed the infection in his "rear end." The 29-year-old spent most of 2025 at Triple-A El Paso and made just one MLB start. But with room in the rotation this spring, Waldron entered camp as one of a handful of candidates for the last two spots. He is out of minor-league options, which means he needs to make the Opening Day roster or go on the 15-day injured list to avoid being designated for assignment. Waldron started 26 times (in 27 appearances) in 2024, putting up a 4.26 FIP. He walked 6.4% of batters and struck out 21.3%, solid numbers. By throwing the knuck View full rumor

When it comes to the San Diego Padres' outfield entering the 2026 season, this is the group from which you can expect the most production. Which is saying a lot considering how good the Friars' bullpen is. But that is because of the talent the the Padres have in the outfield. That starts with Fernando Tatis Jr., moves to Jackson Merrill, and concludes with Ramon Laureano. All three figure to play significant roles in the offense, with Tatis and Merrill batting in the top four and Laureano possibly anchoring the bottom four. Who Was Scheduled to Come Back? In addition to Tatis in right, Merrill in center and Laureano in left, backup Bryce Johnson also returns. Thus, that continuity, along with the bulk of the position-player group returning 2025, bodes well for an offense that should be strong (despite some obvious shortcomings). Since Tatis' forgettable 2022, in which he was recovering from a shoulder injury before being suspended for a performance-enhancing drug, the right fielder has bounced back. Not only has he been one of the best defenders in the game, but he's also also producing offensively. Sure, it hasn't been on the same level as his pre-suspension performance, but he has been very consistent in the three seasons since. With his usual flair, Tatis has a combined .266/.344/.459 slash line over the last three years, with 71 homers, 198 RBIs and 72 steals. Take into account that he played just 104 games in 2024 and those numbers would be a few notches higher. Tatis earned down-ballot NL MVP votes in 2023 and 2025, the same years he won the NL Platinum Glove as the best defender, regardless of position, in the league. He fuels that Friars' offense from the leadoff spot, scoring 111 runs in 2025 and 91 in 2023. Tatis also played in a career-high 155 games in 2025, the first he hasn't had to deal with injuries since 2020. Unfortunately, Merrill did deal with injuries in 2025. He went on the injured list three times, once for a strained hamstring (24 games missed), then a concussion (11 games), and then for a sprained right ankle (13 games). How those various ailments affected him throughout the season is probably a contributing factor to his .264/.317/.457 slash line with 16 homers, 67 RBIs and just one steal (three attempts). That, of course, came after he finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting and received NL MVP votes with a slash line of .292/.326/.500, hitting 24 homers and driving in 90 with 16 steals (19 attempts). He also struck out 108 times in 483 plate appearances in 2025 after whiffing 101 times in 593 plate appearances as a rookie. As a positive, he did walk 33 times in 2025, up from 29 in 2024. Laureano, a right-handed hitter who came over at the trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles, had a career year in 2025. He put up a .290/.355/.529 slash line with the Orioles, then dropped to .269/.323/.489 with the Friars. He hit 15 homers with the Orioles in 290 plate appearances, then his nine in 198 plate appearances after the trade. Johnson is back after the Friars reacquired him early in the 2025 season via a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was at Triple-A El Paso until mid-June. From there, the switch-hitter played in 55 games and had a surprising slash line of .342/.383/.434 with one homer and eight RBIs in 84 plate appearances. His role is mainly as a late-inning defensive replacement and pinch hitter. Who Was Added? Former Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos joined the fray after being released due to contract and clubhouse issues. His defense in right was not good, ranking 228th of 230 at the position with minus-11 defensive runs saved. He is known for his bat, averaging 21 homers and 82 RBIs over the last four seasons with the Phillies. No other true outfielder was added, but a couple of hybrid players were. That starts with Miguel Andujar, who spent 2025 with the A's and Cincinnati Reds. He will likely be a top pinch-hitter as a right-handed power bat, though he can play both outfield and infield corners. His career has been marked by injuries and sapped a lot of his power, although he hit 10 in 341 plate appearances over 90 games last year. Another option will be Sung Mun Song, a free agent from the Korea Baseball Organization. Song is a third baseman who also plays second base and a bit of first. He will be learning the outfield this spring training with the Padres to increase his versatility, perhaps becoming a super-utility player. Song has some offensive upside if the transition from the KBO goes smoothly. Candidates to Join the Outfield? There might not be another pure outfielder to join the fray. Tirso Ornelas is now gone after being DFA'd. Among non-roster invitees there is Pablo Reyes and Samad Taylor, who both also have infield experience. That will obviously boost their chances to join the Friars' bench. The Bottom Line There are very few questions in the outfield. Tatis is a given, regaining the luster he lost in 2022 and re-establishing his position in the game as a superstar. He is firmly a fan favorite and the gas that drives the Padres' car. Merrill should bounce back assuming he's fully healthy, and Laureano will be in a good situation as the everyday left fielder, motivated by the fact that he's in a contract year. Castellanos may get an occasional game in right, but he seems to be in the mix for time at first base or, at worst, as the designated hitter. Johnson is a solid backup, with Song and Andujar perhaps adding some more flair to this group. Regardless, the starting group will determine just how far this team goes in 2026. View full article

Spring training, like any exhibition season for any pro league, is often a time for boundless optimism for MLB fans. Especially when that player competing for a bench spot puts up spectacular numbers in what is surely to be that long-awaited World Series run. But I am here to tell you to pump the brakes, San Diego Padres fans. Most Cactus League games follow this format: starting position players play about three innings, then head home, not waiting for the final out. It is more about process than results for those assured of an Opening Day roster spot. With that in mind, Padres Mission is going to do a twice-a-week check-in to see who is doing well and who isn't. Don't take anything too seriously in this recap. It is only spring training, where exhibition games often devolve into minor-league scrimmages. The information below is intended as basic, not hardcore analysis. This recaps the Friars' first three exhibition games. The Padres went 1-2, losing to the Seattle Mariners 7-4, beating the Kansas City Royals 10-3, and falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1. Who's Hot? 🔥 Mason Miller: The closer, who is ramping up to represent the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, threw 23 pitches Friday vs. the Mariners, 14 of which were strikes. But Miller lit up the radar gun, hitting or surpassing 100 mph nine times, topping out at 101.7 mph. He faced four batters in the fifth inning, including AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, who popped out to second on five pitches. Miller did give up a single to Lazaro Montes, who was pinch-hitting for Julio Rodriguez. Montes, MLB Pipeline's No. 43 prospect, made it to Double-A last year. Jose Miranda: In what figures to be an intense battle for bench spots, the non-roster invite struck an early blow. The corner infielder went 5-for-6 with six RBIs in games vs. the Mariners and Kansas City Royals, including a two-run homer. The homer came against Mariners right-hander Alex Hoppe, who posted a 4.76 ERA in 37 games at Triple-A. He went 3-for-3 with a walk and four RBIs against the Royals. Two of his plate appearances came against Royals right-handed starter prospect Ben Kudrna, who had four games at Triple-A in 2025. Samad Taylor: Another possible piece of the bench puzzle, the non-roster invite played left field and center field against the Mariners and Royals, going 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. He also has infield experience. His damage came against minor-league pitchers. Who's Not? 🧊 Triston McKenzie: The right-hander, a non-roster candidate for the starting rotation, was rocked in two-thirds of an inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Replacing Randy Vasquez to start the third inning, he sandwiched walks to Michael Siani and Kyle Tucker around a flyout by Miguel Rojas. Will Smith then singled off McKenzie, who then struck out Ryan Ward. Nick Senzel followed with a two-run double, ending McKenzie's day after 26 pitches, only 12 of which were strikes. McKenzie, who gave up four runs in his six-batter appearance, topped out his four-seamer at 98.7 mph, his second pitch of the day, and mostly sat around 96 mph. Miguel Mendez: In a game in which the Friars gave up three runs to the Royals, the 23-year-old No. 5 Padres prospect was tagged for two of those in 1⅓ innings. Facing Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez to open the fourth inning, Mendez yielded a leadoff single to Witt, who was caught stealing by Freddy Fermin. Mendez then started the fifth by walking Kyle Isbel and yielding a double to Dairon Blanco. After notching his second strikeout, Mendez walked Josh Rojas to load the bases and was relieved by Alek Jacob, who hit and walked the next two batters. Nick Castellanos and Luis Campusano: We will group these two together because they entered Cactus League play with a strong likelihood of making the Opening Day roster, but could easily be overtaken by poor springs. Castellanos' journey to the Padres is well-documented, while Campusano has seemingly been in the team's future plans for a few years. Both started this spring 0-for-4, nothing to be worried about, but offense is their strong suit. Castellanos did make a couple of nice plays at first base, a position he has never played before. View full article

Cactus League play is finally here, with the San Diego Padres opening the exhibition season by playing the Seattle Mariners, with whom they cohabitate the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. The wins and losses don't mean anything. For a handful of the dozens of players who will play in these games, neither does their performance. Their spot on the Opening Day roster is set. But there are others, whether they are on the 40-man roster or a spring training invitee, who are depending on these games to prove they belong among the 26 who will be in the Petco Park clubhouse come March 26 vs. the Detroit Tigers. With that in mind, here are three position battles to keep an eye on this spring. (Players listed in order of strongest candidacy.) No. 4 and No. 5 Starting Pitcher After feeling a good bit of unease when pitchers and catchers reported last week, Friars fans have to be feeling a bit more comfortable now that president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has added three more arms, all with plenty MLB experience, to the field battling for the last two spots in the five-man starting rotation. The top three is set with right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove. RHP Walker Buehler: Relegated to a minor-league deal after a poor 2025 as a whole, the former Los Angeles Dodgers star will look to build on his final seven games (four with the Boston Red Sox, three with the Philadelphia Phillies) in which he posted a 2.53 ERA. RHP German Marquez: In his first season following Tommy John surgery, Marquez had a 5.47 FIP in 26 starts with the Colorado Rockies in 2025. Like a few others on this list, Marquez is a low-cost bounce-back option (one year, $1.75 million) who could become a stalwart at the back of the rotation. RHP Griffin Canning: Coming off a torn left Achilles, Canning (one year, $2.5 million) will begin the season on the injured list, but could be ready to join the rotation by the end of April at the earliest. The good news is Canning had the best 2025 of anyone in this this group before getting injured in late June, putting up a 4.04 FIP in 16 starts. RHP Randy Vasquez: The person whose stock suffered the most with the above additions, Vasquez went from securely being the No. 4 starter to now wondering where he fits in. Perhaps that will bring out the competitor in Vasquez and unlock a little more in his performance. LHP JP Sears: We enter the left-handed portion of this list. Any of these southpaws could have an advantage by virtue of simply being a lefty. That begins with Sears, who put up a 4.92 FIP in parts of four seasons (95 starts, one relief appearance) with the A's. He struggled in five starts after coming over at the trade deadline and could be a long reliever if he doesn't grab a rotation spot. LHP Kyle Hart: Often a forgotten figure in this discussion, Hart returned to the majors for the first time since 2020 to make 20 appearances (six starts) with the Padres in 2025. He figures to be an option only if injuries take their toll on the rotation. RHP Triston McKenzie: After emerging as breakout star in 2022 in Cleveland, McKenzie has had issues repeating that performance. Most of that has to do with choosing rehab over Tommy John surgery in 2023, a decision that has led to him pitching in just 24 games over the last three seasons. Starting at Triple-A El Paso could be a better situation for McKenzie, with an early call-up possible. LHP Marco Gonzales: Signed to a minor-league contract with a $1.2 million price tag in the majors, Gonzales had flexor tendon surgery late in 2024 and missed all of 2025. That scenario also makes him better-suited to start at Triple-A El Paso and come up when a starter is needed. First Base This position also changed dramatically in the last week due to a couple more free agents joining the mix. Jake Cronenworth will see time at first, though he is currently slated as the starting second baseman. Nick Castellanos: Following his well-publicized release from the Philadelphia Phillies last week, Castellanos became the front-runner to start at first base, a position he hasn't played in the majors. The former third baseman who has been playing right field almost exclusively since 2018 could bring some much-needed power to the lineup if he shows he can play first. Otherwise, he will be one of the primary designated hitters. Gavin Sheets: Entering spring training, Sheets was the favorite to start at first. This comes after just 13 games at the position and 64 games in left in 2025. Sheets' bat is his primary asset, having hit 19 homers and driven in 71 in 145 games last year while also seeing action in 64 games as the DH. With extra outfield depth acquired, Sheets will either be the first baseman or DH in 2026. Ty France: A 34th-round pick of the Padres in 2015, France returns to the organization on a minor-league deal after being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2020. He was the AL Gold Glove winner at first base last season, in which he was traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline. Miguel Andjuar: The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up to Shohei Ohtani has lost much of the power that he showed that year (27 homers) following a rash of injuries. But he can still hit. Andujar had a slash line of .318/.352/.470 between the A's and Cincinnati Reds in 2025, with 10 homers and 44 RBIs. His 341 plate appearances were his most since his rookie year. Sung Mun Song: Signed to a four-year, $15 million contract to come over from the Korea Baseball Organization, Song is a long shot to start at first, but will see time at the position as he floats around the diamond as a super-utility option. Last Bench Spot This is where Preller and manager Craig Stammen face their biggest decision as to roster construction. While going with three catchers had been floated, that idea is no longer in play with the additions of Castellanos and others. With Luis Campusano set as the back to Freddy Fermin at catcher, there are three other bench spots to fill. For argument's sake, we will pencil Castellanos and Sheets in as the starters at first base and DH in some fashion. Song and Andujar are givens at the moment. Song will be the backup at second and third base and will try the outfield this spring, while Andjuar has the ability to play left field, third base and first base. If Song is tried in center and shows he can play the position, that could make for other interesting decisions. That leaves one bench vacancy. Bryce Johnson: His spot on the 26-man roster is in jeopardy if Song can play center. Otherwise, he is the only other pure outfielder on the 40-man roster now that Tirso Ornelas has been jettisoned. He was really good offensively in 2025, with a .342/.383/.434 slash line to pull his career mark up to .240/.298/.305. Mason McCoy: The only other player on the 40-man with shortstop experience besides McCoy is Cronenworth. Do the Friars choose to have Cronenworth as the backup to Xander Bogaerts or do they prefer McCoy? The benefits of having another shortstop on the 26-man roster may overshadow other shortcomings on the roster. Will Wagner: The son of Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner hasn't established himself in the majors, though he's produced a .294/.394/.439 slash line in five minor-league seasons. In 55 games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Padres after coming over at the trade deadline, Wagner's slash line was .225/.324/.279. He has played second, third and first in the majors. If he expands to center field, that gives him a better shot. Ty France: Already with limited defenders in Castellanos and Sheets, do the Friars carry a third first baseman? As mentioned, France has a minor-league deal, but likely with an out by the end of camp to pursue a major-league job. Samad Taylor: A true wild card, but perhaps the only other non-roster position player to have a legit chance to make the Opening Day roster. Taylor brings the positional versatility needed from the last bench spot as he can play second, third and short on the infield and all three outfield spots. In addition to defense, he brings speed to the lineup, but has a slash line of .205/.272/.260 in 38 MLB games over the last three seasons. View full article

So much for the creative wheeler-dealer reputation A.J. Preller has built up. While Preller, the team's president of baseball operations, has acknowledged that he made preemptive moves at the 2025 trade deadline to fill anticipated holes on the 2026 roster, the Friars entered spring training in Peoria, Ariz., with a handful of areas still needing to be bolstered. (Cough, starting pitching, cough.) But that conversation is for another day. What it is time to do now is go over the moves Preller made before pitchers and catchers reported to camp. And these are only involving the MLB roster, not minor-league contracts with spring training invites, such as the deal given to left-hander Marco Gonzales, a candidate for the rotation. As a telling example, the Padres did not execute a trade, not even a minor one. Also, the fact that there are only five signings here could be a sign that Preller's hands have been tied due to the Friars' financial situation and the fact that they are currently up for sale. This also does not include the three deals made after pitchers and catchers reported to bring on first baseman-outfielder Nick Castellanos and right-handed starters Griffin Canning and German Marquez, nor does it include mention of the minor-league pacts Walker Buehler and Ty France inked. Grading Every Major Padres Move This Offseason Free-Agent Signing: RHP Michael King to 3-year, $75 million contract It took until mid-December for the Padres to make their first real move — and it involved a familiar face. After declining the $22.025 million qualifying offer, King returned to the place he spent the last two seasons as a key member of the starting rotation. The right-hander coming back was huge as the Padres were not only facing his loss, but the loss of right-handed starter Dylan Cease, another free agent who joined the Toronto Blue Jays. King had a combined 3.65 FIP (3.10 ERA) and an ERA+ of 134 (100 is an MLB-average pitcher) over those two seasons after being acquired in the Juan Soto trade. One of the reasons why King may have chosen to come back was he only made starts last year, first due to a nerve issue in his right shoulder, then inflammation in his left knee. He will likely slot in behind right-hander Nick Pivetta and ahead of right-hander Joe Musgrove in a strong top three in the rotation. The contract was a definite win for King, who gets paid $17 million in 2026, $28 million in 2027 and $30 million in 2028. King does have opt-outs after each of the first two years should he perform well enough to hit the free-agent market again, but also protecting himself if he gets hurt. The Padres are facing an even bigger rotation crisis next year if King and Pivetta opt out. Grade: A- Free-Agent Signing: INF Sung Mun Song to 4-year, $15 million contract Song is the most intriguing move of the offseason and could turn out to be a huge bargain. Coming over from the Korean Baseball Organization, Song has traditionally been a third baseman who has also spent time at second base and first base. But third base is superstar Manny Machado's position, so Song will see a majority of his time at the keystone, while filling in at third and occasionally at first. This spring, Song will learn to play the outfield, a place he never played in the KBO. He made himself an attractive candidate for MLB teams with his performance over the last two seasons. The 29-year-old had his best season in 2024, posting a .340/.409/.518 slash line with 19 homers and 104 RBIs. He also stole 46 steals in 48 attempts in that time. That brought his career line up to .283/.347/.431. The real value comes in the contract. If Song is just an average utility player, $2.8 million in 2026, $3.3 million in 2027 and $3.8 million in 2028 is really cheap by MLB standards. He has an opt-out after 2028, with $3.8 million scheduled for 2029. If there is a question, it is whether Song's last two seasons were the real deal, or whether he's actually something closer to what he did in his first seven seasons in the KBO. If he hits and defends well enough to become a starter at second base, this move will be a home run. Grade: B+ Free-Agent Signing: INF/OF Miguel Andujar to 1-year, $4 million contract Needing a right-handed bench bat, Andujar was a good addition for that price. Technically, Andujar makes $1.5 million in 2026 with a $2.5 million buyout for a mutual option for 2027. He split time pretty evenly at third base and left field last year, while seeing action in three games at first base between the A's and the Cincinnati Reds following a trade. He also played 28 of his 94 games at designated hitter. Andujar hits left-handed pitchers very well, with a .297/.332/.475 career slash line, compared with .275/.307/.427 vs. right-handers. Andujar is long past his peak power-hitting days, when he smacked 27 homers in 2018 for the New York Yankees en route to finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting to some guy named Shohei Ohtani. That is thanks to a number of injuries zapping his power. He did hit 10 homers in those 94 games last year, a season in which he had the most games, plate appearances and homers since that rookie campaign. He should be in the mix for at-bats at first base and left field, with some third base a possibility. He could also be a DH, particularly against southpaws given the number of lefty bats the Friars have. As long as he can stay healthy, this is a nice move to solidify the bench. Grade: B Free-Agent Signing: RHP Ty Adcock to 1-year, $850,000 contract Considering the MLB minimum salary in 2026 is $780,000, the 29-year-old is a low-risk addition and a safety net in case injuries decimate the bullpen. The right-handed reliever has 18 games of MLB experience, 12 coming in in 2023 with the Seattle Mariners and three in each of 2024 and 2025 with the New York Mets. In that brief MLB time, Adcock has a 7.18 FIP and a 5.48 ERA, which indicates he could have had a little luck on his side. He had a 14.3% walk rate and 35.7% strikeout rate, suggestive of someone with elite stuff who has yet to learn how to harness it. In four years in the minors, he has a career 4.40 ERA, including a 4.66 mark in 2025 at Triple-A. Grade: C Free-Agent Signing: RHP Daison Acosta to 1-year, $780,000 contract Similar to Adcock from a financial commitment perspective, Acosta has yet to make his MLB debut and has just 23 games at Triple-A over the last two seasons. The 27-year-old has spent eight of the last 10 years in the minors, with the 2020 minor-league season being wiped out by the pandemic and a lost 2021 campaign due to injury. Acosta allows 4.6 walks per nine innings and strikes out 10.1 batters in that same sample. The Friars had to see something in Acosta to give him a major-league contract and a spot on the 40-man roster, but he will be ticketed for Triple-A El Paso as bullpen insurance. Grade: C- Verdict If you were trying to come up with a book title for what Preller was able to do this offseason, it would be "Unfinished Business." Thus, what he accomplished between the final out of the NL Wild Card Series loss to the Chicago Cubs to the day pitchers and catchers reported is underwhelming. No starting pitchers and no starting position players were added. Even the bench feels like it needs another body. That isn't to say the moves that were made were bad ones. None is bad on face value. But as the leader of the front office of a contending team playing in a stadium that is filled to the brim by passionate fans on a nightly basis, Preller's job is to give the team every chance to win the NL West and contend for a World Series. He fell short of that goal this winter. Final grade: F Note: The three additions made over the weekend in Castellanos, Griffin and Marquez (plus France and Buehler) were smart and necessary signings. Since they came after pitchers and catchers reported to camp, they don't get factored into our grade here, but each of those fives players could have a significant impact on the team in 2026. If you believe that's the case, you can adjust the grade accordingly. View full article

When it comes to the current version of Walker Buehler, it is easy to think of the meme from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," where the teacher is taking attendance and asks, "Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?" MLB fans have been asking the same question since the right-handed starter returned in 2024 following Tommy John surgery costing him most of the 2022 season and all of 2023. "Anyone? Anyone?" The former Los Angeles Dodgers star is now with the San Diego Padres, having formalized a minor-league contract this week with no guarantee of a major-league job, just an opportunity with a team that is in desperate need of rotation depth. His fall is fairly stunning when you consider that, even at the end of a disappointing 2024 campaign, Buehler was still called upon to get the final three outs of the World Series in the clinching Game 5 vs. the New York Yankees after a five-inning start in Game 3. But here we are. Buehler made 16 starts in 2024, coming back in May from Tommy John surgery, then missing nearly two months with right hip inflammation. He turned in a 5.54 FIP over 75⅓ innings, with walk (8.1%) and strikeout (18.6%) rates that were the worst of his career as he was set to hit free agency. The Dodgers gave him a qualifying offer, but Buehler declined the $21.05 million deal and eventually signed for that same sum with the Boston Red Sox. Buehler's time on the opposite coast didn't go well. His walk and strikeout rates declined again to 10.8% and 16.5%, respectively, with his FIP landing at 5.89 in 22 starts and one relief appearance. The Red Sox released Buehler late in the season, and he was scooped up by the Philadelphia Phillies. Pitching in three games, starting twice, he did well in that brief showcase for the NL East champs. In fact, his last seven appearances showed some improvement from the rest of his 2025. Now, Buehler joins a suddenly competitive battle for the last two spots in the Padres' rotation. Right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove are the top three. Returnee Randy Vasquez headlines the battle for the last two spots, entering camp as the No. 4. But since then, the Friars added Buehler and right-handers German Marquez and Griffin Canning to the race with another returning player, left-hander JP Sears, as well as non-roster invitees Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie. Musgrove is coming off Tommy John surgery and is throwing in camp, while Canning's 2025 ended with a left Achilles injury that could sideline him for the first few months of the upcoming season. Walker Buehler's Stuff Having pitched in 2025, thus having some distance from his elbow surgery, we won't really consider his 2024 performance and instead will look at his pre-Tommy John numbers to compare both versions of Buehler. As you might imagine, there are some dramatic differences in Buehler's pitch movement from 2022 to 2025. One pitch that did stay the same was his four-seam fastball, which has very similar movement compared to league averages, while his knuckle curve drops 0.9 inches more. His cutter gained 0.4 inches in break over the MLB average (plus two inches in rise). His sweeper had the biggest jump with 2.5 inches more break than average, while his sinker lost an inch of tail and his changeup two inches of tail. That movement difference becomes more important when you notice that many of his Statcast categories went from pretty good (in the red) to well below average (blue). His fastball velocity went from the 73rd percentile to the 43rd and his chase rate went from the 75th to the 20th. It takes time to learn how to pitch when your stuff deteriorates, and he might not have had quite enough of that experimentation period with the Dodgers in 2024 due to the hip injury costing him two months. Walker Buehler's Arsenal Buehler actually added a pitch when he came back. He sprinkled in a slider a little bit in 2024 at 0.8%, which then surged to 14.9% in 2025, mainly against right-handed batters (20%). The slider checked in at 96.6 mph. His fastball didn't dip a whole lot in velocity, going from 95.2 mph in 2022 to 94 mph in 2025, but it went from just above average to just below average with the league-wide rise in velocity (94.3 mph to 95 mph). That led to a slight drop in usage, going from 28.9% to 25.3%. How Buehler deployed his cutter, knuckle curve and sinker also changed. His cutter remained his No. 2 pitch, but dropped from 25% usage to 16.9% as the velocity ticked down from 91.5 mph to 90.6. The sinker made a huge jump in usage, going from just 4.1% up to 16.4%, while the velocity dropped from 94.8 mph to 93.8 in becoming his third pitch. After his slider was introduced, the knuckle curve saw a drop from 16.8% usage to 12.9%. The changeup rounds out his repertoire and went down in usage as well, from 7.8% to 6.9%. There's an obvious Occam's Razor answer in play to help Buehler. He's diversified his arsenal to the point that he's lost any semblance of a traditional "out pitch", and one has to wonder if he wouldn't benefit from honing in on his best three or four pitches, rather than trying to squeeze out league-average production from six of them. 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 554 221 333 25.3 94.0 113 94 26 16 2 0 8 14 81 .277 .297 .553 .639 .402 .439 92.6 15 2249 6.5 15.0 10.4 2025 Cutter 370 128 242 16.9 90.6 97 85 30 19 5 1 5 7 78 .353 .337 .612 .556 .442 .417 85.4 13 2414 6.5 19.3 11.7 2025 Sinker 359 214 145 16.4 93.8 111 89 18 16 2 0 0 23 66 .202 .262 .225 .348 .288 .349 89.4 7 2123 6.5 7.4 24.5 2025 Slider 327 189 138 14.9 87.5 87 76 23 19 2 0 2 10 66 .303 .284 .408 .449 .356 .363 87.8 13 2525 6.6 21.8 9.1 2025 Knuckle Curve 282 34 248 12.9 77.4 65 61 17 11 3 0 3 15 46 .279 .229 .475 .375 .345 .285 85.4 9 2435 6.6 24.8 14.0 2025 Changeup 150 6 144 6.9 89.7 43 39 10 8 1 0 1 13 27 .256 .163 .359 .225 .290 .204 87.2 5 1560 6.5 21.7 21.3 2025 Sweeper 147 147 0 6.7 80.8 48 46 6 2 1 0 3 10 36 .130 .209 .348 .362 .219 .262 80.8 13 2715 6.6 34.1 13.7 2024 Four Seamer 386 163 223 28.9 95.0 90 79 27 15 4 0 8 9 71 .342 .330 .696 .659 .462 .450 92.3 16 2279 6.5 16.9 9.8 2024 Cutter 279 93 186 20.9 91.2 69 63 15 10 2 1 2 14 49 .238 .214 .397 .321 .307 .272 84.0 8 2417 6.6 21.5 19.4 2024 Knuckle Curve 256 54 202 19.2 78.0 60 54 15 9 3 1 2 18 37 .278 .282 .481 .457 .348 .347 89.6 17 2566 6.6 26.7 18.8 2024 Sinker 219 182 37 16.4 94.8 64 55 16 14 2 0 0 7 48 .291 .228 .327 .279 .325 .286 83.8 2 2140 6.5 11.5 13.0 2024 Sweeper 116 116 0 8.7 82.6 37 34 5 3 0 0 2 13 21 .147 .160 .324 .256 .238 .223 82.4 8 2698 6.6 28.8 22.0 2024 Changeup 69 1 68 5.2 90.0 23 22 10 5 4 0 1 3 19 .455 .310 .773 .473 .529 .353 92.1 10 1564 6.5 8.8 13.6 2024 Slider 11 10 1 0.8 86.2 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1.000 .437 4.000 1.522 2.050 .797 98.7 27 2569 6.5 33.3 0.0 2022 Four Seamer 363 157 206 34.7 95.2 92 80 30 20 5 0 5 9 71 .375 .307 .625 .599 .463 .423 92.1 16 2267 6.5 13.5 10.2 2022 Cutter 262 123 139 25.0 91.5 67 64 15 12 3 0 0 13 51 .234 .275 .281 .372 .247 .303 81.9 2 2411 6.5 26.6 23.2 2022 Knuckle Curve 176 18 158 16.8 79.2 44 41 7 5 1 0 1 10 31 .171 .217 .268 .365 .223 .281 86.4 2 2662 6.5 30.2 18.2 2022 Sweeper 120 120 0 11.5 83.5 31 31 6 3 1 0 2 14 17 .194 .166 .419 .338 .260 .212 85.9 13 2673 6.5 39.1 24.1 2022 Changeup 82 5 77 7.8 90.5 29 29 4 2 1 1 0 10 19 .138 .182 .241 .293 .160 .204 87.0 -7 1550 6.4 31.3 22.2 2022 Sinker 43 38 5 4.1 94.8 11 10 5 4 1 0 0 2 8 .500 .403 .600 .540 .499 .432 95.4 1 2161 6.3 10.5 40.0 What Should Walker Buehler's Role Be In 2026? If Buehler did find something in his final seven appearances and fine tunes that under the watch of pitching coach Ruben Niebla this spring, he definitely deserves a spot in the rotation and has perhaps the most upside of any of the candidates mentioned above considering his past performance. He made it through 2025 without any known injuries, so this offseason was likely spent figuring out how to use the weapons he has effectively. With two open spots in the rotation and a handful of players battling to be on the Opening Day roster, Buehler has every opportunity to be in the rotation. He has been a starter his entire career, with a limited number of relief appearances, and the Padres' bullpen is already pretty full, so the alternative would be for him to head to Triple-A El Paso, since he did sign a minor-league deal, should things not go his way during spring training. View full article

Had he not ruptured his left Achilles tendon at the end of last June, right-hander Griffin Canning might have been a more sought-after starter this offseason. After all, he was in the midst of a breakout season with the New York Mets when the injury happened. But it did occur and the San Diego Padres are hoping to capitalize on the opportunity by making Canning an addition to their roster a few days after pitchers and catchers reported to Peoria, Ariz. However, that payoff could be delayed. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Canning might not be available until May. The 29-year-old, who went to nearby Santa Margarita Catholic High School as well as UCLA, was 7-3 with a 4.04 FIP (3.77 ERA) at the time of the injury. He immediately jumps into the competition for a rotation spot. That was the second significant injury since making his MLB debut in 2019 with the Los Angeles Angels; Canning missed all of the 2022 season with a stress fracture in his back. Griffin Canning's Stuff The Angels' second-round pick in 2017 has some decent movement on most of his pitches. His four-seam fastball is about MLB average for a right-hander, with an extra two inches of tail. His slider was dramatically better in 2025 than it had been previously. It had 6.1 more inches of drop, but three inches less break. Canning's changeup also gained more depth, dropping 2.6 inches more than average. While relying on those three pitches, Canning also sprinkles in a curveball and cutter. His knuckle curveball is a pitch that could become more effective. In 2025, it tallied 4.3 inches more break, but 4.5 inches less drop than the MLB average, making it something of a hybrid between a slider and a traditional curve. Griffin Canning's Arsenal There are five pitches that Canning uses, with one of his offerings new to his repertoire in 2025. All of his pitches are right around the MLB average from a velocity perspective. Canning's four-seamer was used at a 35.1% clip, including 37% vs. right-handed hitters, while his slider was next at 31.4% and up to 38% against right-handers. The changeup was used 23.2% of the time, including 28% when facing left-handed batters. His knuckle curve had a 6.5% usage, while his newest pitch is the cutter, used 3.8% of the time, primarily vs. lefty hitters. The average velocities of his pitches: four-seamer 94.1 mph, slider 87.7, changeup 89.5, knuckle curve 81.4 and cutter 89.6. The cutter replaced a sinker that Canning had been using. His strikeout rate rebounded from a dismal 17.6% in 2024 to 21.3% with the Mets, but still a tick down from his career mark of 22.1%. However, his walks jumped up to 10.7% in 2025 after being at 8.9% the year before. Canning's career walk rate is 8.7%. While still giving up a lot of hard hits (in the 11th percentile), he is pretty decent at inducing grounders (87th percentile). 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 471 233 238 35.1 94.1 83 72 18 11 3 0 4 22 51 .250 .245 .458 .540 .348 .373 90.9 15 2149 6.1 19.3 18.0 2025 Slider 422 239 183 31.4 87.7 123 112 31 22 5 1 3 27 85 .277 .263 .420 .447 .333 .338 90.2 3 2742 5.9 33.5 18.5 2025 Changeup 312 114 198 23.2 89.5 101 92 18 16 1 0 1 17 75 .196 .252 .239 .355 .234 .300 91.2 4 1486 5.8 22.1 16.0 2025 Knuckle Curve 87 38 49 6.5 81.4 13 12 1 1 0 0 0 3 9 .083 .169 .083 .284 .121 .231 86.1 20 2508 5.8 25.8 12.0 2025 Cutter 51 5 46 3.8 89.6 7 4 2 1 1 0 0 1 3 .500 .346 .750 .434 .601 .490 83.8 41 2434 5.9 20.0 16.7 2024 Four Seamer 1069 494 575 37.3 93.4 259 223 56 27 11 2 16 33 196 .251 .270 .534 .533 .366 .379 92.1 23 2118 6.1 14.8 12.0 2024 Changeup 765 260 505 26.7 88.6 229 212 55 39 10 1 5 38 176 .259 .245 .387 .381 .303 .299 87.1 7 1770 5.8 28.8 17.4 2024 Slider 690 391 299 24.1 87.7 182 162 46 34 5 0 7 49 115 .284 .248 .444 .401 .346 .317 91.2 6 2672 5.9 33.1 20.9 2024 Knuckle Curve 307 138 169 10.7 80.5 56 48 13 9 2 0 2 10 39 .271 .260 .438 .431 .347 .342 88.8 22 2377 5.8 24.1 14.9 2024 Sinker 38 27 11 1.3 92.9 12 11 4 3 0 0 1 0 11 .364 .376 .636 .814 .451 .530 92.4 12 1975 6.2 0.0 0.0 2023 Four Seamer 724 386 338 34.7 94.7 150 136 32 17 4 1 10 40 97 .235 .237 .500 .517 .340 .346 92.0 25 2138 6.1 28.1 19.1 2023 Slider 624 395 229 29.9 88.4 169 157 41 32 7 0 2 56 101 .261 .220 .344 .308 .292 .263 89.4 5 2728 5.9 34.0 22.6 2023 Changeup 443 181 262 21.3 90.2 139 127 27 18 5 1 3 26 101 .213 .246 .339 .407 .274 .314 89.3 3 1810 5.8 24.8 15.4 2023 Knuckle Curve 279 136 143 13.4 81.8 51 48 13 5 2 1 5 9 40 .271 .258 .667 .582 .390 .355 93.9 24 2406 5.9 25.2 19.6 2023 Sinker 14 9 5 0.7 94.9 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 .333 .337 1.333 1.228 .675 .646 94.3 28 2126 6.1 14.3 0.0 2021 Four Seamer 435 218 217 40.4 93.6 102 85 21 9 5 1 6 18 67 .247 .265 .541 .537 .387 .396 94.1 28 2267 6.0 20.8 17.0 2021 Slider 291 237 54 27.0 88.2 89 83 21 12 4 1 4 31 53 .253 .201 .470 .339 .317 .250 88.0 3 2638 5.7 39.4 26.5 2021 Changeup 230 57 173 21.4 89.1 65 58 16 13 2 0 1 10 48 .276 .301 .362 .412 .319 .352 86.6 12 1870 5.7 34.8 16.4 2021 Knuckle Curve 119 53 66 11.1 81.8 20 19 6 3 1 0 2 3 16 .316 .177 .684 .357 .429 .247 83.9 31 2324 5.7 28.6 13.6 2021 Cutter 1 1 0 0.1 90.7 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1.000 .982 4.000 3.927 2.007 1.969 110.1 28 2220 5.5 0.0 0.0 2020 Four Seamer 392 219 173 40.6 92.8 96 82 25 13 6 1 5 18 68 .305 .235 .585 .483 .389 .342 88.9 28 2352 5.8 16.0 17.1 2020 Slider 221 134 87 22.9 86.5 61 56 10 6 3 0 1 27 29 .179 .142 .286 .243 .237 .207 88.6 12 2597 5.6 47.1 28.1 2020 Cutter 192 123 69 19.9 88.6 37 30 9 6 1 0 2 4 26 .300 .283 .533 .549 .416 .419 87.3 8 2375 5.7 30.8 10.8 2020 Changeup 149 47 102 15.4 87.9 41 39 8 6 1 1 0 6 33 .205 .289 .282 .432 .231 .328 88.7 14 1741 5.5 22.6 19.4 2020 Knuckle Curve 11 6 5 1.1 81.5 3 3 2 2 0 0 1 2 .667 .576 .667 .703 .588 .563 84.6 20 2448 5.5 16.7 20.0 2019 Four Seamer 656 314 342 42.3 93.9 155 133 35 18 7 2 8 35 101 .263 .227 .526 .476 .364 .336 89.7 28 2335 5.8 22.9 20.2 2019 Slider 448 339 109 28.9 88.9 123 109 25 17 5 0 3 37 74 .229 .212 .358 .327 .285 .273 87.1 10 2506 5.5 45.2 25.3 2019 Curveball 249 80 169 16.0 82.0 51 49 9 4 4 0 1 15 34 .184 .179 .327 .301 .229 .222 84.8 7 2425 5.2 34.0 23.4 2019 Changeup 199 46 153 12.8 89.1 55 50 11 6 1 2 2 9 41 .220 .266 .440 .489 .306 .350 85.5 10 1671 5.6 28.2 20.9 What Should Griffin Canning's Role Be In 2026? Canning is clearly a favorite for a rotation spot, but his status for Opening Day or even April will depend on how the recovery of his left Achilles is going. There is a possibility that he beings the season on the 15-day injured list, or even the 60-day if his rehab process is taking longer than expected. With the top three of right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove set, pending any setbacks to Musgrove's return from Tommy John surgery, a full-strength Canning and another new acquisition, right-hander German Marquez, certainly put right-hander Randy Vasquez's spot in the rotation in jeopardy. View full article

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