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  • MLB Notes

    Read quick notes on the San Diego Padres big league club, including injuries, lineup changes and roster moves.

    142 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

      While there are some holdovers retaining a piece of the San Diego Padres under new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, there are some new faces, too.

      Among those staying on are Alfredo Harp Helu, whose previous stake in the Padres was around 20% but according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, he is increasing that investment. Harp Helu's name is on the Mexico City stadium where the Padres and MLB have played. Members of the Seidler family, who sold the team to Feliciano and Jones for a record $3.9 billion with that transaction approved by MLB owners Monday, will also be sticking around, not an unusual move.

      However, joining the ownership group are Behdad Eghbali, Feliciano's co-founder of private-equity firm Clearlake Capital, as well as Joey and Jesse Buss, the youngest children of the late Jerry Buss. Joey and Jesse Buss, perhaps coincidental, perhaps not, on Monday announced they were selling the family stake in the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, which is being contested by sister Jeanie Buss.

      Feliciano and Jones are expected to have about a 45% interest in the Padres. With the sale expected to close in the next few days following MLB's approval, the couple will be introduced Monday at 1 p.m. at Petco Park.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      San Diego Padres right-handed starter Randy Vasquez was back at the team hotel in Los Angeles on Friday morning after fainting Thursday night.

      Vasquez was nailed on the right ankle by a comebacker off the bat of Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts in the first inning of a 12-7 loss. Vasquez not only stayed in the game and finished the inning, but he went two more innings before being removed. As a precaution, he was en route to getting an X-ray on the ankle when he fainted at Dodger Stadium, manager Craig Stammen said on MLB Network Radio. Vasquez was then taken to a hospital.

      "That's great news in what could have been a really scary situation and definitely caught everybody off-guard," Stammen said. "But glad Randy's doing well, and X-rays were negative and all the tests came back pretty clean."

      Due to the fainting spell, the X-rays were not taken. Testing will be done to determine Vasquez's injury status.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      Following six straight losses, the San Diego Padres have lost two key players.

      Right-handed starter Randy Vasquez and catcher Freddy Fermin were placed on the 10-day injured list Friday by the Padres, who activated catcher Luis Campusano from the 10-day IL and called up right-hander Alek Jacob from Triple-A El Paso. Vasquez is on the IL with a bruised right ankle and Fermin with a head bruise. Campusano had been out since May 7 with a broken left big toe.

      Vasquez was injured in the first inning of Thursday's 12-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers when he took a Mookie Betts smash off his right ankle. As he was heading to get X-rays, he fainted and was taken to a hospital in L.A., then was released Friday morning. Right-hander German Marquez, who pitched three innings of relief Thursday, can step into Vasquez's starting role.

       

      Fermin took a foul ball from Freddie Freeman off his mask and, a few pitches later, was on the mound for a conference when he started to exhibit signs of an injury and was removed from the game. Fermin spent time this season already on the concussion list, but this has been classified as a head bruise.

      Campusano will easily fill Fermin's shoes as the lead catcher with Rodolfo Duran the No. 2. Campusano had a slash line of .288/.362/.596 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 18 games before he was hurt. He appeared in two rehab games, going 2-for-6 with a homer, before being needed by the Padres.

      Jacob joins a Padres bullpen that needs a fresh arm after having to cover six innings Thursday due to a short start by Vasquez. He is up for the third time this season, but has pitched in just two games, allowing two runs in two innings with two walks and three strikeouts. In 34 games at Triple-A El Paso, Jacob has a 3.71 ERA with 17 walks and 34 strikeouts in 34 innings.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The success of Ty France has left no room for Sung-Mun Song on the San Diego Padres' roster.

      As such, with Song's rehab assignment having expired, the infielder from South Korea was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

      Song had reinjured his oblique in spring training following an offseason incident in mid-January. That landed him on the injured list to begin the season. He ramped up at El Paso, playing second base, third base and shortstop. In 16 games on the rehab assignment, which began March 27, Song posted a .276/.364/.310 slash line with no home runs and 10 RBIs.

      He was signed to a four-year, $15 million contract in December following nine seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization and looked at as the primary infield backup going into spring training. Song opened eyes the last two years with slash lines of .340/.409/.518 in 2024 and .315/.387/.530 in 2025. He combined for 45 homers and 46 stolen bases in those two seasons.

      France, the former San Diego State star, earned the last bench spot with his strong spring, then has continued that into the regular season. France, who started his career with the Padres in 2019, is slashing .273/.333/.455 with one homer and one RBI while playing in eight of the Friars' 18 games. The reigning AL Gold Glove first baseman is somewhat limited positionally, though, which is a big reason why right fielder and former shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. played second base in back-to-back games over the weekend. France can play second or third, but is not very strong defensively there.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      After the news broke of Ethan Salas' promotion Monday, the move became official Tuesday as the calendar flipped to September.

      Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, officially had his contract selected by the San Diego Padres from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday and is likely to make his MLB debut on the road against the Cincinnati Reds. Salas is the youngest player in the majors this year at 20 years, 92 days.

      Joining Salas on the Padres as rosters expand by two slots is right-hander Jhony Brito, who also comes up from the Chihuahuas. To make room on the 40-man roster for Salas, outfielder-infielder Luis Rengifo was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

      Brito made three relief appearances for the Padres in July. That capped a comeback from internal brace surgery and right flexor tendon surgery in May 2025.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      In a move that suddenly gives the San Diego Padres a ton of outfield depth, infielder Sung-Mun Song was optioned to Triple-A El Paso, while outfielder Dustin Harris had his contract selected from the Chihuahuas. Right-handed starter Lucas Giolito was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL to create room for Harris on the 40-man roster.

      While solid defensively and having played everywhere but first base on the infield, Song has not contributed much offensively in his rookie season. The 29-year-old, who came over to the U.S. from the Korea Baseball Organization, has a slash line of .202/.305/.263 with one homer, 15 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 62 games. Song did not play at all over the weekend against the Minnesota Twins and is just 2-for-15 with two walks in August.

      Harris is with his third franchise this season, having been in the majors with the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros as well. He started the season at Triple-A for the White Sox, then called up for a week in early April before being designated for assignment. The Astros claimed Harris off waivers a few days later and spent three weeks on the major-league roster before being DFA'd again May 5. He was outrighted to Triple-A, but chose to become a free agent, re-signing with the White Sox on a minor-league deal May 12. The White Sox released Harris July 2 and he latched on with the Padres on July 8 on a minor-league contract, going to El Paso. Due to roster shuffling, the Padres released Harris on Aug. 5 and signed him again Aug. 7.

      Harris has compiled a slash line of .350/.422/.617 in 29 games for the Chihuahuas and .329/.407/.545 in 74 Triple-A games this year. In his two MLB stints this year, he has a .233/.333/.302 slash line in 17 games. He also played in 21 games over the 2024-25 seasons with the Texas Rangers, with a .217/.280/.435 slash line.

      Harris had two of his 12 Triple-A homers last week.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Sung-Mun Song is finally getting his chance.

      After a spring training interrupted by a second oblique injury that cost him a spot on the Opening Day roster, the South Korean infielder was called up by the San Diego Padres on Saturday to make his MLB debut this weekend. Song is the extra player for the two-game Mexico City Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and will have to be returned to Triple-A El Paso following Sunday's game, barring an injury to a position player.

      The 29-year-old Song, a key signing in the offseason, was close to being able to start the season with the Padres, but he still needed some at-bats and was put on the 15-day injured list. He started a rehab assignment with El Paso and spent the maximum 20 days there. With no room on the 26-man roster and no one underperforming, Song was optioned to Triple-A.

      Song has done well at El Paso, with a slash line of .293/.369/.320 with no homers and 12 RBIs in 20 games. He has not attempted a stolen base. Now Song will get a chance to make his MLB debut in the high altitude of Mexico City.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Yuki Matsui is finally back with the San Diego Padres. But Jake Cronenworth is out for a brief period.

      Matsui, the left-handed reliever, who has been out since spring training with a strained left groin, was activated off the 15-day injured list Tuesday, while Cronenworth, the starting second baseman, went on the seven-day concussion list. Left-handed reliever Kyle Hart was optioned to Triple-A El Paso and infielder Sung-Mun Song was called up.

      We have made the following roster moves:

      [image or embed]

      — San Diego Padres (@padres-mlbbot.bsky.social) May 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM

      Cronenworth's concussion is the most surprising of these moves. He did not appear to be injured in Monday's series opener against the San Francisco Giants.

      Matsui had seemed close to being ready for Opening Day during spring training, but he did not appear in a Cactus League game. So he began the season on the 15-day injured list and began a rehab assignment with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas a week later.

      At El Paso, Matsui made 11 appearances, allowing seven runs on 17 hits with three walks and 14 strikeouts in 17⅔ innings. In two of his final three games, he went two innings. In his two years in MLB, Matsui has a 3.86 ERA in 125 appearances, with an 11.3% walk rate and 24.6% strikeout rate.

      Song was called up as the extra player for the two-game Mexico City Series two weekends ago, but made only one pinch-running appearance. He was still recovering from an oblique injury at the start of the season and, once healthy, there wasn't room for him on the major-league roster, so he was optioned to El Paso. Now, he will fill in for Cronenworth at second base and make a case for him to remain on the roster. In 25 games at El Paso, Song had a .293/.364/.354 with one homer and 15 RBIs. His homer came in Sunday's game for the Chihuahuas.

      Hart had a 5.40 ERA in 12 appearances, walking six and striking out 10 in 16⅔ innings.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      Looking for a jolt in their moribund offense, the San Diego Padres are dipping down into the minors for some help.

      Outfielder Jase Bowen is set to be called up from Triple-A El Paso by the Padres to make his MLB debut before Tuesday's series opening against the Philadelphia Phillies, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported Monday. A corresponding move to get Bowen on the 26-man and 40-man rosters will be needed.

      The 25-year-old Bowen has been one of the Chihuahuas' best hitters all season, posting a slash line of .292/.362/.600 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs. His 13 homers are second in the Pacific Coast League and his 36 RBIs are tied for the team lead with Mason McCoy. Bowen notched his 13th home in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Albuquerque Isotopes. Bowen also has seven steals in 11 chances.

      Bowen ranks in the top five in the PCL not only in homers, but in slugging percentage (.362), triples (5), extra-base hits (29), total hits (57) and runs (48).

      The Padres rank last in MLB with a .218 batting average and next-to-last with a .656 OPS.

      An 11th-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 out of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, the two-sport star turned down a football scholarship to Michigan State, where he would have been a wide receiver, to sign. Bowen joined the Padres this offseason on a minor-league contract after becoming a six-year free agent.

      In spring training, Bowen tied for the team lead with four homers and drove in 11 while also stealing a team-high seven bases.

      Who Bowen takes over for is another question. The Padres could opt to send infielder Sung Mun Song back down to Triple-A. Song has been a backup and late-inning defensive replacement at second base since Jake Cronenworth went on the seven-day concussion list May 5. It is not known when Cronenworth might return. Fernando Tatis Jr., the Platinum Glove right fielder, has been starting most of the time at second base. Two other possibilities are in the outfield. One would be a simple swap of Bowen for Bryce Johnson, the current backup outfielder. The other would solve both roster issues: designating Nick Castellanos for assignment.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

      The San Diego Padres will be stuck in the Mud for a few more years.

      In this case, that's actually a good thing.

      Television analyst Don "Mudcat" Grant has agreed to a multi-year extension with the Friars, keeping one of MLB's top announcing teams together. The move was reported Thursday by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Don Orsillo, the team's play-by-play announcer for TV games, signed a multi-year extension last spring.

      Grant is a former right-hander pitcher who spent parts of four (1987-90) of his eight MLB seasons in a Padres uniform. He has been an analyst for Friars television since 1996, following his last in 1993. The Union-Tribune said Grant had been operating on a series of one-year deals. Orsillo has been calling Friars games since 2016.

      Together, they form not only an informative tandem, but a hilarious one as well. Grant is either providing most of the humor or the subject of it.

      They are scheduled to call their first game of the spring tonight at 6:10 p.m. on Friars.tv as the Padres play the Chicago White Sox.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      With the postseason right around the corner, the San Diego Padres are getting one of their top bullpen arms back.

      Right-handed reliever Jason Adam was activated off the 60-day injured list Wednesday by the Padres, who optioned right-hander Griffin Canning to the minors. Another right-handed reliever, Alek Jacob, was designated for assignment to make room for Adam on the 40-man roster.

      The Padres entered Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers tied with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies for the NL's three wild-card spots. The Padres lose tiebreakers to both teams, meaning they need to finish ahead of one or both in order to claim anything other than the NL's No. 6 seed.

      Adam was the Padres' top setup man when he went on the 15-day injured list on July 2 with a strained right shoulder. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on Aug. 3 as a procedural move to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. 

      He made three rehab appearances with Triple-A El Paso last week, one that went well and two others that didn't from a statistical point of view. But stats don't matter much in rehab assignments for the player in question, who is looking to find his form to return to the major-league roster. In the second two, Adam allowed nine runs and recorded just one out. The first one was a perfect inning.

      Canning has been a solid contributor since being moved to the bullpen. The run he allowed Tuesday in a 7-0 loss to the Dodgers is the only one given up in his last nine outings covering 14⅔ innings.

      Jacob had three stints with the Padres this year when he wasn't at Triple-A El Paso. In each one, he made just one appearance, pitching a total of five innings and giving up three runs for a 5.40 ERA (5.10 FIP). With this being Jacob's first DFA, the Padres can simply outright him to Triple-A if no other team claims him off waivers.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      The San Diego Padres will be without their starting shortstop for the next few days.

      Xander Bogaerts was placed on the paternity list Tuesday, with the Padres calling up infielder Will Wagner from Triple-A El Paso.

      The paternity list allows a player to miss up to three days due to the birth of their child. The Padres continue their series against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday and Wednesday, then are off Thursday before beginning a road trip Friday against the Baltimore Orioles. It is likely Bogaerts will rejoin the team Friday.

      In 63 games, Bogaerts has a slash line of .231/.303/.356 with eight homers, 27 RBIs and nine stolen bases.

      Wagner, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year's trade deadline, has slashed .255/.381/.382 for El Paso with three homers and 12 RBIs in 30 games. The start of his season was delayed due to an oblique injury. In 79 MLB games with the Jays and Padres the last two seasons, the son of Hall of Famer Billy Wagner has a .256/.329/.346 slash line with no homers and seven RBIs.

       

      Sung-Mun Song is likely to start at shortstop with Bogaerts out.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      In a surprising development, the San Diego Padres are losing one of their more productive hitters.

      Designated hitter Miguel Andjuar was placed on the 10-day injured list before Monday's series opener against Atlanta due to a fractured right wrist. Catcher Rodolfo Duran was called up from Triple-A El Paso. A wrist fracture likely means Andujar is out at least a month if not more.

      Andujar, who went 0-for-4 with a walk, and Manny Machado (0-for-2, two walks), were the only Padres starting position players who did not get a hit in Sunday's 19-2 win in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals. Andujar began the game as the DH, but then shifted to third base when Machado was pulled in the eighth inning and then went to first base in the ninth. Andujar handled just one defensive chance, the game-ending groundout that he flipped to pitcher Wandy Peralta, who covered first base. He did not appear to be injured on the play.

      Andujar, signed in the offseason to be a key right-handed bat, has produced a .259/.303/.423 slash line with five homers and 22 RBIs and a team-leading 20 doubles. Depending on how the next two weeks sorted out, Andujar was a strong candidate to be traded before the Aug. 3 deadline.

      Duran's call-up likely means catcher Luis Campusano gets some time at DH, with Duran and Freddy Fermin splitting catching duties. Duran made his MLB debut this season after 11 years in the minors and had a .146/.222/.305 slash line with three homers and eight RBIs in 36 games.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The San Diego Padres will be without one of their leverage arms until at least after the All-Star break.

      The Padres on Thursday put right-handed setup man Jason Adam on the 15-day injured list with a strained right shoulder. Right-handed starter German Marquez, out for two months with right forearm irritation, was activated from the 15-day IL before Thursday's series opener against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

      No specifics were given as to when Adam was injured, although he did pitch the eighth inning of Monday's 3-2 walk-off loss to the Chicago Cubs. Adam allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout. That was his third appearance in four days and fourth in six days as the Padres' bullpen has had to cover for a starting rotation that has lacked quality innings.

      Adam has generally been good this season, although a tad erratic at times. In 36 appearances and 32⅓ innings, with a career-best 6% walk rate and a career-worst 16.4% strikeout rate. Adam had a 25.9% strikeout rate last year before his season ended with a quadriceps injury and his career rate is 27.7%.

      Marquez, signed just as spring training began to fill out the back end of the rotation after a 10-year career with the Colorado Rockies, struggled through six starts, putting up a 6.65 FIP (5.76 ERA) with a 9.4% walk rate and 14.8% strikeout rate. The walk rate is worse than his career mark of 7.3%, while his strikeout numbers are on par for his last two seasons, but below his career rate of 21.6%.

      Marquez could be in a relief role as his last two appearances on his rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso were out of the bullpen.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The long road back for Jhony Brito has officially taken him to Petco Park.

      The Padres called up the right-hander from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday and optioned right-hander Alek Jacob back to Triple-A.

      Brito, one of the five players the Padres acquired from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade in 2024, is back in the majors with the Friars for the first time since that 2024 season. Brito began the 2025 season by having an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and flexor tendon surgery that April. He began a rehab assignment in early May and pitched well in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list and being assigned to El Paso.

      In four starts for the Chihuahuas, Brito has a 0.96 ERA in 18⅔ innings with nine walks and 19 strikeouts.

      Brito is expected to make his season debut in a relief role Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, following starter German Marquez.

      Jacob was called up Friday and appeared in just one game, tossing a much-needed three innings in Monday's series-opening 8-0 loss to the D'backs.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      As expected, outfileder-infielder Luis Rengifo is headed to the injured list. Only he will have some unexpected company.

      The San Diego Padres on Sunday placed Rengifo and first baseman Gavin Sheets on the 10-day injured list, with outfielder Samad Taylor and infielder Sung-Mun Song called up from the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.

      Rengifo was injured in Saturday's game when he made a sudden pivot to make an off-balance throw during a seventh-inning rundown. His injury caused an errant throw that allowed two more runs to score to tie the game in what would be a 7-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Rengifo has a .291/.375/.409 slash line with four homers and 17 RBIs in 38 games. The injury is listed as a sprained right knee, but Rengifo was expected to fly back to San Diego to undergo more testing. More than likely, it will be a season-ending injury.

      Sheets went on the IL with a sprained left foot. Sheets, who went 0-for-4 in Saturday's game, was slashing .211/.313/.388 with 16 homers and 46 RBIs in 123 games.

      Rengifo's right oblique injury allowed for Taylor to return. Ironically, Taylor's oblique injury opened the door for Rengifo's addition to the Padres' roster July 8. Taylor helped bring energy to the Padres following his June 3 call-up as he had a slash line of .330/.410/.398 with one homer, 11 RBIs and six steals in 26 games.

      Song was sent down Monday to Triple-A in order to get more consistent at-bats as he was slashing just .202/.305/.263 with one homer and 15 RBIs in 62 games during his rookie season after coming over from the Korea Baseball Organization.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      On the first day following the World Series, as decisions can start to be officially made on 2027 contract situations, the San Diego Padres find themselves without an ace.

      As expected, right-handed starter Michael King opted out of the final two years of his three-year, $75 million contract Thursday and is now a free agent.

      The Padres still have an exclusive negotiating window until Monday to get a new contract done with King, but with the quick announcement of King opting out of the final two years and $58 million, he has probably pitched his last game for the Padres. King, who said he would like to return to the Padres, will be one of the top three starting pitchers and a key free agent overall this offseason. Our rankings at DiamondCentric have him as the No. 7 free agent.

      King received a qualifying offer last offseason, so is not eligible to receive that again.

      He re-signed with the Padres after injuries dampened his free-agent value last year, but rebounded with a completely healthy 2026 and developed into the Padres' No. 1 pitcher, especially in the postseason. He made all 32 starts in the regular season and posted a 3.21 ERA over a career-high 185 innings.

      The Padres' biggest option decision will have to do with their $14 million club option on right-hander Nick Pivetta. That decision has to be made no later than Monday.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Still looking for a bit of an upgrade on their bench, the San Diego Padres are taking a look at outfielder Austin Hays.

      According to multiple reports, the 31-year-old has signed a contract with the Padres. Hays was designated for assignment and then released Friday by the Chicago White Sox. Hays has a $6 million salary for this year, but the Padres will only be responsible for a prorated portion of the MLB minimum, making this a very low-risk move.

      Infielder Gage Workman, just acquired from the Detroit Tigers along with right-hander Casey Mize, was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

      Hays, a right-handed hitter, is slashing .233/.250/.326 in 12 games this season. He has been on the injured list twice this season, first on the 10-day IL for a right hamstring strain (April 7-27), then the 60-day IL with a left calf strain (May 4-Tuesday).

      In his nine-year career, Hays has a slash line of .262/.312/.433 and has hit 15 or more homers four times, topping out at 22 in 2021.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      While there is a lot to determine about his future, Yu Darvish is giving himself a chance to make a decision about returning to the San Diego Padres.

      Darvish threw a second bullpen session before Wednesday's Padres-Pittsburgh Pirates game at Petco Park, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. Darvish, who turned 40 on Aug. 16, had internal brace surgery on his right elbow in October. He is currently on the Padres' restricted list (an agreed-upon move), which means he is not receiving his $16 million salary for 2026. Darvish is under contract for $15 million for each of the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

      Regardless of the business side of things, the popular Padres pitcher being back on a mound even in a light bullpen session is a positive step in his recovery from elbow surgery.

      Darvish indicated to MLB.com that he doesn't know if he intends to be part of the Padres in 2027, but this does allow him the opportunity to keep that a possibility. Darvish made 15 starts in 2025 with a 4.82 FIP (5.38 ERA).

       

      Steve Drumwright

      Yes, we know the caveat to this story. But still, this is what is going on as of now.

      The San Diego Padres will open Cactus League play against their Peoria Sports Complex co-tenant, the Seattle Mariners, on Feb. 19. That will technically be a road game. The Friars' first home game will be the next day against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

      All 30 MLB teams will play Feb. 19.

      Here’s a look at our 2027 Spring Training schedule 🌵

      [image or embed]

      — San Diego Padres (@padres.mlbbsky.com) September 4, 2026 at 11:34 AM

      Wrapping up Cactus League play, the Padres will host the Mariners on March 22. There will be one split-squad game, Feb. 26 against the two Chicago teams, at home vs. the Cubs and on the road against the White Sox (Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.).

      Times will be announced at a later time as will report dates for pitchers and catchers as well as position players for workouts in Peoria, Ariz.

      The caveat, of course, is whether owners and the MLB Players Association will have agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement in time to have a normal spring training. In 2022, the two sides agreed to a new CBA on March 10, three weeks before the scheduled Opening Day. In 2027, Opening Day is scheduled for March 25, when the Padres are to take on the D'backs at Petco Park.

      This will be the first spring training for new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones.

      Steve Drumwright

      There was a reason (or two) why the San Diego Padres' defense was much-improved during the 2026 season. And now there is tangible proof.

      First baseman Ty France and catcher Freddy Fermin were revealed as finishing in the top three for NL Gold Gloves on Wednesday. There is only one round of balloting, which was already done. The winners at each position in each league will be announced Nov. 1.

      Managers and up to six coaches from each of the 30 teams vote on the best defenders at each position, although they can't vote for players on their club. That accounts for 75% of the vote, with SABR's defensive index making up the remaining 25%.

      France, who won his first Gold Glove last year as an AL first baseman as he played for the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, played 127 games at first, starting 116 times. He made just three errors in 951 chances at first, but was also responsible for saving other Padres infielders from errors with throws in the dirt or otherwise off-target. He was involved in 75 double plays. That resulted in a .994 fielding percentage. The other two top vote-getters at first base in the NL are Matt Olson of Atlanta and TJ Rumfield of the Colorado Rockies. Olson won last year's NL Gold Glove at first.

      Fermin was behind the plate for 94 games, including 74 starts. He committed only seven errors in 684 chances for a .990 fielding percentage. Fermin threw out a nice 30.4% (24 of 79) of would-be base stealers (league average is 23.3%). Also in the top three in the NL at catcher are Gabriel Moreno of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Luis Torrens of the New York Mets. Moreno won the award in 2023, with Patrick Bailey, then of the San Francisco Giants, taking it the last two years.

      The Padres finished with the second-best fielding percentage in MLB at .989, only behind the Chicago Cubs, who had five Gold Glove candidates in the top three at their positions and had a .990 fielding percentage.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Add one prospect to the San Diego Padres' 40-man roster.

      Left-handed starter Luis Gutierrez had his contract selected in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

      Gutierrez, 23, pitched just 36 innings this season after injuring his left shoulder following three starts to begin the season with the Double-A San Antonio Missions. He came back to make five rehab appearances in the Arizona Complex League and with the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps before three more starts with San Antonio and finishing the season with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.

      In all, he made 13 starts and had a 4.50 ERA, with an 11.6% walk rate and 28.4% strikeout rate.

      While he might have been considered a risky proposition if selected in the Rule 5 draft, the Padres felt they had the room on the 40-man to protect their future with Gutierrez.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      After a poor experience with the Milwaukee Brewers, infielder Luis Rengifo is getting a chance with the San Diego Padres.

      Rengifo, a second baseman-third baseman, has signed a minor-league contract with the San Diego Padres, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported Friday. Rengifo was released by the Brewers after putting up a .205/.280/.254 slash line with no homers and 19 RBIs in 57 games while starting at third base.

      Rengifo will report to Triple-A El Paso.

      The Brewers signed Rengifo to a one-year, $3.5 million contract just before spring training following the trade of Caleb Durbin to the Boston Red Sox. The Brewers are on the hook for the remainder of the contract, except for the prorated minimum that the Padres will be paying Rengifo.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      The San Diego Padres are likely to be under new ownership next week.

      MLB is scheduled to vote Monday on the record $3.9 billion purchase of the Padres by Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported Tuesday. Feliciano and Jones are buying the team from the Seidler family, a process that began in November and was brought about with the death in November 2024 of Peter Seidler.

      The sale will require the approval of 22 of the 29 other MLB teams. Monday's vote will be by conference call. The $3.9 billion sale price eclipses the previous MLB record of $2.42 billion by Steve Cohen when he bought the New York Mets in 2020.

      While Feliciano and Jones will run the team together, making Jones one of the more high-profile women in MLB, only one individual can be the control person and that will be Feliciano. They will have between a 40% and 45% share, with a number of minority owners, typical for most every team, with the remainder including members of the Seidler family and some of those who previously held shares.

      While the sale was reported in April, Feliciano and Jones still had to formalize the minority owners, complete paperwork and pass a screening committee, which happened last week.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Get ready for a little bit of dad strength this week.

      First baseman Ty France was activated from the paternity list Monday by the San Diego Padres. France and his wife, Magdalena, were expecting twins. The couple also have a 2-year-old son, Luka. France is expected to be in the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. The Friars have a 2½-game lead for the third and final NL wild card over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

      To make room for France, infielder Mason McCoy was optioned back to Triple-A El Paso for the final week of the Chihuahuas' season. McCoy came up Friday for the three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, but did not play.

      France has been a boon for the Padres this year, compiling a .294/.363/.510 slash line with 20 homers, matching his career best, 63 RBIs and anchoring the defense at first base.

      There could be two more activations coming, perhaps Monday or during the Rockies series. Those would be designated hitter-left fielder Miguel Andujar, who has been on a rehab assignment at El Paso, and right-handed reliever Jason Adam, who made a rehab appearance Sunday for the Chihuahuas.

       

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