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    Notes about the team are posted here.

    81 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

      Luis Arraez, winner of three consecutive batting titles, is joining a different NL West team for 2026.

      The infielder has agreed to a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants, according to several reports. Bob Nightengale of USA Today said the deal is for $12 million. Arraez became a free agent after completing his arbitration eligibility with the Padres in 2025, a season in which he earned $14 million.

      The Friars reportedly extended an early offer for Arraez to return after being acquired via trade early in the 2024 season, in which he completed the batting title hat trick. Arraez became the first player in MLB history to win three straight batting crowns with different teams. He did it with the Minnesota Twins (.316 in 2022), Miami Marlins (.354 in 2023), and the Padres (.314 in 2024). In 2025, Arraez overcame a slow start to finish with a .293 average and an NL-leading 181 hits.

      The problem with Arraez is that he lacks a true defensive home. The 28-year-old has played every infield position and settled into second base with the Twins and Marlins. That was his home early with the Padres before being shifted to first base. According to a report Saturday before the deal with the Giants was finalized, Arraez had one-year and multiyear deals on the table, with his preference to play second base a potentially decisive factor.

      The Giants have veteran Rafael Devers and top hitting prospect Bryce Eldridge penciled in at first base and designated hitter entering spring training, leaving second base open for Arraez. Casey Schitt had been the projected starter at second before this move, which comes on the heels of signing Harrison Bader to play center.

      The Padres are going with some combination of Jake Cronenworth and Sung Mun Song at second base.

      Steve Drumwright

      You know it is getting closer to Opening Day when guys thought to be in the mix for a spot on the 26-man roster are sent to minor-league camp.

      Right-handed reliever Ty Adcock, who just returned from an oblique injury, was optioned to Triple-A El Paso by the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Adcock had been battling an oblique in camp before making his Cactus League debut Monday.

      Also, infielder-outfielder Samad Taylor and left-hander Jackson Wolf were reassigned to Triple-A. Taylor entered camp as a strong candidate to earn a bench spot. The speedy 27-year-old, who has 38 games of MLB experience, posted a .233/.265/.300 slash line in 30 at-bats over 17 games, with five RBIs and three stolen bases. His path became more difficult as the Padres brought in Nick Castellanos and Ty France early in camp.

      Wolf was a long shot to make the Friars' bullpen, but did get some attention with his spring showing, putting up a 2.38 ERA in 11⅓ innings, walking six and striking out eight.

      Billy Mock

      The Padres selected Ty Harvey, a high school catcher out of Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Harvey is a Florida State commit.

      The high school catching demographic is one of, if not the riskiest, demographics to draft from, as they are particularly difficult to project. Regardless, Harvey was one of the top high school catchers on the board due to his power projection at the plate as well as his advanced defense behind the plate. 

      While he does have some of the best raw power in the prep class this year, there appear to be some holes in the swing as MLB Pipeline's description of Harvey states, "others have seen him pull the ball hard but struggle with pitches down in the zone because of a stiff setup." The good news is that he has displayed above-average bat-to-ball skills for a power hitter his age, so that should help him tap into his power at the next level. 

      Harvey is big for a catcher, standing in at 6'2" and 215 pounds with even more projection in his frame. However, it looks like he'll have a good shot at remaining behind the plate. MLB Pipeline states that, "Harvey has every chance to stick behind the plate, with good hands and solid receiving skills. He moves well, especially for his size."

      Steve Drumwright

      As the San Diego Padres try to replenish their farm system, the Friars will have the 21st-most money in their draft bonus pool for 2026.

      MLB informed clubs of the slot values and bonus pools for this year's draft, which is July 11-12. For the Padres, whose prospect list has gone down in overall quality due to a variety of trades in recent years, that means having a bonus pool of $9,479,000. The bonus pool for each team covers the first 10 rounds. In 2025, the Friars' bonus pool was $6,569,100.

      The Padres have the No. 21 pick in the first round after having No. 25 each of the last two years, when they selected left-handed starters Kash Mayfield in 2024 and Kruz Schoolcraft in 2025. The slot value for this year's 21st pick is $4,224,700.

      The Pittsburgh Pirates have the largest bonus pool at $19,130,700, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have the smallest at $3,951,900. The Dodgers were one of four teams that had their top pick moved back 10 spots as a penalty for surpassing the second threshold in the competitive balance tax.

      The Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 pick, with a slot value of $11,350,600, and the No. 3 bonus pool of $17,592,100. Each slot value went up 2.5% based on increased MLB revenue.

      2026 MLB Draft bonus pools

      • Pittsburgh Pirates: $19,130,700
      • Tampa Bay Rays: $19,009,300
      • Chicago White Sox: $17,592,100
      • Minnesota Twins: $16,929,600
      • St. Louis Cardinals: $16,612,300
      • Kansas City Royals: $15,954,000
      • Atlanta: $15,870,800
      • Colorado Rockies: $15,557,600
      • San Francisco Giants: $14,080,400
      • Athletics: $13,840,300
      • Houston Astros: $13,712,700
      • Arizona Diamondbacks: $13,603,100
      • Baltimore Orioles: $13,114,000
      • Cleveland Guardians: $12,573,900
      • Washington Nationals: $12,278,300
      • Miami Marlins: $11,960,100
      • Los Angeles Angels: $11,755,400
      • Cincinnati Reds: $10,758,500
      • Texas Rangers: $10,219,200
      • Chicago Cubs: $9,644,100
      • San Diego Padres: $9,479,000
      • Detroit Tigers: $9,165,100
      • Boston Red Sox: $8,219,200
      • Seattle Mariners: $8,218,200
      • Milwaukee Brewers: $8,042,900
      • Philadelphia Phillies: $7,773,000
      • New York Yankees: $7,342,800
      • New York Mets: $6,730,900
      • Toronto Blue Jays: $5,543,100
      • Los Angeles Dodgers: $3,951,900
      Steve Drumwright

      The fight for control of the San Diego Padres following the death of owner Peter Seidler appears to have concluded after his widow dropped most of the claims against his two brothers, according to multiple reports, including The Athletic and the San Diego Union-Tribune.

      Sheel Seidler, Peter's widow, had filed a lawsuit in Texas probate court last year, making various claims against Matt and Bob Seidler, who are trustees of their brother's trust. A filing Monday said the sides had an "agreement to resolve the matters between them." Per the filing, Sheel Seidler cannot refile the claims.

      John Seidler, the oldest brother, assumed the ownership role following Peter's death in November 2023 and is now a trustee. The Seidlers announced in November that it was considering a sale of the team. According to The Athletic, the family is seeking a sale price "well above" the $1.95 billion the team was valued at in March 2025.

      Rumored to be leading candidates to purchase the Padres are Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, as well as Dan Friedkin and Jose E. Feliciano, who own English Premier League soccer teams.

      Bryan Jaeger
       
      Robert Suarez , the San Diego Padres' star closer, opted out of his five-year contract signed in 2023. He had $16 million left on the deal. Now 34, Suárez is among the most attractive free agents. He had a career-high 40 saves this season with a 2.97 ERA in 69 2/3 innings. He led the National League in saves, trailing only Carlos Estévez (42) of the Kansas City Royals for the MLB lead.
       
      According to Spotrac, Suárez's market value spans four years, totaling $67 million, with an annual salary of $16.8 million. He likely wants another large payday before age 40. He is the top closer available, with Raisel Iglesias, Ryan Helsley, and Devin Williams as the main alternatives. Edwin Díaz could also opt out, and Andrés Muñoz has a club option. Both are younger and will draw attention.  
       
      Steve Drumwright

      The San Diego Padres are still looking to add to their roster with spring training set to begin in just a few days, and two reports say they were in play for two free agents who agreed to deals this week.

      The first was the top pitcher on this year's free-agent market, left-hander Framber Valdez. Valdez agreed to a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Jon Heyman, an insider for MLB Network and the New York Post, said the Friars "showed late interest" while also mentioning the Padres first among teams who were in contention for the two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion with the Houston Astros. The Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, and Baltimore Orioles were the other teams, aside from the Tigers.

      Then, following first baseman Paul Goldschmidt agreeing to a one-year deal to return to the New York Yankees on Friday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic noted that the Padres "were a finalist" for the 2022 NL MVP. Goldschmidt's salary for 2026 is expected to be less than $5 million.

      This comes on the heels of the Padres bringing in corner infielder-outfielder Miguel Andujar on a one-year, $4 million deal Thursday. Whether Andujar was Plan B after possibly being notified that Goldschmidt was going back to the Yankees, or if the Friars would have taken both, is unknown.

      There are still budget-friendly rotation options available.

      Steve Drumwright

      Right-hander Riley Pint, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2016 draft, has a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres. It is likely to include an invitation to spring training, which begins next week.

      Selected by the Colorado Rockies out of a Kansas high school, the now 28-year-old Pint didn't take the mound at all in 2025 in his only season with the Cleveland Guardians' organization due to an undisclosed injury.

      Pint had spent all of his previous career with the Rockies, but made only five MLB appearances over the 2023 (one game) and 2024 seasons (four) as a reliever. Pint's journey also included a retirement during the 2021 season, but he returned the following year. In his minor-league career, Pint put up a 5.30 ERA with two eye-popping rates of 7.6 walks and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 193 games, including 40 starts.

      But Pint went to Driveline this offseason, which included a pro day in which he hit 97.4 mph on his fastball and a 95 mph sinker. He also threw a sweeper and a slider. Driveline helps train players through state-of-the-art techniques.

      He will definitely be an interesting arm to watch this spring.

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

      Matthew Lenz

      The San Diego Padres continue to add options to their pitching staff in the form of low-risk minor league deals. However, this time it's in the form of a former 1st overall pick in the Nippon Professional Baseball league.

      According to the team's transaction log, they have signed RHP Daichi Moriki to a minor league deal and have assigned him to the Arizona Complex League Padres.

      Moriki, 22, was drafted by the Hanshin Tigers in 2021 and made his professional debut in 2022. In four seasons, he pitched in 66 games (149 1/3 innings), posting a 6.87 ERA, striking out 126 hitters, and walking 108. After struggling last season, he was released by Hanshin in October. The Yahoo Sports articles embedded in the X post below suggest that Moriki has been working at a baseball facility here in the States since his release, though it doesn't identify which one.

      Do you think Moriki can make a name for himself in Major League Baseball? Let us know in the comments!

      Brock Beauchamp

      Dylan Cease and Michael King have both declined the Padres’ one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer for 2026, keeping them on the free-agent market and leaving two significant vacancies in San Diego’s rotation. Cease is coming off a 2025 season in which he made 32 starts and threw 168 innings with a 4.55 ERA, 3.46 FIP, and 11.52 K/9, marking his fifth straight year with at least 32 starts and 214 strikeouts. King’s year was limited by injury; he started 15 games and logged 73 1/3 innings with a 3.44 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and 9.33 K/9 after a full 173 2/3-inning workload as a starter in 2024 that featured a 3.33 FIP and a 19.0 percent K-BB rate. 

      MLB Trade Rumors projects Cease to land a seven-year, $189 million contract and King to secure a four-year, $80 million deal on the open market. 

      From a rotation standpoint, the club now has to account for the loss of Cease’s 168 regular-season innings and the portion of King’s workload it reasonably expected in 2026. Cease paired his 4.55 ERA with a 3.46 FIP and a 33.8 percent whiff rate in 2025, leading all starters in whiff rate. King’s shortened 2025 followed his 2024 transition to a full-time starting role, where he provided 173 2/3 innings with a 3.33 FIP for San Diego. Replacing that combination of innings and strikeout production becomes a central offseason task.

      The compensation side is straightforward. Under current qualifying-offer rules, Competitive Balance Tax payors receive a single compensation pick after the fourth round when a qualified free agent signs elsewhere, and the value of that player’s contract does not change the placement of the pick. The Padres are classified as CBT payors this offseason, so if Cease signs with another club, San Diego will receive one compensation pick after the fourth round of the 2026 Draft; the same structure applies to King. If both pitchers depart, the Padres would add two such selections.

      Steve Drumwright

      The Seidler family will begin to accept initial bids for a sale of the San Diego Padres by the end of February, according to a report on Feb. 5 by The Athletic.

      This comes on the heels of a settlement in a legal battle between the widow of late owner Peter Seidler and two of his brothers. Peter Seidler died in November 2023.

      Among the top candidates mentioned in the report is Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and WNBA's Golden State Valkyries. Lacob has previously pursued purchasing the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and the A's when they were in Oakland.

      Sportico reported Wednesday that two owners of English Premier League soccer teams have shown interest in the Padres. Dan Friedkin has ownership of Everton and AS Roma through his Pursuit Sports and Jose E. Feliciano is part of the Chelsea group through Clearlake Capital.

      The Athletic said the Padres, who were valued last year at $1.9 billion, were seeking a sale price of close to $3 billion, which would surpass the MLB record of $2.42 billion set when Steve Cohen purchased the New York Mets in 2020.

      Brock Beauchamp

      It's hard to predict how this offseason will unfold, as there is an increasing chance of (yet another) MLB lockout following the 2026 season. Will teams spend big this offseason, hoping to create surety in the face of an unknown collective bargaining agreement? Or will they be hesitant in hopes of a favorable outcome for ownership groups?

      No matter how it shakes out, teams will need to compete in the 2026 season, and they'll need to sign free agents this winter. DiamondCentric has compiled a complete list of free agents, sortable and searchable by pretty much any metric you need. Looking for a first baseman? A catcher? We have you covered. We offer two pages for your reference: one for position players, the other for pitchers.

      Free Agent Hitters In the 2025-2026 MLB Offseason

      hitters.jpg

      dc-initials.png Complete List Of 2025-2026 MLB Free Agent Hitters

      DiamondCentric.net
      Here is a complete list of free agent hitters in the 2025-2026 MLB offseason.

      Free Agent Pitchers In the 2025-2026 MLB Offseason

      pitchers.jpg

      dc-initials.png Complete List Of 2025-2026 MLB Free Agent Pitchers

      DiamondCentric.net
      Here is a complete list of free agent pitchers in the 2025-2026 MLB offseason.
      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

      If everything goes to plan, Mason Miller could be striking out Shohei Ohtani for the final out of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

      That is because Miller, the San Diego Padres' closer, was named to the U.S. roster on Thursday. Miller joins starters Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Logan Webb, among others, as committing to play for the U.S. Skubal and Skenes were this year's AL and NL Cy Young Award winners, respectively.

      Miller, acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline from the Athletics, notched 22 saves in 26 chances between the two teams, including two saves in three opportunities with San Diego. Miller mainly served as the setup man for Robert Suarez, who was a free agent this offseason and recently signed with Atlanta.

      Miller has a 0.77 ERA and 1.12 FIP in 22 appearances with the Padres. He had a 54.2 strikeout percentage after the trade.

      Matthew Lenz

      The San Diego Padres' 2025-2026 season has gotten off to a busy start as the offseason budget and 2026 roster already begin to take shape.

      A day after Robert Suarez opted out, the team opened up more money by declining three more player options. Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Friars have declined the options of Elias Diaz, Tyler Wade, and Kyle Hart.

      Diaz, who received a $2 million buyout instead of a $7 million salary, played in 106 games last season. He was a black hole of sorts at the plate, producing a .607 OPS with nine home runs across 283 plate appearances. In all, he posted a .269 wOBA and a 74 wRC+. With Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano currently on the roster, this move didn't come as a surprise.

      Dealing with numerous injuries, Wade was a glove-first utility player who had an OPS of .561 in 121 plate appearances. He earned a $50K buyout, whereas his 2026 option was for $1 million.

      Hart, who was signed following a successful season in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), received $500K via buyout instead of a $1 million 2026 salary. In 20 appearances (six starts) he posted a 5.18 FIP, which is actually better than his ERA, over 43 innings pitched. 

      Do you think the Padres will bring back any of these players on a cheaper deal? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      The San Diego Padres have added two members to their front office. Dennis Lin of The Athletic is reporting that Bud Black and Wil Myers will be joining the San Diego Padres organization.

      Myers will be a special assignment coach in player development, and Black will be a senior advisor to baseball operations. Both have previous ties to the organization - Black as a manager and Myers as a player.

      Black managed the club for 9 seasons from 2007 to 2015, posting a 649-713 record with zero playoff appearances. Myers, who played for Black, had a .781 OPS and 135 home runs across eight seasons with the Padres.

      What are your thoughts on these hires by the club? Let us know in the comments!

      Steve Drumwright

      With about a week before rosters are announced for all World Baseball Classic teams, right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres was named to represent the Dominican Republic.

      Tatis was not on the DR's roster for the 2023 WBC as he was coming off a 2022 season in which he was injured and then suspended for using a performance-enhancing drug that lasted into the 2023 season.

      Padres teammate Manny Machado, the third baseman who was on the Dominican Republic's roster for the last WBC, has not yet been officially named to the team but is expected to be on the 30-player roster. 

      The Dominican Republic often has the most talented roster of any WBC team. The DR was the pre-tournament favorite in 2023, but went 2-2 in pool play and did not advance to the knockout round.

      Steve Drumwright

      The San Diego Padres have already landed a big fish in their 2027 international class.

      Right-hander Yoel King, a 16-year-old Dominican who is already lighting up radar guns with 100 mph fastballs, has a pre-agreement to join the Friars in next year's signing class. The Padres are set to give King a huge signing bonus.

      A pre-agreement is nonbinding, but is typical of how signing international prospects works. King has made a commitment to the Padres. The next international signing window opens Jan. 15.

      King also looks like he could step into a rotation immediately. According to one video, he is already 6-foot-5 and has a very well-built frame for a player his age.

      King would represent a huge building block as the Padres need to replenish their farm system following numerous trades that have left the cupboard barren. The Padres are at or near the bottom of many system rankings by various outlets.

      Steve Drumwright

      While addressing the contract extension for president of baseball operations A.J. Preller on Monday, San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler was asked about the status of the sale of the MLB team.

      "We’ve had tremendous interest,” Seidler said at the team's spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz. “There has been interest, some parties that have been reported in the press, others have not. There are more parties interested than has been reported."

      The Seidler family announced it was pursuing a sale in mid-November, but some family quarrels prevented that from truly progressing. That was resolved a couple weeks ago, with the team expecting to start receiving bids by the end of the month.

      BDT & MSD Partners, a merchant bank, is acting as the advisor to the Padres during the sale process. The Seidlers are seeking nearly $3 billion for the Padres. The record for an MLB team is Steve Cohen's $2.42 billion purchase of the New York Mets in 2020.

      Seidler said he prefers the new owner has ties to San Diego and that the process "over the next few months will come to a logical conclusion." That likely means new ownership would be up for approval late in the season or early next offseason, though the impending MLB lockout could alter that timeline.

      Regarding Preller, Seidler said it was key to keep building on the success the team has had in recent seasons.

      "What was important about getting the deal done is A,J. has been the architect of the team," Seidler said. "Without A.J.'s roster-building over the duration, we wouldn't be where we are today."

      Brock Beauchamp

      San Diego fortified its infield depth by acquiring 26-year-old left-handed bat Will Wagner from Toronto for 24-year-old switch-hitting catcher Brandon Valenzuela.

      Wagner spent most of 2025 shuttling between Buffalo and the big-league club. In 18 International League games, he produced a .268/.342/.451 slash, good for a .792 OPS across 79 plate appearances. That accounts for a .322 wOBA and 106 wRC+, suggesting league-average production with above-average on-base skills. With the Blue Jays, Wagner appeared in 40 major-league games, posting a .237/.336/.298 line over 132 trips to the plate. He has logged time at second, third, and first this season, giving the Padres a versatile left-side option who pairs double-digit walk rates with modest power.

      Valenzuela heads to Toronto after spending the year as San Antonio’s primary catcher. Through 81 Texas League games, the Sonora native owns a .232/.313/.390 line in 352 plate appearances, including 14 doubles and 11 homers. His walk rate sits just over 10 percent, and he has handled southpaws appropriately while maintaining steady switch-hit splits. Valenzuela’s defensive résumé features regular work behind the plate and occasional first-base starts; he has allowed five steals against two caught-stealing this season, numbers primarily in line with his prior career rates. 

      Steve Drumwright

      Catcher Blake Hunt, a second-round draft choice of the San Diego Padres in 2017 who was involved in the Blake Snell trade, is returning to the club on a minor-league contract.

      A graduate of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, the 27-year-old Hunt spent the 2025 season in the Seattle Mariners' organization at Triple-A Tacoma. With the Rainiers, he put up a .272/.368/.452 slash line with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 68 games.

      Hunt played his first four professional seasons with the Padres, reaching Low-A Fort Wayne in 2019. He did receive a non-roster invitation to 2020 spring training, but the pandemic wiped away the minor-league season. That December, he was one of four players shipped to the Tampa Bay Rays for Snell. The others were catcher Francisco Mejia, right-hander Luis Patino and right-hander Cole Wilcox.

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

      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

      They are the four best words in baseball: pitchers and catchers report.

      Why? Because that signals the official start of spring training, bringing Opening Day that much closer.

      The San Diego Padres open camp in Peoria, Ariz., in just over three weeks, with pitchers and catchers reporting on Feb. 11 and the first full-squad workout Feb. 15. Oftentimes, players report early, depending on if they are coming back from injury or just want to get some extra work in with the coaching staff, but those are the mandatory report dates for the two groups.

      Those players who are participating in the World Baseball Classic have slightly earlier report dates. Pitchers and catchers, regardless of MLB organization, must report by Feb. 11 (same as the Padres) and position players by Feb. 12.

      The Padres' first exhibition game is Feb. 20 against the Seattle Mariners, the same team the Friars share the Peoria Sports Complex with. Technically, the Friars are the road team in that game, with their first home game Feb. 22 against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In the annual Spring Breakout game featuring top prospects from both clubs, the Padres will face the Chicago Cubs on March 21 in Mesa, Ariz.

      The final exhibition game will take place in Peoria also against the Mariners on March 23.

      Opening Day for the Friars is March 26 vs. two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers.

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