Jump to content
Padres Mission
  • Create Account

  • Major League Notes

    Notes about the team are posted here.

    126 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

      The San Diego Padres have a new top prospect. At least according to MLB Pipeline.

      Kruz Schoolcraft, the 6-foot-8 left-handed starting pitcher who was the Friars' top pick in last summer's draft, was named the No. 88 prospect in all of baseball as revealed on MLB Network on Friday. Schoolcraft was the only Padre on the Top 100 list. He was ranked 95th in the season-ending rankings by MLB Pipeline.

      Selected with the 25th pick in the first round out of Sunset High School in Portland, Ore., the 18-year-old pitched in just one game after being drafted, getting his feet wet with the Low A Lake Elsinore Storm. That would be the likely starting spot for Schoolcraft for the 2026 season. Schoolcraft was also a first baseman in high school, but he is focusing on pitching to begin his pro career.

      Catcher Ethan Salas, the Padres' top prospect after the trade of Leo De Vries to the A's in the Mason Miller deal, fell out of the Top 100 after being No. 77 at the end of 2025. In 2024, Salas was MLB Pipeline's No. 8 prospect in all of baseball.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Lucas Giolito era with the San Diego Padres is here.

      The Padres called up Giolito, a right-handed starter, from Double-A San Antonio to make his season debut with Sunday's start vs. the Seattle Mariners. Right-hander Alek Jacob was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to make room.

      Giolito was already on the Padres' 40-man roster after signing with the team April 22 for one year and $2.8 million. Since Giolito was not injured, he was optioned to the minors to get ready to join the rotation.

      Also, right-hander Jhony Brito began a rehab assignment at Double-A.

      The 31-year-old Giolito was the last of the major free agents from the offseason to sign and joins a Padres rotation that needs an upgrade. Following the injuries and setbacks to right-handers Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, the Friars have mostly done fine in muddling through the first quarter of the season, but Giolito brings quality to the rotation.

      With the Boston Red Sox last season, Giolito posted a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts and 141 innings in which he had a 9.1% walk rate and 19.7% strikeout rate. Giolito missed all of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery and didn't make his season debut until the end of April

      The Padres also had right-hander Matt Waldron go on the 15-day IL Friday with a right brachialis muscle injury. Waldron apparently had been dealing with the injury for the last few weeks but did not tell the team about it with his roster spot in jeopardy. Waldron replaced Pivetta, the Opening Day starter, in the rotation.

      Giolito made four starts in the minors, two with Low-A Lake Elsinore and two with Double-A San Antonio. Between the four, he pitched 17 innings and had a 4.76 ERA, allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on 18 hits with six walks and 18 strikeouts.

      Jacob came up Friday and pitched in Saturday's 7-4 victory over the Mariners, allowing two runs without recording an out. It was his second one-game call-up this year.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The late start to the season for Lucas Giolito has been interrupted.

      The San Diego Padres on Tuesday placed the right-handed starter on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow. Left-hander JP Sears was called up from Triple-A El Paso.

      Giolito, the last of MLB's top free agents to sign, signed a one-year, $3 million contract April 22, nearly a month after Opening Day, and spent another three-plus weeks getting his arm in game shape in the minors. But he has been inconsistent in his seven games, which included the last two with an opener to try and give him a path to success.

      But Giolito has produced a 6.07 FIP (5.16 ERA), with career worsts of a 16.7% walk rate and 13% strikeout rate. His last start came in Sunday's series finale against the Texas Rangers, a 4-3 loss, in which Giolito lasted just four innings, giving up all four runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

      Sears, the other piece the Padres got from the A's in the Mason Miller deal at last year's trade deadline, has been in the minors all season. In 14 starts, Sears has a 7.92 ERA with 28 walks and 62 strikeouts in 63⅔ innings.

       

      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

       

      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.

       

      Brock Beauchamp

      Manny Machado has been selected to be the All-Star Game starter for the National League at third base. This is his fourth selection as a starter. He is the only Padre to be fan-selected to start the All-Star Game, happening later this month in Atlanta.

      Machado is enjoying yet another standout season. He’s slashing .289/.351/.471 with 13 homers and 50 RBI, and his slugging percentage leads the Padres. Machado’s advanced metrics further underscore his efficiency: he boasts a .356 wOBA and a .378 xwOBA, with a hard-hit rate near 49%. On the Padres, he trails only Fernando Tatis Jr. with a 2.5 FanGraphs WAR. He crossed the 350-career-homer barrier in June and is closing in on 2,000 career hits, setting him up for major milestones if he keeps this pace.

      Matthew Lenz

      Major League Baseball announced the National League Silver Slugger winners, and one San Diego Padres player will need to make room in his trophy case.

      Third baseman Manny Machado won his third career Silver Slugger and second in as many seasons. His first Silver Slugger came in 2020, his second season with the Friars.

      Machado finished the year with 27 home runs, 91 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases. His final slash line was .275/.335/.460, resulting in an OPS of .795, a wOBA of .341, and a wRC+ of 123. He was especially effective with runners in scoring position, posting an .832 OPS and 16 extra-base hits. Additionally, his .663 OPS when in a two-strike count was 28th best in all of baseball.

      The Silver Slugger Award is an award that recognizes the best offensive player at each position in both leagues. It is voted on by managers and coaches around baseball.

      Will he earn the three-peat in 2026? Let us know what you think in the comments!

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Reaper is heading to the All-Star Game.

      Right-handed closer Mason Miller was the only San Diego Padres player selected Saturday to the NL roster for the All-Star Game on July 14 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

      Miller, in his first full season with the Padres after being acquired at last year’s trade deadline, is an All-Star for the second time in his four-year career, having also been picked in 2024. Miller is tied for the NL lead in saves with 21 without blowing a save. Jhoan Duran of the Philadelphia Phillies and Riley O’Brien of the St. Louis Cardinals also had 21 entering Saturday.

      Miller has struck out an amazing 50% of the hitters he has faced. Miller has not allowed an extra-base hit all season and has five of his 14 career four-out saves this year. He has a 0.78 ERA and a .136 opponent batting average in 34⅔ innings.

      The nine starters for each team were determined by two rounds of fan balloting, with Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement getting automatically selected to start by virtue of leading the first round in the NL and AL, respectively.

      The 23 reserves, which includes 12 pitchers as that position is not up for voting, are selected by player voting and the Commissioner's Office, which ensures that each team has a representative in the game.

       

      Matthew Lenz

      MLBTR is reporting that this offseason's cutoff for Super Two arbitration eligibility will be around two years and 139-140 days.

      Super Two status in Major League Baseball is a special designation that allows a select group of players to become eligible for salary arbitration one year earlier than the typical eligibility requirement. To qualify, a player must rank in the top 22% (rounded to the nearest whole number) of total Major League service time among all players who have between two and three years of service.

      In short, Mason Miller will be eligible for arbitration this offseason instead of being on a rookie minimum salary.

      Miller, acquired from the Athletics midseason, finished the season with a 2.63 ERA (2.23 FIP), 32.5% K-BB rate, and 32 holds + saves. Though he was one of baseball's premier closers before being dealt, he was mostly utilized as a setup man to Robert Suarez.

      How do you think this impacts the Padres' offseason plans?

      Steve Drumwright

       

      After missing the St. Louis Cardinals series, Mason Miller is back with the San Diego Padres.

      The superstar right-handed closer was activated off the bereavement-family medical emergency leave list Friday. In a somewhat surprising move, right-handed reliever Bradgley Rodriguez was optioned to the Arizona Complex League.

      Details behind Miller not being with the team have not been revealed as of this writing. Miller is second in MLB with 19 saves and has a 0.90 ERA.

      Rodriguez, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, was assigned to the rookie-level team in order to get some planned rest. Rodriguez is a rookie who made his MLB debut last season, appearing in seven regular-season games, then was included on the postseason roster for the NL Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs.

      He has been a key member of a very good Friars bullpen. In 31 games and 34⅓ innings, Rodriguez has a 2.66 FIP (2.10 ERA) with an 8.3% walk rate and 22.2% strikeout rate.

       

      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.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      It is official: Matt Waldron is back.

      As has been expected since Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta went on the injured list Tuesday, Waldron was activated from the 15-day injured list in order to start Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. Right-handed reliever Alek Jacob, who came up from Triple-A when Pivetta went on the IL, was sent back to El Paso.

      Waldron had been a candidate to make the Friars' rotation out of spring training, but that was interrupted when he required hemorrhoid surgery on Feb. 24. He was back pitching a couple weeks later, but with the additions of right-handed starters Walker Buehler and German Marquez, the Padres could slow play Waldron's return by putting him on the IL to start the season.

      Waldron has been on a rehab assignment at El Paso since the Triple-A season began and has performed very well. He made three starts for the Chihuahuas, tossing 12 scoreless innings, giving up seven hits and a walk against 12 strikeouts. Waldron's stay on the roster will depend on how well he performs as he is out of minor-league options.

      Jacob appeared in one of the three games he was active for, throwing two scoreless innings in Wednesday's 7-6 comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The writing has been on the wall for Matt Waldron. An injury delayed a decision earlier in the season. There was no avoiding it now.

      Waldron, one of the few MLB pitchers who still throws a knuckleball, was designated for assignment by the San Diego Padres on Wednesday as right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada was activated from the 15-day injured list. Estrada had been on the IL since June 5 with inflammation in his right knee.

      Waldron, who is out of minor-league options, was on the verge of being DFA'd when he revealed he had been hurting and hiding an injury, which ended up being a right brachialis muscle injury that put him on the 15-day IL on May 15 after six appearances and an 8.49 ERA. He came back July 11 and has made four solid relief appearances, but was the obvious off man out with Estrada coming back. Waldron has a 5.10 FIP (7.16 ERA) with a 5.4% walk rate and 19% strikeout rate in 10 games and 32⅔ innings.

      It is possible Waldron remains with the Padres if he clears waivers.

      Estrada is a valuable member of the Padres' bullpen, posting a 3.60 FIP (3.48 ERA) with a 12.2% walk rate and 28% strikeout rate.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Right-hander Matt Waldron will not be pitching out of the San Diego Padres' bullpen this weekend. Instead, he will be sitting on the injured list.

      The Padres on Friday placed Waldron on the 15-day IL with a right brachialis muscle injury. Right-handed reliever Alek Jacob was called up from Triple-A El Paso. The brachialis muscle is a muscle located in the upper arm under the biceps and the injury is typically called climber's elbow from its repetitive use.

      Waldron's spot on the roster was in jeopardy with the impending addition of right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, who signed with the Padres last month and is set to start perhaps Saturday, when he needs to be added to the MLB roster per language in his contract.

      Waldron started Tuesday's series opener vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, but gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks in 2⅔ innings. He then came on in relief Thursday, pitching two scoreless innings. Manager Craig Stammen said after Thursday's game that Waldron would be in the bullpen this weekend vs. the Seattle Mariners. In six games this year, two coming as the bulk pitcher following an opener, Waldron has an 8.49 ERA with seven walks and 22 strikeouts over 23⅓ innings. Waldron had replaced injured Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta in the rotation.

      Waldron is out of minor-league options, which is why his roster status within the organization is so precarious. This now keeps Waldron, who started the season on the 15-day IL following hemorrhoid surgery in spring training, in the organization for the foreseeable future.

      Jacob was up for a couple days in mid-April and appeared in just one game, throwing two shutout innings.

       

      Matthew Lenz

      The first day of the offseason isn't even over, and the San Diego Padres are down a piece to their 2026 rotation puzzle.

      Though it's not a surprise, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King has declined his side of a mutual option, collecting a $3.75 million buyout in lieu of a $15 million salary in 2026.

      Despite a so-so season marred by injury, the move was widely expected, as the 2026 Starting Pitcher free-agent class is fairly weak. It's all but guaranteed that King will sign for more than the $11.25 million difference between his buyout and 2026 salary.

      Though 2025 was a bit of a lost season, teams have his 2024 season fresh in their mind, where he threw 173 1/3 innings in his first full year as a starter. In that season, he sported an impressive 3.33 FIP coupled with a 19.0% K-BB rate. 

      Do you think the Padres should re-sign Michael King or look to replace him in 2026? Let us know in the comments!

      Brock Beauchamp

      Michael King is returning to the injured list after making only a single start with the Padres, and just hours after Padres Mission wrote a note about his importance to the stretch run.

      San Diego placed the right-handed King on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation, retroactive to August 11. The move came five days after he was activated and one start into his return. San Diego recalled right-hander Randy Vásquez from Triple-A El Paso in the corresponding transaction. King had been lined up to start the series opener in Los Angeles on Friday. 

      King previously spent nearly three months sidelined with a right shoulder issue identified as a long thoracic nerve problem. He was placed on the injured list on May 25, transferred to the 60-day IL on July 7, and then activated on August 9 to face Boston. In that start, he worked two innings on 57 pitches, allowing four hits and two runs with one strikeout. 

      Across 11 starts this season, King has logged 57 1/3 innings with 65 strikeouts, a 2.81 ERA, and a 3.30 FIP. His strikeout rate is 27.5 percent, walk rate 8.1 percent, and K-BB% 19.5 percent. FanGraphs has him with 1.4 WAR on the season.

      Matthew Lenz

      Whether or not they add at the deadline, the San Diego Padres will receive a boost to their starting rotation when Michael King returns to the rotation, which may happen sooner rather than later. 

      In front of a pool of reporters on Friday, Friars manager Mike Shildt shared that starting pitcher King "felt good" after a bullpen on Wednesday and is scheduled for a simulated start on Monday.

      In 10 starts, covering 55 2/3 innings, King posted an excellent 2.59 ERA. He carried a solid strikeout rate with a K% of 28.4% and a good walk rate at 7.6%, leading to a strong K-BB% of 20.8%. He even threw his first career complete game shutout in April. Unfortunately, his season was interrupted in May when he was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, which was later diagnosed as a nerve impingement. He was subsequently transferred to the 60-day injured list in early July. 

      How much can we count on Michael King to bolster the Padres rotation? Join the conversation in the comments!

      Ryan Hernandez

      In his first game back from injury, Michael King pitched two innings and recorded a strikeout, allowed two walks, and allowed two earned runs on four hits against the Red Sox. King only threw 57 pitches before being pulled in the third inning.

      King, now 30 years old, made only a single Triple-A rehab start before returning to the Padres’ rotation. It is expected that he will need several more turns in the major league rotation to work himself back to a full starter’s workload.

      Addressing his return, King said: “The release point was off on some pitches, but I had to make those adjustments.” He added that “when I’m really rolling I can make those one-pitch adjustments. It took me a couple pitches to adjust, but I’ll definitely be faster with those adjustments in my next outings.”

      Despite the short outing and poor performance, the Padres found a way to win. They walked off in the bottom of the 10th to defeat Boston 5-4 thanks to Ramon Laureano’s walk-off single. King is optimistic that his performance will improve over his next few starts as he continues to get back into form and help the Padres in their playoff push.

      King’s next projected start will be against the Dodgers on the road, where he has the potential to help the Padres keep their NL West division lead over the Dodgers. King has 11 starts this season with a 2.81 ERA, 57 ⅔ innings picked, 65 strikeouts, and a 1.09 WHIP. 

      King is set to be a free agent this offseason.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Just as the San Diego Padres' offense appears to be picking up steam, they get back one of their key bats.

      Designated hitter Miguel Andujar was activated off the 10-day injured list Sunday by the Padres, with outfielder Nick Solak designated for assignment. Andujar missed the minimum time while dealing with a minor strain of his left hamstring.

      Andujar, a key right-handed bat, was slashing .254/.288/.418 with five homers and 17 RBIs when he went on the IL. His 12 doubles are just one off the team lead, shared by Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Gavin Sheets, despite playing 20 fewer games than two of those players.

      Solak came up from Triple-A El Paso when Andujar went on the IL. He appeared in four games and went 1-for-7 with a walk and an RBI.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      One of the San Diego Padres' subtle offensive contributors will be sidelined for a bit.

      Designated hitter-third baseman Miguel Andujar was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday by the San Diego Padres due to a strained left hamstring. Outfielder-DH Nick Solak was called up from Triple-A El Paso to take his place. The Padres had an opening on their 40-man roster after outfielder Bryce Johnson was designated for assignment Friday.

      Andujar injured his hamstring in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the New York Mets on a seventh-inning single. While he originally stayed in the game, he was removed, with Johnson pinch-running for him. Andujar did have pinch-hit appearances Tuesday and Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, replaced by pinch-runner Jase Bowen after drawing a walk Tuesday. It is the same hamstring that bothered Andujar earlier in the season.

      Solak is the fourth member of the Chihuahuas to come up in the past two weeks, joining outfielder-infielder Samad Taylor, outfielder Jase Bowen and infielder Will Wagner. Solak has a good track record offensively, but has been a liability defensively, particularly when he was playing second base. He has stuck to corner spots (first base, left field, right field) in recent seasons. This year at El Paso, Solak was slashing .333/.412/.512 with nine homers and a team-high 40 RBIs. His .333 batting average is the highest among players currently in the Pacific Coast League and has reached base in 17 of his last 18 games.

      Solak has 259 games of MLB experience since making his debut in 2019 with a career slash line of .250/.325/.369 with 21 homers and 93 RBIs.

       

       

      Matthew Lenz

      The coaching carousel is often associated with NCAA football coaches and coordinators, though Major League Baseball seems to have a carousel of its own. While it's common for coaches to move to improve their roles, it seems the Padres may be losing a coach making a lateral move.  

      Tim Britton of The Athletic is reporting that the New York Mets have interviewed San Diego Padres third-base, infield, and base-running coach Tim Leiper for a coaching role. While the role he interviewed for has not been confirmed, Andy Martino of SNY reported that the Mets are close to hiring a third base coach—it's not hard to connect the dots and think Leiper may be the unnamed coach.

      Leiper, who got his start in the Mets organization in 1996, joined the Padres organization ahead of the 2024 season. Previously, Leiper had been coaching in various organizations at multiple Minor League levels before becoming the first base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2014 to 2018.

      Detailed in a 2016 article by Canadian Baseball Network's J.P. Antonacci, Leiper's coaching philosophy centers on preparation and player relationships. In the article, he's quoted as saying, " You’re trying to find a way to put a puzzle together and win a game..." His style is highly analytical, involving the study of opposing pitchers' movements to find tiny advantages for baserunners. He believes successful coaching involves clear, timely information delivery to "take as much off the player's plate as possible," asserting that the ability to connect with and communicate with a player is more crucial than pure technical knowledge.

      If he's hired by the Mets, how do you think his departure impacts the Padres moving forward? Let us know in the comments!

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      Just over a month ago, Nick Pivetta walked off the mound in Lake Elsinore, looking like his season might be over. Now, the right-hander is set to rejoin the San Diego Padres for the final three weeks of the regular season.

      Pivetta will be activated from the 60-day injured list and start Monday's game against the Washington Nationals at Petco Park, manager Craig Stammen said following Sunday's 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees. Right-hander Randy Vasquez will move to a relief role, perhaps piggybacking Pivetta on Monday.

      The Padres will have to make moves regarding the 26- and 40-man rosters to accommodate Pivetta's return. One possibility on the 26-man roster would be sending right-hander Jhony Brito back to Triple-A El Paso, while designated hitter Miguel Andujar could be transferred to the 60-day IL.

      The 33-year-old has been out since mid-April with a strained right flexor in his right elbow. After being sidelined for a lengthy period, he began a rehab assignment Aug. 4 with fellow right-handed starter Joe Musgrove at Low-A Lake Elsinore. Musgrove started and his outing went well, but Pivetta walked off the mound after throwing his 14th pitch, saying that his elbow didn't feel right. However, he did throw about 30 pitches in a bullpen session that day, a good sign. But he returned a couple weeks later, making one start for Lake Elsinore and then one last weekend for Triple-A El Paso and looked good.

      Everyone involved in the process decided that if Pivetta came out of Saturday's bullpen session feeling good that he would start against the Nationals.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      There is another addition to the San Diego Padres' outfield competition.

      Alex Verdugo, a left-handed hitter released by Atlanta last season, agreed to a minor-league contract with the Padres, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Sunday. The deal will become official once the 29-year-old passes a physical.

      A left-handed hitter, Verdugo was designated for assignment and released by Atlanta in July following the return of former Friars outfielder Jurickson Profar after serving an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. Verdugo, who had signed a $1.5 million contract with Atlanta, had put up a meager .239/.296/.289 slash line with no homers and 12 RBIs in 213 plate appearances over 56 games. That was a second consecutive poor offensive year for Verdugo, who posted a .233/.291/.356 slash line in 2024 with the New York Yankees, with 13 homers and 61 RBIs in 149 games.

      Verdugo's career numbers show there could still be some production left. His career slash line is .270/.326/.406, mostly done between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox over his first seven MLB seasons. His 13 homers in 2024 matched his career high, accomplished twice.

      Verdugo now jumps into the mix with Bryce Johnson for a backup outfield role. Johnson does not have any minor-league options remaining. Verdugo is mainly a corner outfielder, but does also play center.

      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

       

      The San Diego Padres became the final MLB team to alter their Opening Day roster, activating late-inning bullpen stalwart Jason Adam from the 15-day injured list Friday.

      To make room for Adam, right-hander Jeremiah Estrada went on the 15-day IL with tendinitis in his right elbow.

      Adam, a right-handed setup man, ruptured his left quadriceps tendon in a Sept. 1 game and required surgery. He progressed well during the offseason, with speculation that he could have been on the Opening Day roster. Instead, Adam started the season on the IL and got in a few more outings during a rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso.

      At El Paso, Adam made four appearances and didn't allow a run, including two perfect innings Wednesday as a final tune-up. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in his five rehab innings. He rejoins a Padres bullpen that has been decent in the first 13 games of the season, albeit with a few blips, ranking 10th in MLB with a 3.05 ERA. Friars relievers have worked the fourth-most innings thus far with 56.

      Last year, Adam had a 3.07 FIP (1.93 ERA) in 65 appearances over 65⅓ innings as a key member of a bullpen that had the best ERA in the majors at 3.06.

      Estrada has battled a loss in velocity in his seven outings this season, allowing four runs in his season debut and two more Thursday. Estrada's four-seam fastball has averaged 95 mph this season after being at 97.9 in 2025. He has a 5.14 ERA in 5⅓ innings, with five walks and eight strikeouts this season.

       

×
×
  • Create New...