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  • San Diego Padres Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest San Diego Padres free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Steve Drumwright
    While he didn't fit with the San Diego Padres anymore, Ron Marinaccio has found a new home.
    The Padres on Thursday traded the right-handed reliever to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for international signing bonus money. According to MLB insider Francys Romero, the Padres received $500,000.
    Marinaccio was designated for assignment by the Padres on Sunday. He was the odd man out in the bullpen and was out of options when left-hander Wandy Peralta came back off the bereavement list.
    The 31-year-old, dealt from the Chicago White Sox in January 2025 after he was DFA'd for cash, had a 5.32 FIP (4.79 ERA) in 33 appearances with an 8.9% walk rate and 18.7% strikeout rate this season.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres reeled in their biggest fish from the MLB Draft. Does that help them catch another big fish?
    First-round draft choice Coleman Borthwick, a high school pitcher out of Florida, has signed with the Padres on Wednesday, according to his Instagram account. On Friday, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reported the bonus to be $3.8 million, with the 21st overall pick had an assigned value of $4,224,700, saving more than $400,000 for other picks. The Padres also came to terms with sixth-rounder Nu'u Contrades, a shortstop from Arizona State, who received a $300,000 signing bonus, MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis reported Thursday. Contrades had a slot value of $350,100.
    Borthwick, at 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, was the top high school pitcher selected in the draft and signed his contract at the Padres' complex in Peoria, Ariz. Depending on if Borthwick received an under-slot deal, the Padres could use that money toward one of his teammates at South Walton High School in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. That would be right-handed pitcher Denton Lord, whom the Friars selected in the 17th round after he announced on Instagram following the fifth round that he would honor his commitment to Mississippi State. But if the Padres can cobble enough money together from other draft picks, they could land Lord.
    As a senior, the 18-year-old Borthwick went 11-0 with a 0.21 ERA, .082 opponent average and 12.9 strikeouts per seven innings.
    Contrades, 22, finished his redshirt junior year at Arizona State with a .366/.434/.762 slash line.
    The Padres now have five of their 21 draft choices signed, including their top two selections.
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres have landed their fifth-round draft choice.
    Kansas State right-handed starter James Guyette has signed with the Padres for $400,000, MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis reported Wednesday. That is just slightly below the slot value of $449,500. You can keep tabs on the Padres and their draft pool with our Draft Tracker.
    A 6-foot-3, 215-pounder, Guyette was a surprise selection for the Friars with the 157th pick. He was not ranked by either Baseball America or MLB Pipeline. A SoCal native who attended Newbury Park High School, Guyette joined the Kansas State rotation this season as a junior and had a 5.56 ERA with 35 walks and 105 strikeouts in 79⅓ innings. He has a really nice slider in the mid-80s and a good sinking fastball that sits 93-94 mph. He also has a changeup that can become a plus pitch.
    Guyette is the third of the Padres' 20 draft choices to have been signed, joining second-rounder Elliot Lascelles, a high school shortstop from Toronto, and 11th-rounder Chris McHugh, a first baseman from North Carolina State.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    If indeed the San Diego Padres do decide to trade away players, their bullpen is an obvious place with several pieces that would help other contenders.
    Among those players is left-hander Wandy Peralta. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, Peralta is "actively being discussed."
    The 35-year-old is making $4.45 million this year and has a player option for the same figure next year, making him very affordable for any team looking for a lefty in the bullpen. Peralta is having a very good season, with a career-best 2.35 ERA in 43 games, with his FIP at 4.18. He has a 9.7% walk rate and 15.5% strikeout rate. He isn't really an option to be a consistent late-game option, but can fill a flexible role.
    Peralta would probably bring back a solid prospect or could enhance a package for some of the more attractive Padres relievers in left-hander Adrian Morejon, right-hander Jason Adam (currently on the 15-day injured list) or even All-Star closer Mason Miller.
    Steve Drumwright
    The recent stretch of good outings has earned left-handed starter Jagger Haynes a trip to El Paso.
    The 23-year-old was promoted from the Double-A San Antonio Missions to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas before Tuesday's series opener against the Las Vegas Aviators.
    Haynes, Padres Mission's No. 13 prospect, has a 4.37 ERA in 18 starts for the Missions, with a 10.2% walk rate, the best of his career, and a 21.2% strikeout rate, which is the worst of his career. In his most recent start Friday, Haynes struck out eight over six innings, allowing a run on three hits and a walk. Haynes was the Padres' fifth-round draft choice in 2020 out of West Columbus High School in North Carolina.
    Also on the move before series began Tuesday were right-handed reliever Jose Leclerc, whose rehab assignment was transferred from the Arizona Complex League to High-A Fort Wayne, left-hander Igor Gil moving up from Fort Wayne to San Antonio and right-hander Ryan Och being placed on the seven-day injured list.
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres have reeled in their second draft pick of 2026.
    Toronto high school shortstop Elliot Lascelles, the Padres' second-round pick, has secured a signing bonus of $2,800,394, the highest amount for a Canadian position player, according to MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis.
    That is an above-slot deal. The No. 60 selection had an assigned value of $1,561,000. To keep tabs on how the Padres are spending their draft pool of $9,479,000, check out our Draft Tracker. Previously, the Friars had given a $170,000 bonus to 11th-rounder Chris McHugh, a first baseman from North Carolina State. For those drafted in the 11th through 20th rounds, only the amount over $150,000 counts against the draft allotment.
    Lascelles, 18, played at Upper Canada High School in Toronto and brings a terrific hit tool. In a spring tour of the U.S. in which his team faced a lot of minor-league pitching, Lascelles hit .389 in 59 at-bats with four extra-base hits. He is likely to have to eventually move off shortstop due to questionable arm strength, with second base a strong Plan B.
     
    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' pitching staff is a step closer to being at full strength, but will that be enough to snap out of their doldrums?
    Right-handed starter Randy Vasquez was activated from the 15-day injured list Sunday by the Padres, who also got left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta back from the bereavement list. That cost two players their roster spot: right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio was designated for assignment and right-hander Jhony Brito was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.
    Vasquez was hit on the right ankle July 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers and placed on the IL the next day with an ankle contusion. The night of the injury, Vasquez was being taken to get an X-ray at Dodger Stadium when he fainted and then taken to a hospital. He was released from the hospital the next morning and was back at the team hotel before the decision was made to put him on the IL. Vasquez did make one rehab appearance in the Arizona Complex League.
    After a strong start to his season, Vasquez has been a bit of an enigma since. In 17 games, he currently has a 4.91 FIP (4.71 ERA) with a good 7.3% walk rate and below-average 16.3% strikeout rate. Vasquez is not scheduled to pitch any of the first three games in Atlanta, meaning he could be coming out of the bullpen either Sunday vs. the Kansas City Royals or Monday against Atlanta before possibly rejoining the rotation later in the week.
    Marinaccio was out of options and posted a 5.31 FIP (4.79 ERA) in 33 games with a walk rate of 8.9% and strikeout rate of 18.7%. If he goes unclaimed off waivers, which feels unlikely, he can be outrighted to Triple-A.
    Brito pitched a scoreless inning in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Royals, his third appearance this the last two weeks since coming back up following internal brace and flexor tendon surgery in April 2025.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres' catching situation is back to full strength.
    Freddy Fermin was activated off the 10-day injured list just two weeks after sustaining a head contusion. Catcher Rodolfo Duran, who made his MLB debut after 11 seasons in the minors, was sent back to Triple-A El Paso.
    Fermin was hit in the mask by a foul from Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the July 2 game. While he stayed in the game for a few batters, Fermin was removed during a mound visit by manager Craig Stammen when he showed signs of the injury. This came about 10 days after Fermin returned from the seven-day concussion list.
    Fermin's two injuries plus Luis Campusano breaking his left big toe in early May and not returning until July 3 tested the Padres' catching depth. That led to Duran making his debut as well as Blake Hunt getting his first taste of MLB action after nine seasons in the minors. Duran at one point was the No. 1 catcher with Hunt his backup.
    Duran endeared himself to Padres pitchers with his defense and game-calling. However, he only had a slash line of .146/.222/.305 in 35 games, with three homers and eight RBIs. He allowed just 16 stolen bases in 27 chances, a very good caught-stealing rate of 40.7% (the MLB average is 24%).
     
    Steve Drumwright
    While the MLB Draft concluded one big piece of work for the San Diego Padres, there was still some immediate work left to do to help their minor-league system.
    Sign undrafted free agents, something they do pretty well. Two undrafted free agents are currently in Padres Mission's Top 20 prospects in Braedon Karpathios, who went undrafted in 2024, and Alex McCoy, who wasn't picked last summer.
    As of Thursday, Baseball America had reported that the Padres had signed nine players who were not selected, including two that were in the publication's top 500 draft prospects (there were 613 picked). All but two were out of college, with the others from high school.
    Leading the way are Mississippi State right-hander Tyler Pitzer and Winthrop outfielder Josh Skowronski. Pritzer (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) is a reliever who spent his first two seasons at South Carolina before transferring to Mississippi State. He struck out 38 in 30 innings over 22 appearances, posting a 3.20 ERA and a .193 opponent average. Pitzer was Baseball America's No. 307 draft prospect.
    Skowronski is a physical presence at 6-5 and 220 pounds and can play center field. After starting his career at Kentucky, he transferred to Winthrop for the past two seasons. The left-handed hitter slashed .305/.436/.588 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs in 58 games his first year at Winthrop, but followed that up with a .251/.414/.410 year with four homers and 23 RBIs in 55 games this season. Skowronski was Baseball America's 380th-ranked draft prospect.
    Here are the other seven at this point:
    Aidan Cochrane, RHP, East Lyme (Conn.) HS Drew Detlefsen, OF, Texas-San Antonio Ryan Gerety, OF, Northeastern Mac Moyer, OF, Nebraska Jack Pineau, RHP, Creighton Logan Satter, RHP Legion Collegiate Academy (S.C.) Andrew Wright, LHP, Cal State Fullerton Moyer has MLB bloodlines as the son of 25-year MLB left-hander Jamie Moyer.
    All of these players can sign for up to $150,000 without affecting the Padres' draft-bonus pool. None of the Padres' draft picks have signed thus far.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    Whether or not the 2027 MLB season begins on time is one question, but at least we know when games are supposed to start next year.
    The San Diego Padres will open 2027 with seven games at Petco Park, including Opening Day against the Arizona Diamondback on March 25. There will be one MLB game on March 24, a matchup to be determined. As it was this year when the San Francisco Giants hosted the New York Yankees, Netflix will be the exclusive carrier of the March 24 game. The traditional March 25 Opening Day is the earliest non-special event opener in MLB history.
    After that four-game Thursday-Sunday series vs. the D'backs, the Padres will host the Colorado Rockies for three games March 29-31 before hitting the road for six games against the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals from April 2-7.
    The Friars have their first series against the NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers when they return home April 9-11.
    Among the other notable series is the Padres heading to Las Vegas to face the A's on June 4-6. They also have a scheduled doubleheader June 23 at Petco Park against the Chicago Cubs, then having two days off before beginning a road trip against the Toronto Blue Jays. Another scheduled doubleheader is July 10 against the Colorado Rockies in Denver on the weekend before the All-Star break.
    The All-Star Game is July 13 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
    The Padres conclude the 2027 season with a six-game road trip against the D'backs and Chicago White Sox.
    The start of the season is in doubt due to a probable lockout by owners as the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1.
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres will be without a key reliever to begin their most important road trip thus far in 2026.
    Left-hander Wandy Peralta was put on the bereavement list Wednesday by the Padres, who called up right-hander Jhony Brito from Triple-A El Paso.
    Peralta can be away from the team for up to three days, although with the All-Star break lasting through Thursday, it isn't clear when Peralta must return to the team. Peralta could miss just one game or the entire series against the Kansas City Royals. Peralta has a 3.93 FIP (2.23 ERA) across 41 outings, second-most on the team, and 48⅓ innings. He has a 9.6% walk rate and 15.7% strikeout rate.
    Brito returned to the Padres on July 7 following an internal brace procedure and flexor tendon surgery from April 2025. He appeared in two games, pitching 4⅓ innings and allowing two runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts, before being sent down just Saturday. One of the hits he allowed was a homer.
     
     
    Steve Drumwright
    Could there be another blockbuster involving the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees?
    The Yankees are reportedly interested in All-Star Padres closer Mason Miller, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
    The two teams hooked up in the 2023 offseason blockbuster in which the Padres shipped superstar outfielder Juan Soto and center fielder Trent Grisham to the Yankees for pitchers Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, Drew Thorpe and catcher Kyle Higashioka.
    Miller would give the Yankees a better back end of the bullpen, moving current closer David Bednar to a setup role. Bednar is also a free agent following this season, while Miller is under club control through 2029.
    The Yankees have a few pitching prospects to dangle in front of the Padres, including right-handers Elmer Rodriguez, Carlos Lagrange and Ben Hess. Top Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. is likely off the table unless there is more involved coming from the Friars. Rodriguez made his MLB debut in June, appearing in four games, while Lagrange is at Triple-A and Hess at Double-A.
    As the Padres have found out this year, you can never have too much pitching depth.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    While the process has taken longer than many on the outside thought, the sale of the San Diego Padres will happen.
    That is according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who held court prior to Tuesday's All-Star Game and was asked about the record $3.9 billion purchase by Jose E. Felciano and Kwanza Jones.
    “It’s a question of getting investment commitments, documentation to be put in a condition that it’s ready for a club vote,” Manfred said, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
    News of the sale agreement broke in mid-April, with the Seidler family negotiating the richest sale in MLB history, surpassing the $2.4 billion that Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets in 2020. Cohen, one of the richest people in the world, acquired 95% control of the team.
    Feliciano and Jones are said to be purchasing a 45% stake in the Padres, with several other people, groups and entities piecing together the remaining 55%. That is where it seems things have slowed down. That and the sale news becoming public earlier in the process than what is typical.
    “When people in the public become aware of the sale — this one was earlier, quicker than what sometimes happens,” Manfred said. “Usually, it gets public when it’s a little closer to final documents. But (the sale) will get done.”
    There was an owners meeting in June where a vote could have taken place. Now, it seems like the approval will happen in August at the next owners meeting. A vote to approve new ownership requires 22 of the other 29 teams.
    Braden Ramsey
    The San Diego Padres selected James Guyette with pick No. 157 in the 2026 MLB Draft. Guyette is a right-handed pitcher out of Kansas State University. The slot value for the pick is $449,500.
    Guyette, a rising senior, produced a 5.56 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts) with the Wildcats in 2026. He tallied double-digit strikeouts in three starts last season, including 13 punchouts in a complete game victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats on May 10.
    "[Guyette] went to training camp with the U.S. collegiate national team last summer," MLB Draft analyst Jim Callis said on MLB's live stream. "What stands out with him is the East-West contrast on his sinker and slider. He's got a 92-94 MPH sinker that breaks [arm side], a low 80s slider that breaks [glove side]... has also got a fading changeup that keeps guys off balance."
    Guyette was an All-Big 12 Team Honorable Mention in 2025, when he operated exclusively as a reliever. As a starter in 2026, he racked up 105 strikeouts in 79 1/3 innings.
    Steve Drumwright
    With their final pick on the first day of the 2026 MLB Draft, the San Diego Padres got their first power bat.
    That came in the form of Oklahoma State junior outfielder Alex Conover, who was taken with a compensation pick in the fourth round, the 134th overall selection. The Friars received this pick as a result of the qualifying offer given to right-handed starter Dylan Cease, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for seven years and $210 million in free agency. The 134th pick has a $563,900 bonus slot.
    Another left-handed bat, the 6-foot-4, 202-pound Conover slashed .357/.476/.625 at Oklahoma State with 14 homers, 37 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.
    All of his tools were given a 50-grade on the 20-80 scouting scale by MLB Pipeline.
    He made huge strides in cutting his chase rate from 2025 to 2026, going from 26% down to 19%. He rarely swings and misses when the ball is in the zone and does go gap-to-gap. One drawback is he does tend to hit too many groundballs. Conover also has solid speed but played mostly left field at Oklahoma State, though he did see action in center. His arm is rather average, which probably leaves him in left with first base also a possibility.
    As a minor bonus, he did catch in high school.
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