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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
    The Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic roster will include the San Diego Padres' two biggest stars.
    That came after third baseman Manny Machado was announced as part of the team. Previously, right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was named to the roster.
    The deadline to finalize rosters is Tuesday, with official announcements made by the WBC on Thursday.
     

    This will be Machado's third appearance in the WBC, having played in 2017 and 2023 (no tournament was held in 2020 due to the pandemic). Machado is the latest to become an official member of the team. Superstar New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto was named Sunday, and Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena earlier Monday.
    The Dominican Republic typically has the strongest roster of all the WBC teams.
    Matthew Lenz
    The San Diego Padres are looking to shore up their infield depth despite having multiple options currently on the 40-man roster. Especially on the right side, Jake Cronenworth and Gavin Sheets are expected to share some combination of time between first base and DH. Will Wagner and Sung Mun Song can both play second base (among other infield positions), while depth options include Luis Campusano and Mason McCoy.
    Despite those options, that's not stopping the Padres from looking at an upgrade for their bench. Chris Cotillo of MassLive is reporting that the San Diego Padres are part of a "robust market" who have shown interest in first baseman Ty France.
    France, who was drafted by the Padres in the 34th round of the 2015 draft, won the American League Gold Glove in 2025. However, he struggled at the plate in back -to-back season posting a sub-.700 OPS, hitting 20 home runs, and having a below-average wRC+ in both 2024 and 2025. The San Diego State product would serve as a right-handed option on the right side of the infield that has four left-handed options. 
    Do you think the Padres should sign him? Let us know in the comments!
    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
    Needing more competition and depth for the starting rotation, the San Diego Padres have agreed to terms on a minor-league deal with left-hander Marco Gonzales, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
    Gonzales not only has an invitation to spring training, but would make $1.5 million if he makes the team with $1 million in incentives, Heyman reported.
    Set to turn 34 on Feb. 16, Gonzales has spent 10 seasons in MLB, including last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Due to a variety of elbow issues, Gonzales only made seven starts in 2025 with a 4.71 FIP and 4.54 ERA. The Pirates declined a $15 million option on Gonzales for 2026.
    The Friars' rotation currently is comprised of Nick Pivetta, Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears. All are right-handers except for Sears. Left-hander Kyle Hart and right-hander Matt Waldron are other options for the rotation already on the roster.
    Brock Beauchamp
    The 2026 MLB season is right around the corner, and we're looking to expand our video coverage. Have you ever considered being on-camera and talking about the Padres? If yes, we'd love to talk to you about it.
    Our videos are typically in a wide variety of styles: breaking news, analysis, and historical study. We're open to any and all ideas as long as they're centered around the San Diego Padres. We're looking for serious baseball talk, so leave the hot takes at home.
    If you'd like to learn more about this cool little side gig, please email Brock Beauchamp at brock.beauchamp@padresmission.com.
    Here is an example of a recent Padres video from us:
    Steve Drumwright
    With the San Diego Padres still looking to bolster their starting rotation, the team has been connected with a pitcher they have seen a lot in recent years.
    That would be right-hander Zac Gallen, a free agent after pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2019. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Friars have "checked in" on Gallen. But Heyman also immediately threw water on the idea by grouping the Padres with the Los Angeles Angels and saying those two teams aren't "big spenders."
    Instead, Heyman points to a return to the Diamondbacks as a possibility due to Gallen having a qualifying offer, while the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles would be the other top contenders.
    Gallen had a bumpy 2025, with a 4.50 FIP and 4.83 ERA in 33 starts, although he was much better down the stretch, with a 3.32 ERA after Aug. 1.
    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
    Samad Taylor, an infielder-outfielder who has seen MLB action with two teams, has reportedly signed a minor-league contract with the San Diego Padres. Taylor also received a non-roster invite to spring training.
    The 27-year-old was a 10th-round draft choice by Cleveland in the 2016 draft out of Corona High School, about 90 minutes north of San Diego. Taylor was recently designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners and elected free agency.
    Taylor has appeared in 38 MLB games, including seven over the past two seasons with the Mariners. He made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Kansas City Royals, playing in 31 games. Taylor has a career slash line of .205/.272/.260 with no homers, four RBIs, and eight stolen bases.
    He was dealt by Cleveland at the 2017 trade deadline, with left-hander Thomas Pannone to the Toronto Blue Jays for right-hander Joe Smith. At the 2022 deadline, he was shipped to the Royals with right-hander Max Castillo for second baseman Whit Merrifield. Taylor was on the move once again in January 2024, going from the Royals to the Mariners for a player to be named, which became right-hander Natanael Garabitos.
    Taylor will battle for the last outfield spot on the Padres' roster with the likes of Tirso Ornelas.
    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
    Before the Milwaukee Brewers shipped ace Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets, the San Diego Padres were in contention for the right-hander's services.
    This according to a report by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who said the Padres, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins were in the conversation late. But Rosenthal said the Brewers went with the Mets in part because New York had been the most persistent team.
    The question from the Padres' perspective is if they had the prospect capital to make a Peralta deal happen. The Brewers received two of the Mets' top-five prospects in infielder-outfielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat. While Williams likely needs a little more time in the minors, Sproat is expected to contend for a spot in the Crew's rotation this spring.
    The prospect closest to matching what the Brewers were seeking, MLB-ready talent, is right-handed starter Miguel Mendez, who ranks as the No. 8 prospect in the Friars' system by MLB Pipeline. But Mendez had only six games at the Double-A level in 2025 and probably has another year in the minors before truly being an MLB option.
    There are no position players that would have fit that mold, either, even when you consider the Padres' MLB roster.
    Steve Drumwright
    We all know the San Diego Padres are in need of another arm (or two) for the starting rotation, and with the way the free-agent market is moving, there are still plenty of fish in the sea.
    But according to a report Tuesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Friars president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is willing to do what he did last offseason — wait out the market and save some cash.
    Another key part of the report was Rosenthal mentioning that the Padres are one of the many teams to have checked in with the Milwaukee Brewers regarding a trade for ace right-hander Freddy Peralta, who is due to make an affordable $8 million before becoming a free agent after 2026.
    The strategy of waiting to improve the rotation worked very well a year ago as the Padres brought in right-hander Nick Pivetta on a backloaded four-year, $55 million contract with opt-outs after 2026 and 2027. Pivetta was paid just $2.5 million in 2025 and jumps to $20.5 million this year. Of course, Pivetta emerged with the best season of his nine-year career.
    Pivetta went 13-7 with a 3.49 FIP, 2.87 ERA, and 149 ERA+ in a career-high 181⅔ innings.
    Pivetta also remains a hot trade target, which would create an issue for the Padres unless an MLB-ready arm is part of the return. Pivetta is likely to be the Opening Day starter this year, with Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears likely filling out the rotation. Musgrove is coming back from Tommy John surgery.
    Matthew Lenz
    It's been fairly quiet for the San Diego Padres ever since they re-signed starting pitcher Michael King and signed infielder Sung Mun Song. However, the pilot light on the hot stove turned into a medium-low flame on Monday.
    Jon Heyman of the NY Post is reporting that the San Diego Padres are one of many teams interested in utility man Miguel Andujar.
    At 31 years old, Andujar is coming off his best season with a .822 OPS (125 wRC+) and 10 home runs. Though his quantity of contact is a plus, his quality of contact leaves more to be desired. While he finished in the upper 80th percentiles in whiff and strikeout rates, he finished in the teens when it came to barrel and hard hit rates. With the Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds, he played a little bit at each of the corner infield and corner outfield spots. While his versatility is a plus, he's not particularly strong defensively, as he accrued negative Outs Above Average at each position in 2025 (except first, where he only played 13 innings). Regardless, he would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Will Wagner, Bryce Johnson, and Mason McCoy. 
     
    Do you think the Padres should sign Andujar? Let us know in the comments.
    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.
    Steve Drumwright
    Were the San Diego Padres the runner-up in the sweepstakes to acquire Nolan Arenado?
    That is unknown, but the Friars were serious bidders to acquire the 10-time Gold Glove third baseman from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Arenado was traded on Tuesday to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a pitching prospect, right-hander Jack Martinez.
    But where the 34-year-old Arenado would have played would have been the interesting part. With Manny Machado entrenched at third base, the Padres would have wanted Arenado, a six-time Platinum Glove winner, to play first base. Currently, the Friars have a combination of Gavin Sheets and Jake Cronenworth at first base.
    Another impediment in the Padres' attempt to add Arenado was how much salary the Friars would take on. The Diamondbacks took on $31 million of the $42 million Arenado is owed on the final two years of his contract. Rosenthal reported that the Padres wanted to pay less than the $11 million the D'backs will pay Arenado.
    Southern California was a destination for Arenado, who was born in Newport Beach and went to high school at El Toro in Lake Forest.
    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!
    Matthew Lenz
    Despite re-signing Michael King, the San Diego Padres are still looking to fill the void left by Dylan Cease, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason.
    Earlier in the offseason, it was rumored that general manager AJ  Preller was considering transitioning one of his relievers from the bullpen to the starting rotation. At the time, he had given himself about two weeks to make that decision and seemingly opted not to go that route. However, that doesn't mean Padres fans won't see changes in the bullpen before Opening Day.
    AJ Cassavell of MLB.com is reporting that the San Diego Padres are looking to add starting pitching and could deal a reliever to make that happen. The report doesn't indicate exactly which reliever(s) may be subject to trade talks, but Cassavell does mention that a high-leverage reliever, Mason Miller, is unlikely to be dealt.
    That said, he doesn't go too much further down the pecking order before bringing up names like Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, and David Morgan as potential candidates. He also mentions Jason Adam as an unlikely candidate to be traded. Recently, it was also suggested that the Padres may need to deal Nick Pivetta to make room for another start from a cost standpoint.
    Do you think the Padres should trade one of their high-end relievers for a starting pitcher? Let us know what you think of the comments.
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