Hold onto your hats, baseball fans, because the San Diego Padres are making some serious moves this offseason, and it’s got everyone talking. But here’s where it gets controversial: while Paul Goldschmidt is headed back to the Bronx after signing a one-year deal with the Yankees, the Padres were reportedly in the running for his services, alongside the Diamondbacks. And this is the part most people miss—San Diego wasn’t just window shopping; they were serious contenders until the very end.
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post and Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Padres were among the finalists for Goldschmidt, signaling their intent to bolster their lineup. This comes after they inked Miguel Andujar to a $4MM contract earlier this week. Andujar is expected to serve as the primary designated hitter, with the flexibility to spell first baseman Gavin Sheets against left-handed pitching. He’ll also share DH duties with Sung-mun Song, a KBO signee whose multi-positional versatility gives the Padres room to add another first base/DH-type player.
Here’s the kicker: the Padres’ bench was a weak spot last season, and despite these moves, it still feels like a work in progress. Song and backup catcher Luis Campusano are locks for two bench spots, leaving two openings. The remaining candidates—Bryce Johnson, Will Wagner, Mason McCoy, and Tirso Ornelas—are fringe 40-man roster players with question marks. Johnson had a hot streak last year but isn’t likely to sustain it, Ornelas hasn’t gotten a real shot in the majors, and McCoy and Wagner have underwhelmed offensively.
Bold prediction alert: the Padres might not be done yet. Unsigned righty-hitting first basemen like Rhys Hoskins, Wilmer Flores, Justin Turner, and Ty France could be on their radar. Designated hitters like Marcell Ozuna, Mitch Garver, and Andrew McCutchen are also available. And let’s not forget speculative trade targets like Ryan Mountcastle, Lenyn Sosa, and Ezequiel Duran.
But wait, there’s more. The Padres aren’t just focused on hitting—they’re eyeing pitching upgrades too. A.J. Preller, the team’s president of baseball operations, hinted at adding another starter, likely a cheaper back-end option. However, they were reportedly in the mix for Framber Valdez before he signed a massive three-year, $115MM deal with the Tigers. That move was probably out of their budget, but it shows San Diego’s ambition.
Speaking of pitching, the free agent market still has some big names available, including Zac Gallen, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Lucas Giolito. Signing any of these starters could push JP Sears into a long relief role or back to Triple-A. The Padres’ current rotation boasts a strong top three with Nick Pivetta, Michael King, and Joe Musgrove, but the talent drops off sharply after that. Randy Vásquez seems likely to secure one of the final spots, leaving Sears, Kyle Hart, and Matt Waldron as the remaining options.
Here’s the burning question: With so many moves already made, are the Padres spreading themselves too thin, or are they strategically filling gaps? And should they go all-in on a big-name pitcher or focus on depth? Let’s debate this in the comments—I want to hear your take.
One thing’s for sure: the Padres are shaping up to be a team to watch this season, and their offseason maneuvers are anything but boring. Strap in, because this ride is just getting started.
