David Peralta is a free agent this winter. Will the San Diego Padres bring back the veteran outfielder? 

The 2024 season did not end well for the San Diego Padres.

An offensive funk for the last few games sealed the fate of the Padres in the NLDS.

For a team that prided itself on consistency at the plate throughout the year, the final result of the series was shocking. That is just how the game of baseball is sometimes. You cannot ever predict the future, and that is why they play the games.

The offensive philosophy of the Padres in 2024 was impressive. The team led the league in least strikeouts and consistently put the ball in play. Victor Rodriguez was brought over from Cleveland and immediately made an impact on a unit that was horrible each and every season for the Padres.

Rodriguez is the hitting coach the team always needed for the spacious confines of Petco Park.

Several veteran hitters have bought into the new philosophy brought by Rodriguez, and David Peralta is one of them.

Peralta signed with the Chicago Cubs in late February. The 10-year veteran took a minor league deal with the Cubs as that was his only offer. Peralta battled some nagging injuries with Chicago and was never called up to the majors after a month in the minors. Peralta chose free agency and signed with the Padres on May 18. Four days later, the Padres called the outfielder up.

In the first few months, Peralta received minor playing time as he backed up Jurickson Profar and Feranndo Tatis Jr. in the outfield. As Tatis went down to injury, Peralta earned more playing time and saw himself in the lineup as a DH against a tough right-handed pitcher.

During the month of August, Peralta put up a .963 OPS in 27 games and 83 at-bats. The lefty provided stability to the bottom half of the lineup. Peralta totaled 236 at-bats for the Padres in 2024, resulting in a .750 OPS. The numbers are not off the charts, but Peralta proved valuable to the Padres.

Heading into the winter, the 36-year-old is again a free agent.

Peralta is no stranger to adversity, as the outfielder was originally drafted as a pitcher. He fizzled out early in his career and had to return to the game as an outfielder after a few years in independent baseball. Peralta made it through all the adversity to enjoy an 11-year career in the majors. He owns a career .782 OPS and has slugged 125 career homers.

Will the Padres show interest in the veteran?

There is an opening in left field presently, but the Padres will likely do everything possible to bring back Jurickson Profar. Peralta could be a valuable option off the bench for the Padres, but it will all come down to cost. There are minor league options like Tirso Ornelas, which could be a cheaper alternative to Peralta.

The San Diego Padres have options moving forward.  Will David Peralta be part of the team?

Sadly, for Peralta, he will likely need to wait until late January or early February to find a job.

At that time, the Padres outfield situation may be more clear. The team will also have an idea of how much money they have to spend to fill out the 26-man roster.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.