Padres need to make a move for outfield help
Apr 19, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Marlins outfielder Jesus Sanchez (7) runs toward first after hitting a double against the Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Jackson Merrill is still out with a bad hamstring, and it appears it could still be a while before he returns. The Padres need to act now.
When the season began, there were big questions about the Padres’ outfield situation. Those questions were squarely in left field. Centerfield is now Jackson Merrill’s when he’s healthy.
Unfortunately, the health part is the big issue at the moment. Merrill has not played since April. Technically, he is eligible to come off the injured list at any time. However, the team has hinted it will still be some time before he is patrolling centerfield again. Per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported it may be another week at minimum until Merrill can work towards a return. We could be talking about several weeks until Merrill is back to 100 percent.
Wow. The Padres saying it's even aggressive to say Jackson Merrill will be back a week from now.
YIKES. pic.twitter.com/PN4duFYZxp
— Nick Lee
(@NickLee51) April 18, 2025
The Padres have a shortage of outfielders. Not only is Merrill down, but now too is veteran Jason Heyward and Brandon Lockridge. That’s three players with MLB experience in center field now on the shelf.
San Diego was essentially forced to call up Tyler Wade and Tirso Ornelas. They even made a Triple-A level trade, sending catcher Brett Sullivan to the Pirates to acquire ex-Padre Bryce Johnson.
To say the Padres are thin in the outfield at the moment is a massive understatement. Fernando Tatis Jr. can’t play the entire outfield by himself, although he is one of the only baseball players on planet Earth who could even at least attempt such a thing.
With the Padres hinting that Merrill could be out longer than fans hoped, and Heyward and reserve outfielder Lockridge all on the shelf, it might already be time for A.J. Preller to make a move in the outfield.
Last year, Preller traded for Luis Arraez in early May. They may need to do such a thing again with the amount of injuries already piling up in the outfield. They need another MLB-level player who has experience in centerfield but also can play left when Merrill returns.
Where might a deal like that occur?
Why not call the Marlins again? Jesus Sanchez could be a fit out of Miami. The 27-year-old has played all three outfield spots for the Marlins in the last two seasons alone. His contract does not expire for another three seasons, leaving him as an attractive option for the Padres of the future as well.
While Sanchez isn’t a perennial All-Star, he offers a higher floor than most options the Padres currently have. Between 2023 and 2024, he hit .252 with 32 homers, and a perfectly average .750 OPS and 100 OPS+.
The Padres could use a bit more perfectly average in their outfield depth at the moment. He offers some pop with a dash of speed and decent fielding. He is a great option if the Marlins are willing to trade this early in the season once again.
How about an old friend? Friend might be a strong word. But Tommy Pham is currently in the starting lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yes, there is a complicated relationship between Pham and the Padres fanbase. He played 30 games in center field last year, but has typically been a corner outfielder in the later stages of his career. Still, in a pinch, he could be a serviceable center fielder.
This move would need more vetting out in the Padres clubhouse, as Pham is a very strong personality. But he would certainly improve the depth of the Padres’ outfield. His hitting has taken a dive of late, but he at least has a track record.
Buried in the Orioles’ depth chart is Ramon Laureano. He already has three homers in limited action this season. Several years ago, he was a great defensive centerfielder. Perhaps the Orioles and Padres can find a mutually beneficial deal to give the Padres an extra veteran centerfielder.
For anyone wondering about former White Sox All-Star Luis Robert Jr., that deal seems extremely unlikely. Robert struggles to stay healthy, only playing more than 100 games once in six seasons. He is owed $15 million this season despite accumulating just 1.5 total WAR and an 84 OPS+ over the last season-plus. Unless the White Sox are willing to pay the majority of Robert’s contract in that deal, a trade to the Padres seems unlikely.
If a trade isn’t on the table, the Padres may need to get creative. Tirso Ornelas recently made his MLB debut and can man left field. He hit the cover off of the ball during Spring Training and now may get his chance to put his abilities on full display while the team is down several outfielders. But the biggest need is in center field.
The free agent market is frankly devoid of true centerfield options. If a trade can’t be made, the Padres may need to weather the storm until one of Lockridge, Heyward, and Merrill can return.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.