Re-signing Jurickson Profar looks like a necessity for Padres

Padres

Jun 11, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar (10) smiles after being tagged out at home during the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

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The Padres beat the Royals 11-8 with a huge eighth inning. Luis Arraez collected four hits and the Padres held on after a late collapse.
Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres still have a gaping hole in left field with one month until Spring Training. An old friend still remains available in free agency.

San Diego still does not have a left fielder with MLB experience. As of now, Tirso Ornelas is projected to be the left fielder, per FanGraphs. He has never appeared in a major league game. The Padres have several roster holes to fill. With pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training in just three weeks, time is running short.

One player had one of the most improbable breakout seasons in a Padres uniform last year. Jurickson Profar went from failed top prospect, to journeyman, to finishing 14th in NL MVP voting in 2024.

Profar played last season on a base salary of $1 million. He earned more given the various contract incentives he met. Understandably, Profar is looking to cash in on that big season with a raise going into 2025. Yet, he remains a free agent.

According to reports, the Padres and Profar are in communication. No deal is imminent and plenty of teams likely would be interested in his services. Per their Free Agent Tracker, Profar would merit a multi-year deal worth around $15 million per season. At that price, the Padres might be out.

But, it seems as if both sides really want to be together. Profar clearly loves playing in San Diego. In his 11-year career, the best two seasons by WAR were both in San Diego, in 2022 and 2024.

In 2024, he reached a whole new level. Only Jackson Merrill was more valuable than Profar per WAR. The Curacao native led the team in runs scored, walks, on-base percentage, and OPS. His 134 OPS+ ranked 11th in the National League. At 31 years old, he earned his first All-Star bid, becoming one of the oldest players in MLB history to be selected to their first Midsummer Classic.

The Padres desperately need a left fielder, now just a month away from Spring Training games. Sure, they can make additions during Spring Training, but the sand in the hourglass is certainly getting smaller.

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Given the strains on payroll the Padres’ brass seems to be emphasizing, a three-year, $45 million deal for Profar simply is not happening. If Profar is willing to accept something of a hometown discount to stay in a clubhouse he likes, with teammates he enjoys being around, the two sides should seal the deal. If Profar were willing to accept a deal close to two years, $16 million, the two sides should shake hands.

Even if, by some miracle, the Padres do bring in a quality left fielder not named Profar, they still might need him. The Padres’ bench and DH options are, at present time, worrying.

Quite simply, the Padres need Profar. Profar likes being in San Diego. Whether as the starting left fielder, the DH, or a really quality bat to bounce aorund the lineup, the Friars need Profar. It’s just a matter of the right salary to match up. The ball seems squarely in the court of Padres ownership and A.J. Preller.

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