What is next for the San Diego Padres?
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Even after a disappointing exit from the 2024 MLB Playoffs, the San Diego Padres remain focused on the future. It is the first day of the off-season, and there are several different issues to address this winter. Let’s take a look.
Take a deep breath.
I know the ending was tragic, but there is plenty to be happy about if you are a fan of the San Diego Padres.
This is a very relevant franchise — an exciting one. Things just didn’t go their way.
It really felt like this was the year for the team, though. But, alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
The team’s offense fell on its face in the last two games, and that ultimately doomed the Padres. The team that was built to win while ahead fell uselessly and meekly without putting up much of a fight in Game 4 and Game 5 of the NLDS. The team was shut out in both games, as the swag was gone from the Padres.
The off-season came suddenly, but it is here.
Where does that leave the team?
Thankfully, there are only a few pending free agents on the roster, and the nucleus will return in 2025.
The biggest potential free agents are Tanner Scott and Jurickson Profar. Both will be allowed to sign with any team this winter. Scott will surely be in high demand, and Profar is coming off his best offensive year in his 11-year career. But can the Padres pay them fair market value?
Then there is Ha-Seong Kim, who possesses a mutual option for the 2025 season at $8 million. It looks as though the infielder will explore free agency in hopes of signing a multi-year deal at the age of 29. The Padres may explore retaining him, but at what cost? And can Kim get his offensive game back? That remains to be seen.
With the loss of Joe Musgrove, the Padres will surely explore bringing in a veteran arm for the 2025 season. They could also acquire a long-term option in the rotation as both Dylan Cease and Michael King are set for free agency after the 2025 season. A.J. Preller will surely covet a controllable arm with top-of-the-order potential.
Speaking of free agency – Luis Arraez is also due to test the market next winter. With three straight batting titles under his belt, Arraez should be paid well from the 2025 season moving forward.
Will the team be able to extend all three men? Will they explore this idea this winter so as not to be a distraction during the season? We will see.
There are plenty of young players who could make their mark in 2025. Look at what Jackson Merrill did for the team this year. I would not expect Ethan Salas and Leodalis De Vries to make the opening-day roster, but you never really know. Both men are currently playing in Peoria for the Arizona Complex League.
A.J. Preller and his staff may take a day or two to regroup after an emotional series.
It is probably more likely the group is already detailing their offseason plans as you read this. There is no rest for the weary. The 2024 season was a positive one for the Padres. But, in the end, they fell way too far away from their ultimate goal.
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.
You distorted what I clearly said…all pitching prospects that were close to being able to play now, particularly in their dire need for pitching.
How is this his fault? We don’t have room to explain, but we know he has had numerous years with effectively freedom to do whatever, with far more resources than other teams (including $70 million which produced a middling middle reliever) and yet he has a woeful record to show for all those things. He then gave away all pitching prospects, plus several other prospects, just to save his job. Now that all of that failed, they are far weaker going forward. After next year they are going to have only 2 established pitchers, both of whom are way over paid, frequently injured and therefore very unreliable, and very old. There’s more, but in any normal business he would have been fired years ago.
you are cherry picking your facts. Yes, he’s made mistakes. If the offense scored some runs, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
PLEASE fire Preller. That is the only hope for the Padres. Mr Buy-high-and-sell-low mortgaged the future to save his job, and it failed miserably, especially with Cease. They are in desperate need of pitching, but he gave away all possible prospects that might be close.
How is this his fault? All the prospects? No, he didn’t.